Xention

Xention Limited is a biopharmaceutical company founded in 2002, specializing in the discovery and development of drugs that modulate ion channels. The company, initially known as Xention Discovery Ltd, focuses its research and development on creating treatments for cardiovascular diseases, particularly atrial fibrillation. The company was established by Graham Fagg, Thomas Theodore Casdagli, David Raymond Ebsworth, Patrick Michael Round, Keith Graham Mccullagh, and Alexander Thomas Pasteur.

Xention's business model is centered on its proprietary drug discovery platform, which utilizes technologies like automated patch-clamp electrophysiology, ion channel chemoinformatics, and medicinal chemistry to design and develop potent small-molecule drugs. This platform enables the company to create drug candidates for a range of medical needs including pain, cardiology, and immune disorders. Revenue is generated through partnerships and licensing agreements with larger pharmaceutical companies. A significant collaboration was established with Servier in 2013 for the development and commercialization of an atrial fibrillation drug candidate, XEN-D0103.

Historically, Xention has undergone several strategic changes. In 2010, the company spun off its overactive bladder program into a new entity called Provesica to sharpen its focus on cardiology. In 2015, its contract research division was established as a separate company, Metrion Biosciences, through a management buyout. The company has secured significant funding over the years from various investors, including MVM, Forbion, BTG International, and Seroba Life Sciences, to advance its clinical programs.

Keywords: ion channel modulators, atrial fibrillation, biopharmaceutical, drug discovery, cardiac arrhythmia, small-molecule drugs, electrophysiology, medicinal chemistry, cardiovascular disease, clinical development, XEN-D0103, drug development, pharmaceutical partnerships, life sciences, biotechnology, Cambridge UK, ion channel platform