Scarlet Therapeutics secures £3.5m for metabolic disease platform

Developing a proprietary platform for red blood cell-based therapeutics, Bristol-based Scarlet Therapeutics has secured an estimated £3.5m in its latest funding round. The company generates novel therapeutics, known as tRBCs, which are designed to carry therapeutic proteins throughout the body.

Founded in 2021, Scarlet Therapeutics originated from over a decade of research at the University of Bristol and insights from the RESTORE clinical study. The company holds an exclusive commercial licence for the BEL-A cell line, a technology used for the production of red blood cells. These tRBCs are engineered to remain in the body for an extended period while shielding active proteins from the immune system.

The company focuses on treating rare metabolic diseases, specifically hyperammonemia and hyperoxaluria. Its technology also has potential applications in treating cancer and autoimmune diseases. By carrying proteins within the red blood cells, the platform aims to provide a delivery method that shields active proteins from the immune system.

This £3.5m injection (allotted in March and filed in April) follows several previous rounds. In November 2024, the company raised £750k. During 2022, Scarlet Therapeutics completed three separate fundraises: £450k and £200k in November, and a larger £1.3m round in August.

Latest filings indicate the company employs eight people, though LinkedIn data suggests a headcount of 15. The firm is headquartered in Bristol. In March, the company appointed two new directors: Dr John William Beadle and Dr Timothy Jason Sparey.