Neil Thomas

Ventac Partners is a dedicated life science investment and consulting firm with offices in Europe, USA and Asia. Ventac Partners has a strong track record in founding new innovative companies, strategic and operational market and product analysis, intellectual property development, fund raising, licensing, M&A and strategy consulting. All partners are experienced executives from pharma, biotech and medtech companies, and preclinical, clinical and regulatory, legal and intellectual property experts with extensive backgrounds in successfully starting, growing and expanding international life science companies.

I manage business development and IP strategy for Cube Labs and its portfolio of 17 healthcare technology companies created from Italian academic innovation. This includes evaluating new opportunities, guiding licensing and partnerships, and supporting early-stage ventures. In March 2023, Cube Labs completed a EUR 4.1M IPO on Euronext Growth Milan.

Eolo Pharma is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering new approaches to treat obesity and metabolic disease. By targeting the body’s energy expenditure pathways, we aim to develop transformative therapies that go beyond traditional weight-loss mechanisms. Our lead candidate, MVD-1, is the first compound shown to safely activate creatine-dependent thermogenesis in humans, a novel biological process with the potential to reset metabolic health. Backed by over a decade of research, our work reflects a commitment to advancing science-driven solutions that improve lives worldwide.

Inhibitec Anticuerpos SL was founded in 2019 (Santander, Spain) with the goal of introducing new treatments for patients with autoimmune/chronic inflammatory diseases like psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, based on the blockade of BAMBI (BMP and Activin Membrane-Bound Inhibitor). Inhibitec is a spin off company from the University of Cantabria - with technology from a group led by Dr. Jesus Merino, MD, PhD - and from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) - with technology from a group led by Dr. Ramon Merino, MD, PhD.

ArrayPatch is a University College Cork (UCC) spin-out commercialising DerMap™, its proprietary, patent-protected dissolvable microneedle technology for enhanced drug delivery. The company is initially focused on the USD 6Bn dermatology market, with a pipeline addressing therapeutic areas worth a combined USD 70Bn. As an Independent Non-Executive Director, I provide strategic guidance to the founder/CEO and executive team with a focus is on supporting the company's partnering and financing objectives. This includes advising on: * Seed fundraising and future Series A financing strategy. * Intellectual property strategy to protect the core DerMap™ platform and new developments. * Business development, out-licensing opportunities, and establishing key pharmaceutical partnerships.

IP Strategy Advisor. Tetraneuron is dedicated to bridging the gap between laboratory science and clinical practice for patients with neurodegenerative conditions. Their lead programme focuses on a novel gene therapy that addresses neuronal dysfunction via the E2F4 pathway.

CAPTURE, DETECT & PRESERVE: ZipPrime has developed a novel circulating free DNA (cfDNA) capturing and preservation technology as a complete and dedicated pre-analytical workflow for early disease diagnosis. Instead of size selection-based of cfDNA extraction methods, ZipPrime’s technology prevents the loss of cfDNAs and improves the accuracy of cfDNA-based clinical diagnosis by tagging each and every cfDNA fragment, including the very rare cfDNA biomarkers, at a single molecule level. ZipPrime’s patented cfDNA capturing and preservation technology also allows the reusable storage, enrichment and subsequent testing of captured cfDNA fragments by constructing a reusable cfDNA biomarker library without the need for complicated devices or protocols. This disruptive cfDNA manipulation workflow creates a reusable cfDNA biomarker library template of the captured cfDNA fragments, which can be amplified, sequenced and/or re-analysed with any PCR-based protocol whenever required, even after long-term storage. Collaborations and licensing opportunities are currently being explored in several key fields.

Next Generation Neuromodulation Solutions and Beyond: we develop a novel wirelessly powered neural interfacing technology enabling bi-directional communication with the nerve tissue.

Advisor to the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation since 2012, guiding patent protection, licensing, and startup creation. Designed and delivered training courses on innovation commercialisation and IP strategy for students and staff. Awarded the University’s Badge of Distinction in 2015 for significant contributions to the institution. https://www.ut.ee/en/business

Conducted comparative structural and functional analysis of plant and bacterial enzymes involved in fatty acid synthesis (3-oxoacyl-ACP reductase). The research utilised a combination of gene cloning, over-expression, and advanced characterisation techniques. A key contribution was the development of novel, high-yield protein purification protocols, which directly enabled collaborators to solve the enzyme's first 3D crystal structure (PDB: 1EDO). The research also provided foundational data on the enzyme's reaction mechanism and its multiple isoforms, findings which have been subsequently validated by genomic and biophysical research.