A company whose technology helps cancer patients get more effective treatment is setting up a base in Liverpool city region and will create 40 new jobs. Tony McDonough reports

More than 40 new jobs will be created by cancer treatment tech firm Imagen Therapeutics at its new Liverpool city region base.

Imagen was founded at Manchester Science Park by two former AstraZeneca cell-biologists, Geoff Muckle and Gareth Griffiths. It is now setting up shop at Vanguard House in Sci-Tech Daresbury.

It will retain its office in Manchester but will move a team of 15 to Daresbury. Its eventual aim is to take headcount to more than 60 people. Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s £75m Inward Investment Facilitation Fund is backing the relocation with a grant.

Imagen’s translational oncology and R&D divisions will be located at Daresbury. The company has also set up a medical affairs team to work with both oncologists and cancer patients. A new business development team will also serve the global pharma and biotech sector. 

It has developed a cancer patient screening platform called predictRx. With more than 150,000 treatment response datapoints, predictRx can quickly identify the distinct genetic signature of each patient’s cancer. This can help oncologists select the correct treatment.

This platform is also proving invaluable for large biopharma companies by accelerating drug discovery and development programmes.

Geoff Muckle, who is chief executive of Imagen, said: “Our expansion into Sci-Tech Daresbury marks a significant step in our growth journey. We started as a small assay development company.

“Our passion for implementing personalised oncology has driven our ambition to become a world-class research organisation. We will support the acceleration of discovering new cancer treatments and cures.”

READ MORE: Liverpool health tech firm secures US approval

The predictRx platform tests for effective treatments directly from live cancer cells. This gives oncologists the information they need to better prioritise treatments. This approach can save invaluable time, reduce toxicity and the cost of inefficacious treatments.

Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram added: “Not only does our region offer world class facilities and unrivalled business support, it also offers companies the chance to be associated with our impressive global reputation.

“My £75m business support package was the largest investment of its kind in a generation. We’re seeing it bear fruit now with companies such as Imagen. These are not just investments in supporting successful businesses, they are investments in our people too.”