MIP Diagnostics

MIP Diagnostics, which rebranded to MIP Discovery in May 2022 and later to Tozaro, operates at the intersection of nanotechnology, chemistry, and biology.

The company was founded in 2015 as a spin-out from the University of Leicester's Chemistry Department to commercialize the work of Professor Piletsky's research team. The founding was supported by Mercia Asset Management, which has remained a key investor through multiple funding rounds. A significant milestone was a £5.1 million funding round in 2020, co-led by Downing Ventures, BGF, and Calculus Capital, to accelerate global expansion and scale up manufacturing. This was followed by another round in 2022, bringing the total to £7.3 million, after the company achieved key technical and commercial milestones.

The core of the company's business is the development and manufacture of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs), which are synthetic polymers designed to function as robust alternatives to biological antibodies. These 'plastic antibodies' are created through a process called molecular imprinting, where a polymer matrix is formed around a target molecule, leaving a cavity that is perfectly complementary in shape and chemical functionality after the target is removed. The company has patented a novel process for creating nano-scale MIPs (nanoMIPs), which are nanostructured polymer particles containing a single, highly specific binding site.

Compared to traditional antibodies, these synthetic reagents offer superior stability in harsh conditions, such as extreme temperatures and pH levels, and have a significantly longer shelf life at room temperature, eliminating the need for cold chain logistics. The business model encompasses several avenues, including co-development projects, licensing of its technology for commercial use, and direct revenue generation. The company serves a diverse client base across sectors like in-vitro diagnostics (IVD), healthcare, bioprocessing, food safety, and security. For instance, MIP Discovery has signed agreements to develop reagents for drugs of abuse testing, a system for the security field, and novel products for sample preparation in diagnostics with partners like Veravas.

The company is actively applying its technology to high-growth markets, including industrial sensors and cell and gene therapy manufacturing. By providing a reliable, ethical, and cost-effective alternative to animal-derived antibodies, the firm aims to address limitations in the estimated £85 billion global antibody market.

Keywords: Molecularly Imprinted Polymers, nanoMIPs, synthetic antibodies, affinity reagents, diagnostics, IVD, bioprocessing, nanotechnology, polymer chemistry, antibody alternatives, sensor technology, point-of-care testing, life sciences, cell and gene therapy, sample preparation, target recognition, chemical sensors, protein detection, small molecule detection, Tozaro