SENISCA
The University of Exeter spin-out company, SENISCA, is developing new anti-ageing therapeutics for the treatment of age-related disease.
.png)
SENISCA's journey began in 2016 when Professor Lorna Harries and her world-leading research team generated their groundbreaking results. They then contacted Exeter Innovation in 2018, seeking advice on commercialising their research to reach and benefit a wider community.
The research explores cellular ageing. Older cells start to secrete inflammatory proteins that can damage our bodies and trigger cellular ageing as basic cell-health mechanisms start to fail. Failure of these mechanisms can result in age-related diseases that affect our quality of life.
However, SENISCA discovered that they could effectively partially reprogramme old cells by restoring the correct regulation of messenger RNA splicing. Messenger RNA acts as the blueprint for creating new proteins. These messages and instructions provided by the mRNA can change, resulting in malfunctioning proteins and disease. SENSICA is developing therapeutics that partially reprogramme old cells, restoring their ability to produce the correct suite of healthy proteins at the correct time and as such, these therapeutic molecules target the causes and not simply the consequences of age-related diseases” (SENSICA). SENISCA’s research directly addresses the aesthetic and disease-causing aspects of ageing, allowing people to live healthier lives for longer.
Over this time, Tori Hammond, Exeter Innovation lead, collaborated with the team. She helped patent their technology, source grants and investment, and get the spin-out company incorporated, supported by a commercial mentor. She introduced them to SETsquared Exeter, the three-time, number one global university incubator, where they joined the Scale-up programme.
“From my perspective as founder, I have been grateful to Tori and Exeter Innovation for their support whilst navigating what was unchartered waters for me at the time.”
Professor Lorna Harries, Chief Scientific Officer at SENISCA
In 2020, the SENISCA company was founded by the expert co-founder team, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), Professor Lorna Harries, Chief Technical Officer (CTO), Dr Ben Lee and launch Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kirsty Semple. With rapid company evolution, in 2023 the leadership team was expanded to include a biotech-seasoned CEO, Dr Sarah Cole, whose biopharmaceutical experience was complemented by the recruitment of Chief Development Officer (CDO), Dr. Tim Schmidt and VP Dermatology, Dr. Adam Clauss.
At the current time, SENISCA has secured over £7.1M in funding from private investors, as well as £1.1M in non-diluting income. SENISCA was also shortlisted for the Nature Spin Off prize last year.
This places them securely as front-runners in the development of medicines that target the causes and effects of age-related disease.
Professor Lorna Harries, Chief Scientific Officer, said: “From my perspective as founder, I have been grateful to Tori and Exeter Innovation for their support whilst navigating what was unchartered waters for me at the time.”
SENISCA is based in the state-of-the-art University’s Research, Innovation, Learning and Development (RILD) building, a health education and research centre based at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital site in Exeter, near St Luke’s campus.
“We have been very grateful to the University more widely for their flexibility and generosity, which, has been pivotal in our success to date,” said Professor Lorna Harries.
