Immunometabolism start-up completes $30 million funding round.

UK-based Sitryx was founded to leverage research into the metabolic pathways involved in the immune system and the development of cancers and autoimmune diseases. The company is designing drug candidates that target these pathways to correct immune cell function and stop tumor growth.

The company has attracted the interest of big pharma, including GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), which is sharing technologies and chemical matter with Sitryx. GSK is also one of several well-known investors that recently contributed a total of $30 million to fund moving its research program toward human testing. In addition, to GSK, other investors included SV Health Investors, Sofinnova Partners and Longwood Fund.

Sitryx will use the funding to achieve one IND/CTA approval and initiate IND-enabling preclinical studies for a second program, assuming things progress as expected, according to CEO Neil Weir. Sitryx has a portfolio of early-stage small molecules, proteolysis-targeting chimeras and topical formulations aimed at oncology and immuno-inflammatory indications.