THE boss of a scientific research company has said a £64m cancer funding boost will secure its future in the county for years to come.

James Noble, chief executive of Adaptimmune, spoke after the level of funding was announced from US life science funds.

It will allow the Milton Park, Didcot, firm to run more clinical trials of a new cancer treatment and double its workforce.

The funding will be used to develop a new generation of drugs aimed at enabling the human immune system to fight cancer.

Our top stories

Mr Noble said: “It feels great to have received the funding, and it means two things for Oxfordshire.

“Firstly, we will be hiring staff. Our workforce is currently around 40 but the funding means we will are looking to bring in 50 new employees.

“Secondly, it ensures we are going to be around for a long time and it cements the fact we are going to stay in Oxfordshire.”

Other county biotech firms have had to downsize he said, adding: “This investment secures the company’s future for a number of years.”

He added: “We are recruiting now and the jobs available aren’t just for scientists.

“As we build up our infrastructure it brings with it a raft of non-scientific jobs, ranging from human resources to security, and we hope to employ a lot of people from Oxfordshire.”

It will trial T-Cell therapy following encouraging results from studies in the United States.

The therapy – based on Oxford University research – works by prompting the immune system to recognise tumours as foreign and to attack them.

It has raised the cash from investors led by Mumbai-based New Enterprise Associates and included US-based OrbiMed Advisors, Wellington Management Company and Fidelity Biosciences.

Mr Noble added: “We want to stay based in Oxford because it will help keep us on the map. You can get people to come to Oxford from anywhere.

“Not only is there a great academic environment just up the road from us, but there are countless opportunities; people want to live in Oxfordshire.”

The funding comes after the firm announced a £215m partnership with GlaxoSmithKline in June.


Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.