Senya Therapeutics

LRG1 therapeutic platform for chronic diseases.

Optometrist with patient

Senya Therapeutics is pioneering an anti-leucine-rich α-2 glycoprotein 1 (LRG1) therapeutic platform. This protein was identified as playing a key role in forming new vascular tissue in the retina, by Senya’s founders Professors Greenwood and Moss at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology. 

It has since been shown to be involved in the progression of a range of human health conditions, including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, and inflammatory disorders. 

Senya Therapeutics holds the global patent rights for LRG1 as a therapeutic target, and is exploring how this can offer new ways to treat chronic diseases focusing on unment needs in nephrology and oncology.

The Senya journey so far:

  • 2019: The spinout company is initially founded as 'LRG1'
  • 2023: Senya Therapeutics is launched 
  • 2024: 
    • Senya Wins £0.7M Innovate UK Grant and £1.8M Seed Extension Round
    • Senya and University of Edinburgh Partner on Nephrology Research, and with Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) Collaborate on Cancer Research
  • 2026: Senya Therapeutics launches a Series A funding round to progress its lead compound through Phase 1 and 2 trials for treatment of chronic kidney disease.

Team

Professor John Greenwood

Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer

Professor Greenwood is a vascular biologist with a strong research background in biomedical and translational research. He spent eight years as UCL Head of the Department of Cell Biology

Taskashi Takenoshita

CEO

Takashi is a seasoned biotech CEO with 30+ years' experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He was previously a Venture Partner at Oxford Science Enterprises and co-founder of Dark Blue Therapeutics.

Professor Emeritus Steve Moss, Co-found and Co-Chief Scientific Officer

Dr. Mark Fisher

Associate Director

Dr Fisher has management responsibility for the BioPharm patent portfolio and strategic business support for the BioPharm team. At the coalface, Mark manages the commercialisation of technology from the Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital UCL Global Business School for Health and the Department of Ageing, Arthritis and Regenerative Medicine.

He holds a first degree in Industrial Biology and a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UCL, in association with one of the first biotechnology companies to be established in the academic sector.

Mark brings more than 30 years of experience in life sciences and healthcare licensing, new company development and securing investment from both the public and private sectors to his team. To date, Mark has been responsible for the establishment of more than 25 new businesses in diagnostics, drug discovery, medical devices and therapeutics.

As a certified lead auditor of ISO 13485, Dr Fisher has additional experience in quality management systems and the translation of technologies from research and design into manufacture at home and abroad.

Mark is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Management Consultants and gained the Freedom of the City of London in 2010 for his contribution to the economy through new business development.