A new startup aimed at discovering and developing anti-inflammatory disease medicines has been formed by The University of Queensland’s (UQ) commercialisation arm UniQuest and global biotech company Molecule to Medicine (MTM).
Curlew Bio will leverage expertise from the Queensland Emory and Drug Discovery Initiative (QEDDI) and research developed by Professor Katharina Ronacher from Mater Research and UQ.
Prof Ronacher said her Infection, Immunity and Metabolism Research Group recently discovered a novel immunological pathway that can be drug targeted to reduce inflammation.
“This partnership is an exceptional opportunity to translate our laboratory-based research into new therapeutic possibilities that will be impactful in real-world healthcare settings,” Prof Ronacher said.
Curlew Bio is the second company to be formed following MTM’s expansion into Australia, with the launch of biotech startup Lucia Bio in late 2024.
Mater Research Executive Director Professor Allison Pettit said that the establishment of Curlew Bio was very exciting
"Prof Ronacher's work has incredible potential. This startup shows how the partnership between Mater Research, UQ and the Translational Research Institute streamlines the commercialisation process and encourages entrepreneurship," Prof Pettit said.
UniQuest CEO Dr Dean Moss said the collaboration was focused on bringing UQ-inspired innovative medicines to life.
“Curlew Bio builds on our relationship with MTM and our joint focus of combining world-leading science with the right people and funding to establish new biotech companies to meet unmet health challenges,” Dr Moss said.
“This is another example of UniQuest backing the science of UQ to create new business and commercial opportunities, with investment from the UniQuest Extension Fund.”
The fund has invested $1 million in Curlew Bio to develop novel small molecules for inflammatory diseases.
MTM CEO Kirsty McCarthy said it was a privilege to again partner with UniQuest.
“MTM has forged strong links with the exceptional drug discovery team at QEDDI and it’s an honour to be working with Professor Ronacher, a pioneer in the inflammatory field,” Ms McCarthy said.
“We’ll be using MTM’s deep experience in company formation and drug development to support and accelerate the delivery of a novel anti-inflammatory modality.”
The partnership builds on UniQuest’s ongoing relationship with MTM co-founder Dr Tom McCarthy, who was CEO and president of UQ start-up Spinifex Pharmaceuticals when it was acquired by Novartis for US$200 million in 2015.
