Clinical stage biotech Mission Therapeutics raises £9.99m to advance Parkinson's drug
This article covers a £10m funding round on 15 October 2025 for Mission Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech developing first-in-class therapeutics that enhance mitophagy, founded by Dr Sarah J Fritchley and Dr Anker Lundemose. The company raised £9.99m in the round, led by existing investors and supported by the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
What does Mission Therapeutics do?
MTX325 is a small-molecule therapeutic that inhibits the mitochondrial enzyme USP30 to enhance mitophagy. It is designed to restore removal of damaged mitochondria and protect neurons in Parkinson's disease patients.
Why is Mission Therapeutics useful?
Problem
People face progressive neuron loss and motor decline because damaged mitochondria build up in brain cells. This dysfunction causes neurons to malfunction and die, worsening symptoms over time.
Solution
Mission Therapeutics explains that it uses MTX325 to inhibit USP30, increasing mitochondrial ubiquitylation and promoting mitophagy. This helps remove dysfunctional mitochondria, protecting neurons and aiming to slow Parkinson's progression.
How much did Mission Therapeutics raise?
Mission Therapeutics raised £10m ($13.3m) to progress its lead candidate MTX325 into a Phase Ib clinical trial, in a financing led by existing investors. This makes it the 9th largest funding round in October 2025 (44 recorded). As of 15 October 2025, the round is the 162nd largest of the year (516 total) in the Startupmag database.
For details on how Startupmag compiles its rankings, view our Methodology.
Who invested in Mission Therapeutics?
Key investors and funders in the transaction are listed below:
- Existing investors: The company's current backers participated again to support progression of its lead Parkinson's disease candidate into clinical testing.
- Michael J. Fox Foundation: A US-based non-profit that funds Parkinson's research and translational initiatives, providing grant support for the clinical development of MTX325.
- Parkinson's UK: A UK charity that funds research and clinical studies into Parkinson's disease and provided grant support alongside the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
If you're researching potential backers in this space:
- Explore our list of healthtech venture capital firms in the UK
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Who founded Mission Therapeutics?
The founders of Mission Therapeutics are Dr Sarah J Fritchley and Dr Anker Lundemose.
In the funding announcement, Dr Anker Lundemose, Executive Director of Mission Therapeutics explained:
Thanks to this additional $13.3m from our investors, we can now make the next vital steps progressing MTX325 into PD patients with this essential Phase 1b clinical trial. This will enable us to build upon the compelling preclinical data package for MTX325, published in Nature Communications in 2023, and the results from the Phase 1a studies that we have obtained.
In the funding announcement, Dr Sarah J Fritchley, Chief Development Officer of Mission Therapeutics said:
The overall objectives of this Phase Ib trial are to demonstrate robust clinical proof-of-mechanism (PoM) in patients with Parkinson's disease, and to gather further information on safety and tolerability. We look forward to progressing MTX325 rapidly through clinical testing and anticipate we will have PoM data in H2 2027.
Where is Mission Therapeutics based?
Mission Therapeutics is based in Cambridge, UK.
What sector is Mission Therapeutics in?
Mission Therapeutics operates in the healthtech sector. This sector uses science and technology to develop medical treatments and tools. That helps prevent, diagnose or treat illness.
Key trends and challenges in Healthtech:
Disease-modifying therapies targeting mitochondrial health
Researchers increasingly aim to slow diseases like Parkinson's by restoring mitophagy, such as boosting removal of damaged mitochondria.
Greater use of biomarkers and brain imaging
Clinical programmes now use PET scans and fluid biomarkers to show brain penetration and that drugs hit their targets.
Translation and regulatory hurdles for first-in-class drugs
Moving from animal models to patient benefit remains hard, with many candidates failing and approval often taking a decade.
For a deeper look at innovation in this space, see the healthtech startups in the UK.
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