1st June 2011

Morvus: June’s MediWales featured member

Morvus Technology Limited is a privately owned pharmaceutical company specialising in the discovery and development of novel drugs and diagnostics for the oncology market. 

Morvus was formed in 2004 after the founders’ previous company, Enact Pharma plc, was acquired. Initially based on the Porton Down Science Park, near Salisbury, in 2007 the company relocated, with considerable assistance from the Welsh Government, to its present site.

The company has a diverse portfolio of oncology therapeutics and diagnostics and its lead drug is a potent anti-tumour agent that displays minimal toxicity to normal tissues and is rendered harmless in the circulation. Morvus is developing this drug as a potential treatment for lung cancer using an inhalation route to deliver the drug to tumour sites. The drug is also being assessed as a potential agent to treat some skin cancers. 

The company’s business strategy is to add value to early-stage products prior to partnership with entities more suitable for carrying out further development. Morvus retains an interest in the products via contracted milestone payments and receipt of royalties on sales. Recent partnership agreements that have been signed include a drug that enhances the effect of x-ray irradiation and a chemical modification method that improves the delivery of anti-cancer agents to tumours. 

Morvus has a strong partnership ethic and is always keen to discuss early-stage projects with other Welsh companies or universities. One of the reasons Morvus joined MediWales was to increase awareness of its capabilities throughout the Welsh scientific community in the hope of engendering commercial and/or scientific collaborations. Alongside the invention and development of novel products, the fact that Morvus has the most up-to-date equipment means we are able to offer analytical services to other Welsh companies e.g. NMR, HPLC.