Aptus Clinical, a specialist clinical contract research organisation based at Alderley Park, has received a £150k loan from NPIF - FW Capital Debt Finance, managed by FW Capital and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF).
The growth capital loan has boosted the organisation’s expansion plans, allowing additional investment in infrastructure, staff and capabilities to better serve the needs of a growing client base.
Founded by three former-AstraZeneca colleagues, Aptus Clinical has grown exponentially to a team of 48 people in just four years. Based at Alderley Park, once the global R&D site for AstraZeneca’s Oncology franchise, Aptus Clinical specialises in providing biotech companies with seasoned drug development expertise, insight and infrastructure, to support clients in transforming their promising projects into valued medicines.
With a particular focus in oncology, rare diseases and cellular therapies, Aptus’ expertise ensures a client’s early clinical development strategies are optimised, and phase I/II studies are innovatively designed and expertly delivered.
To help realise ambitious growth plans, Aptus Clinical has recruited several key hires to its senior leadership team, with the aim of driving the company’s four core functions of Commercial, Corporate & Clinical Governance, Clinical Services and Business Services. They have also recently moved within Alderley Park to a significantly larger office suite, to better accommodate current and future growth.
Aptus Clinical CEO Steve McConchie said: “We are delighted with the support from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund and FW Capital, and the new additions to our team, restructuring and office move to our larger new location in Alderley Park are all a reflection of the incredible work being carried out by our team."
FW Capital senior investment executive Simon Berry added: “Aptus is run by a very strong management team that includes the scientific expertise of its founders and the business acumen of the additional non-exec board members.
“We are very passionate about supporting businesses in the biotech space and we have a good understanding of the industry. We have invested in several companies at Alderley Park and other science hubs and we’d really like to encourage more businesses in this sector to speak to us if they need finance.”
Sue Barnard, Senior Relationship Manager at British Business Bank said: “Aptus has a strong presence within therapy areas such as oncology and rare diseases, which will only be strengthened by its new Alderley Park site. Its growing client base and recruitment of additional senior staff also puts the company in a strong position for the coming years.”
“The prominence of the North West’s life sciences sector is demonstrated by the presence of some of the UK’s best medical facilities and advanced research environments. This funding package will drive the firm’s core business functions forward, and with that, we expect the company to significantly add to the region’s economy.”
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.
