Cancer patients helped by Biomedical Catalyst project

Funding from Innovate UK’s flagship Biomedical Catalyst programme and other support has helped medical technology company, Entia, on its journey from concept to product delivery for its remote monitoring system for cancer patients.

Entia’s system, Liberty, lets cancer patients monitor symptoms and take their own blood tests in the comfort of their own home. The remote service reduces the need for hospital visits, it can spot treatment side effects earlier and it ultimately improves a person’s quality of life and outcomes.

Dr Toby Basey-Fisher, Entia’s CEO, founded the company in 2015 and spent the early years in product development. In 2019, funding from the Biomedical Catalyst proved transformational, as it helped Entia prioritise its work in oncology and conduct vital feasibility studies.

Dr Toby Basey-Fisher, CEO and founder of Entia said: “This funding was incredible and a huge enabler for us. As well as de-risking the idea with other investors, it unlocked valuable data through our work with key partners like The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. It gave us deep insights into the problems we were actually trying to solve.”

The relationship with Innovate UK has extended well beyond that first grant. Since 2019, Entia has received over £1.1 million in funding and has benefited from added value support in the form of connections and advice on R&D and commercialisation.

Phil Frost, cancer patient on feasibility trial said: “I had absolutely no concerns about using the technology. If this means that patients in future won’t have to come to The Christie to have their blood tested but can do it from the comfort of their own home, then I think that is a wonderful innovation.”

Samana Brannigan, Head of Health Technologies, Innovate UK said: “The Biomedical Catalyst allows Innovate UK to support the most innovative, commercially viable businesses with products and services applicable to the healthcare sector. Any company whose end goal is to transform healthcare and patients’ lives, regardless of the sector, can apply for funding. Entia is an excellent example of how the right support at the right time can have a huge impact on a company and, ultimately, on patients.”

Entia’s work has attracted the attention of investors and global pharma companies. In 2022, the team secured £16 million investment in a funding round led by BGF and Parkwalk. It has also entered into an agreement with Pfizer who are looking for more innovative ways to streamline treatment pathways and improve patient outcomes with Liberty. The two businesses are now working together to secure regulatory approval and commercialise the service.

Biomedical Catalyst, the grant funding mechanism helping small and medium-sized businesses test and develop innovative health and care solutions across life sciences, launched the second round of collaborative R&D funding on 20 September 2023 and it closes on 8 November 2023 at 11:00am.

For more information about the Biomedical Catalyst 2023 Round 2: Industry-led R&D visit GOV.UK.