Spinning out science: how we're helping Brigid Bio go from lab to market

14 November 2025 | 6 minute read

Aberdeen-based Brigid Bio Ltd is developing monoclonal antibody-based therapies for life-threatening and drug-resistant invasive fungal infections. 

With mortality rates in some critically ill and immunocompromised patients as high as 80%, despite receiving existing antifungal drugs, the novel Brigid Bio approach has lifesaving potential.  

The life sciences company began in the labs at the University of Aberdeen, where Brigid Bio’s Co-founder and CEO Dr Soumya Palliyil led the Scottish Biologics Facility (SBF). At the time, she was managing a portfolio of diagnostic and therapeutic monoclonal antibody development programmes, working with industry partners and academic collaborators. 

It became clear that the SBF’s antifungal programme had real commercial potential, but Dr Palliyil and co-founder Professor Carol Munro (now Chief Scientific Officer at Brigid Bio) weren’t sure of the best path to move it beyond the research stage. The question often facing researchers is whether to licence their research or spinout as a new company. With research often taking seven years or more to get from lab to market, getting this initial step right is fundamental to success. 

From lab-based research to commercial reality  

Soumya first heard about the HGSP from Aberdeen University’s Technology Transfer Team, and got more information when she attended the Opportunity North East Bio Hub Accelerator Programme. 

She said: “To take the next step we needed to know what the best option was for us – did we want to license the technology or spin out? As part of the accelerator programme, we spoke to industry experts and potential customers and realised that we were too early for licensing. If we really wanted to make the most of our research, the best option was for us to spin out.” 

Kristina Tamane was Brigid Bio’s HGSP project manager. She added that if a project team has the appetite to be a high growth company in the future, HGSP is the ideal route to take. Through the programme, the team receives hands-on support with access to wider Scottish Enterprise support, as well as a dedicated HGSP Project Manager to advance their successful journey.  

What the HGSP offers

The support offered through the HGSP depends on the age and stage of a project’s commercial journey. The Brigid Bio team were accepted onto the programme in January 2023 at the Opportunity Qualification stage.  

At this stage, the programme provides initial funding to help address gaps in the spinout business case – including primary customer and investor engagement, market validation and technology de-risking.  

Brigid Bio moved into the company creation stage in October 2023. The final stage of the programme is funding (in the form of a Convertible Loan Note or CLN), which the company received in May 2025. 

Soumya said one of the key benefits of taking part in the programme was finding a commercial champion. This is someone who comes on board to help identify the commercial potential of the project, act as a guide, and open doors on its journey to company creation.  

She said: “You need to have the right team if you want to be successful. The HGSP helps you bring the right people on board to take your work forward, and they need to share the ambition and vision to drive the company post-spinout.   

“Chris Jones, came on board as our business advisor at the company creation phase and is now our Executive Chairman. Chris has a wealth of experience with several biotech companies including Elasmogen, another successful spinout from the University of Aberdeen’s School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition."

Building new networks and global reach  

Through the programme Brigid Bio also accessed additional support from both Scottish Enterprise and the wider entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem. Soumya took part in Innovate UK’s Global Business Innovation Programme (GBIP) on Antimicrobial Resistance or AMR in 2024. This saw her travel to Switzerland to meet with industry experts, biotech/pharma companies and funders and attend the annual AMR Conference in Basel, one of the leading international platforms for tackling antimicrobial resistance. 

As part of the HGSP, she completed Invest-Ability training which was put to good use at the AMR conference, where she took part in a pitch competition led by the INCubator for Antibacterial Therapies in Europe (INCATE). In doing so, the company was exposed to new partnerships and funding opportunities, and recently secured INCATE Stage 2 funding.

Brigid Bio also took part in Innovate UK’s ICURe programme, which provided funding for Soumya to go and speak to potential customers and test the market. 

She said: “HGSP gave us access to programmes, market intelligence, and funding opportunities which we otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to explore. Having the right people to signpost you to these things is invaluable.” 

The company received support from Scottish Enterprise’s international arm, Scottish Development International, and attended the BIO International Convention in San Diego in 2024 as part of the Scotland Pavilion. This gave the company visibility and connected it with key global players.