LifeArc
LifeArc is a UK medical-research charity (formerly MRC Technology) incorporated in 1992 (Companies House number 02698321; charity registration 1015243 England and Wales). Its direct-equity ventures arm, LifeArc Ventures, invests seed-to-Series-B in biotech, medtech and healthtech companies off the charity's own balance sheet, which was seeded by a 2019 Keytruda royalty sale for USD 1.297 billion. LifeArc Ventures co-invests with mainstream life-sciences VCs and supports portfolio companies with in-house labs in Stevenage and Edinburgh. No FCA AIFM authorisation; operates as a charity-VC under FCA no-match status.
Key facts
Recent exits
Coverage notes
1 fund tracked, 14 portfolio companies (11 active · 3 realized). Verified weekly from public filings and deal announcements.
Funds & portfolio
Every fund LifeArc has raised, with its portfolio companies. Hand-checked from public filings.
LifeArc VenturesLife Sciences VC1992 · 34yr€84M11 active · 3 realized
Unrealized
11 held| Company | Sector | Geo | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affect Therapeutics | HealthTech | United States | 2023 |
| AviadoBio | Biotech | UK | 2020 |
| Closed Loop Medicine | HealthTech | UK | 2021 |
| Cumulus Neuroscience | HealthTech | UK | 2021 |
| Cytospire Therapeutics | Biotech | UK | 2023 |
| Fluid Biomed | MedTech | Canada | 2024 |
| Ikarovec | Biotech | UK | 2020 |
| Maxion Therapeutics | Biotech | UK | 2023 |
| Ozlo Sleep | HealthTech | United States | 2023 |
| Pheno Therapeutics | Biotech | UK | 2020 |
| RQ Biotechnology | Biotech | UK | 2022 |
Realized
3 exits| Company | Sector | Geo | Entry | Exit | Type | Buyer | MOIC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DJS Antibodies | Biotech | UK | 2020 | 2022 | Trade Sale | – | |
| Ducentis BioTherapeutics | Biotech | UK | 2019 | 2022 | Trade Sale | – | |
| Surgery Hero | HealthTech | UK | 2022 | 2025 | Trade Sale | – |
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About LifeArc
LifeArc is a self-funded UK medical research charity with a £1.255 billion total investment portfolio as of December 2024, headquartered in London. The firm was founded in 2000 as MRC Technology (the translation arm of the UK Medical Research Council) before rebranding as LifeArc in 2017, with LifeArc Ventures launched in 2022 as the early-stage investment arm. LifeArc takes no external fundraising or grants, funded by investment returns and royalties (notably a former Keytruda royalty interest).
Investment thesis
LifeArc deploys capital through a single evergreen balance-sheet vehicle (LifeArc Ventures is a ring-fenced allocation, not a closed-end fund), targeting seed to Series B equity investments in life science companies with reserved follow-on capital for successful portfolio companies, taking an active scientific and commercial role. Sector focus spans therapeutics, medtech, healthtech, rare diseases, drug-resistant infections and immunology. Geographic deployment is UK-focused backing the UK science base, with the ability to invest globally and expansion into the US, Canada and Europe across 2024-2025. The platform pairs capital with in-house lab access and translational R&D expertise.
Recent activity
No exits were disclosed for 2024-2026, with the portfolio progressing to 20 companies at end-2025 (up from 17 at end-2024). Recent acquisitions include therapeutics investments (2025), a medtech investment (2024) and therapeutics investments (2024). The platform continues active deployment across the UK life sciences mandate. Detailed buyer names and multiple data available on Pro at €29/month.
Investment team
Senior partners. Hand-checked from public filings and the firm's own site.
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