Engitix

Extracellular Matrix (ECM)-based drug discovery and development for treatment of fibrosis and solid tumours.

Engitix is developing a portfolio of programmes in fibrosis and solid tumours using its pioneering human extracellular matrix (ECM) drug discovery platform, stemming from UCL’s Institute for Liver and Digestive Health.

The ECM, when healthy, is an intricate web of fibrous strands that support and connect every cell in human tissues. This network is an active environment that regulates cell behaviour, nutrient exchange, and tissue repair. But in chronic disease, this once-supportive architecture begins to turn against a person.

The use of more physiologically-relevant human in vitro models is transforming their ability to identify new targets, to develop more advanced treatments and to enable a more accurate prediction of the efficacy of therapeutic candidates.

The company is headquartered in White City Place, London, UK.

The Engitix journey so far:

2016: spinout founded
2018: $7 million Seed round for advancing the first human ECM platform for drug discovery in fibrosis and solid tumours
2019:
- UCL Innovation & Enterprise Award, Provost’s Spirit of Enterprise Award
- Takeda awarded Engitix a Golden Ticket to establish its presence in LabCentral, Cambridge, MA
- Partnership signed with Morphic Therapeutic for ECM-related target ID in inflammatory bowel disease
2020: Exclusive partnership with Takeda for ECM-related drug target discovery, development and commercialisation in liver fibrosis
2022: $54M Series A fundraise to support the development of Engitix internal pipeline in fibrosis and solid tumours
2025: Engitix listed in the Sunday Times 100 Tech, Sifted 250 and Top 50 Healthcare Technology companies
2026:
- $25m Series A Extension Financing
- Partnership with GSK to identify and validate novel therapeutic targets driving liver fibrosis regression

Dr. Adam Hajjar

Senior Business Manager

Dr Hajjar is primarily responsible for the identification, protection and commercialisation of technologies and IP developed at the UCL School of Pharmacy.

Adam is an experienced IP management and technology commercialisation professional, with a Life Sciences technical background, coupled with over 30 years’ experience gained through various commercial roles held across industry and academia. Prior to joining UCL Ventures, he was an Intellectual Asset & Commercialisation Specialist at BP Plc, where he led on IP strategy, portfolio management, and commercialisation activities across a broad range of technology and product areas, including oil and gas, bioenergy, renewable energy, and advanced materials. He has also held various senior commercial roles at the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, Plant Impact Plc, and Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH, providing relevant experience across pharmaceuticals, biotech, and diagnostics sectors.

He has also previously worked in a number of different technology transfer roles, supporting various London-based Universities (including King’s College London, University College London and the London School of Pharmacy) and their affiliated NHS Trusts in the protection and commercialisation on of a wide range of healthcare and pharmaceuticals related technologies and IP, mainly through patenting, licensing, and spin-out company related activities.

Adam holds a BSc in Microbiology from the University of Aberdeen, as well as a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Kent.