Spirogen was founded in August 2000 to commercialise its scientific founders' research into DNA binding molecules. Professors David Thurston and John Hartley and their colleague Dr Philip Howard had been working on DNA-interacting agents for over 10 years when they met Spirogen's commercial founder, Dr Chris Martin, and formed the company.

Key corporate milestones

August 2000
Spirogen founded

October 2001
Spirogen moves to The School of Pharmacy and University College London

December 2001
Spirogen officially opened by Lord Sainsbury of Turville at The School of Pharmacy, London

March 2001
First round of funding

May 2003
Ipsen licenses SG2000 (SJG-136). Second round of funding from Ipsen Ltd and Research Corporation Technologies (RCT) Entered into Research Agreement with Ipsen in the field of Gene Targeting

April 2004
SG2000 enters Phase 1 Clinical Trials in the UK First patient dosed in the UK with SG2000 (SJG-136)

February 2005
First patient dosed in the USA with SG 2000 (SJG-136)

September 2006
Dr Barrie Ward appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors

January 2008
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Centre recruits final patient in Phase I trial

October 2009
Spirogen regains development and commercialization rights for SG2000 from Ipsen

October 2009
Spirogen enters into an option agreement with Celtic Therapeutics to fund the Phase IIa trials of SG2000 in ovarian cancer together with the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center (USA)

Q2 2009

Spirogen enters into evaluation agreements with a number of pharmaceutical companies for PBD-based warhead development for antibody drug conjugate (ADC) therapies

Q1 2011

Spirogen announces a research collaboration and license agreement with Genentech for the discovery and development of antibody drug conjugates

Q1 2012

Spirogen enters into licensing agreement with ADC Therapeutics sarl for the provision of PBD warhead and linker technology and associated services for antibody drug conjugate (ADC) development