LifeArc Ventures
Venture arm of LifeArc, UK medical research charity; participant in Cytospire's Series A.
Last refreshed: 13 May 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Timeline for LifeArc Ventures
Cytospire's £61m oncology Series A oversubscribed
UK Startups and Innovation- What is LifeArc Ventures and where does its money come from?
- LifeArc Ventures is the investment Arm of LifeArc, a UK medical research charity. LifeArc's endowment includes £1.4bn+ from its contribution to pembrolizumab (Keytruda), used to fund further biotech investments.Source: LifeArc
- Which UK charity backed Cytospire's cancer drug programme?
- LifeArc Ventures, the investment Arm of UK medical research charity LifeArc, participated in Cytospire's £61m Series A for its pan-gamma delta T cell engager CYT X300.Source: Lowdown uk-startups-and-innovation U#4
- Is LifeArc connected to the MRC?
- Yes. LifeArc originated as the Medical Research Council's technology transfer office and became independent, retaining its translational science mission funded by commercialisation proceeds.Source: LifeArc
Background
LifeArc Ventures participated in Cytospire's £61m Series A in May 2026 alongside Abingworth, Servier Ventures, Sound Bioventures, and Medical Incubator Japan. Cytospire is developing CYT X300, a pan-gamma delta T cell engager targeting solid tumours; LifeArc's focus on early translational oncology and immunology makes this a strategic-fit investment.
LifeArc Ventures is the investment Arm of LifeArc, a UK not-for-profit medical research organisation. LifeArc was originally the Medical Research Council's technology transfer office; it became independent and has since commercialised assets including contributions to pembrolizumab (Keytruda), generating over £1.4bn in proceeds that fund its ongoing medical research grant programme. LifeArc Ventures deploys capital from this endowment into early-stage biotech consistent with LifeArc's translational science mission, with a preference for UK-based or UK-academic-origin companies.