Isomab Ltd

We are pleased to welcome to the team Dr Shi Yin Foo, M.D., Ph.D., as Non-Executive Director and Dr Gary Burgess, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer.   Both bring extensive experience in cardiovascular drug development as we accelerate pre-clinical work for our lead candidate ISM-001.   🔹Dr Shi Yin Foo is the scientific founder and CEO of Arvada Therapeutics. She is a cardiologist and immunologist with over 20 years of experience as a practicing physician. She has been in executive roles at multiple biotechnology companies, including Novartis (NIBR), and is currently on the Board of Directors at Thryv Therapeutics. Dr Shi Yin has an MD and PhD in Immunology and an MMSc in Clinical Science, was clinical faculty at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and is a dual Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and in Cardiology.   🔹Dr Gary Burgess has over 20 years’ experience across all phases of drug development in a broad range of disease and therapeutic areas. He has held senior positions at Aerami Therapeutics, Vectura Ltd, Conatus Pharmaceuticals, and Pfizer (where he worked in the cardiovascular therapeutic area on treatments for vascular diseases), and has gained recognition as an international expert in Metabolic Associated Steatohepatitis and pulmonary hypertension.    “With ISM-001 preclinical work progressing rapidly, we are delighted to add the cardiovascular therapeutic development experience of both Dr Shi Yin Foo, M.D., Ph.D., and Dr Gary Burgess, M.D., to enhance our strong team.” - Jackie Turnbull, IsomAb CEO    #Biotechnology #IschaemicDisease

We’ve recently been featured in BioCentury Inc.! BioCentury is a leading biopharma publication, and we’re excited to have our work developing isoform-specific antibodies for ischaemic diseases spotlighted. Read our company profile to learn about the development of our lead candidate, ISM-001, designed to treat Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) and Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischaemia (CLTI). It works by targeting and inhibiting VEGF-A₁₆₅b, an anti-angiogenic isoform of VEGF-A that blocks blood vessel growth. By neutralising VEGF-A₁₆₅b, ISM-001 restores the body’s ability to form new blood vessels (angiogenesis), improving blood flow to ischaemic tissues. This approach directly addresses the underlying cause of ischaemic disease, offering a potential alternative to current treatments. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/gkeNRiUc #PeripheralArterialDisease #Antibodies

Meet Dr Steven Harper, Consultant and Co-Founder of IsomAb. Steve co-founded IsomAb with Professor Dave Bates in March 2022. He brings over four decades of clinical expertise in vascular medicine, with 28 years as a Consultant in Renal and Transplant Medicine; based near Bristol, he was appointed Honorary Professor at the University of Bristol in 2009. At IsomAb, Steve provides a clinical perspective on the ISM-001 development programme and works with our Clinical Advisory Board. Steve graduated from Manchester University Medical School in 1984, earned his MD in 1992, and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal College in 2001. His research journey began with a focus on antibody-mediated kidney disease before pivoting to microvascular structure, function and biology, focusing on kidney filters as specialised micro-vessels. A longstanding interest in VEGF-A biology led him to investigate the mystery of high VEGF-A expression in kidney filter cells without accompanying new vessel formation. Collaborating with Professor Dave Bates, their research uncovered the anti-angiogenic activity related to VEGF-A; this included the splice isoform VEGF-A165b, a pivotal discovery in vascular biology. Steve’s 23 years of expertise around VEGF-A165b and its relevance to vascular disease formed the scientific basis for IsomAb. Reflecting on IsomAb’s mission, Steve remarked, “All kidney doctors are frustrated by the reality that despite renal replacement therapy being widely and freely available in the UK, our patients’ mortality is still governed by accelerated vascular disease. ISM-001 potentially enables us to address the challenge of poor revascularisation in ischaemic tissues in all patients with vascular disease, including those with renal conditions, by targeting the mechanism preventing angiogenesis, unlike current approaches.” Learn more about Steve’s contributions, the team, and our pioneering science on our website: https://isomab.bio.

Our Chairman, Paul Edwards, talking about IsomAb at the recent BioSeed 2025 Conference #BioSeed

Our CEO and Chair, Jackie Turnbull and Paul Edwards will be attending BioSeed 2025 at County Hall, London this coming Monday. Paul will be presenting at 10.40am - be sure to attend the session to hear about the progress that IsomAb has made over the past 12 months.

🎄 Seasons greetings from IsomAb! 🎄   As the festive season is upon us, we want to take a moment to wish all our colleagues, supporters, and collaborators a very Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!    Thank you for being a part of our journey—we’re grateful for your continued support and belief in our mission.    Here’s to another great year ahead.

Meet Professor Maarit Venermo, Chair of the Clinical Advisory Board at IsomAb. As Chair, Maarit guides the discussion at Advisory board meetings and plays a key role in steering the direction of our work as we take ISM-001 through the regulatory pathway into clinical trials. Her extensive clinical expertise, coupled with decades of experience in vascular surgery and clinical research, brings a valuable perspective to our team. Maarit’s medical journey began at medical school in Finland in the early 1990s, where she quickly specialised in vascular surgery. Early in her career, she recognised the significant impact of PAD and critical ischemia on patients' lives, sparking a lifelong dedication to improving care and outcomes. After completing a PhD in 2003, she spent a year at Stanford University in California, where she contributed to important PAD research. Upon returning to Finland, Maarit became Finland’s first Associate Professor of Vascular Surgery in 2005 – a huge career milestone. Following this, she took up the position of Senior Consultant at Finland’s largest vascular surgery clinic. She now serves as a Professor and Head of the Department of Vascular Surgery at Helsinki University Hospital, Secretary General of the European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) and has been a member of eleven national/international committees, councils and boards. Over the years, Maarit has published influential research and has been named on 240 publications in the field of vascular surgery. Her work has explored the intricate connections between PAD, cardiovascular health, and innovative treatment pathways, including growth factor therapies for critical limb ischemia.  Her 14th PhD student graduated from HUH in late November 2024. Outside of her professional life, Maarit likes to stay active with outdoor pursuits – despite Finland’s cold winters. She has a newfound love for golf and enjoys bicycling and cross-country skiing. Find out more about the IsomAb Clinical Advisory Board: https://lnkd.in/gMaQNUvW 

IsomAb was recently featured in an article in MedNous (Evernow Publishing Ltd)!   In this article, we discuss the development of ISM-001, our isoform-specific antibody targetting VEGF-A165b which provides a novel treatment pathway for Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD).   PAD affects over 200 million people globally, causing pain, disability, and in severe cases, limb amputation. Current treatments focus on symptom management or surgeries that are not always effective or suitable for all patients. This highlights an urgent need for therapies that target the condition's underlying cause.   ISM-001 has a unique mechanism of action. It targets VEGF-A165b, an isoform of the vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) protein that acts as a brake on angiogenesis—the body’s process of forming new blood vessels. In PAD patients, particularly those with diabetes and obesity, VEGF-A165b is upregulated, suppressing blood vessel growth and worsening ischemic conditions.    ISM-001 specifically neutralises VEGF-A165b, removing this inhibition and allowing the body to restore blood flow, oxygen delivery, and tissue repair in affected areas.   Our innovative approach could radically improve outcomes for PAD patients, offering hope to millions who currently face limited options. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gifWKHis #PeripheralArterialDisease #Antibodies

Last week, our Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder, Professor David Bates, delivered an inspiring talk at the British Heart Foundation’s Translational Research Day.   It was fantastic to see such an engaged and interested audience—thank you all for joining us!

Meet Professor David Bates, Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder of IsomAb.    As CSO and Co-Founder, Dave brings 30 years of expertise in VEGF-A isoforms and biology to IsomAb. His role involves working on the pre-clinical development programme for the development candidate ISM-001. He is also a Board Director; the Board ensures that the Company operates in line with our values and potentially generates value for our investors.    Dave holds a PhD in Physiology from the University of London, where he began studying vascular function in health and disease, leading to a career focused on VEGF-A and VEGF-C physiology. He established his first lab at the University of Leicester in 1996, later moving to Bristol to direct a multidisciplinary lab with five research groups investigating various health conditions.   In 2012, he became Head of Preclinical Oncology at the University of Nottingham, launching a university-wide cancer centre in 2017. In 2013, he co-launched a spin-out company, Exonate, to develop inhibitors for a splice factor kinase affecting VEGF splicing. Serving as CSO, until 2022, he was part of a team leading the development of Exonate’s clinical candidate into a successful phase I clinical trial.    Outside of work, Dave is a keen backcountry skier and qualified ski guide for the Austrian Alpine Club, leading multi-day ski tours through high alpine terrain and climbing peaks. He’s also a keen wine buff, enjoys hiking in the summer and is always working on improving his golf handicap!    Dave is giving a talk at the British Heart Foundation’s Translational Research Day on 21 November, from 11:40 am to 12:00 pm. He’ll be presenting in the session 'Innovation to Impact: Success Stories, Lessons Learned, and Future Outlook,' focusing on novel therapeutics and drug discovery. Don’t miss it if you’re attending! Learn more about the rest of the team, our science and our progress from our refreshed website: https://isomab.bio/