Led by chief executive Dimitri Dimitriou (who holds a masters degree in pathology and toxicology) and chief scientific officer Dr Robert Zimmer (formerly head of research at SkyePharma), ImmuPharma hopes its research will yield drugs addressing disorders such as lupus and MRSA. Other substances are being investigated to provide relief for cancer sufferers and those experiencing post-operative pain.

As peptides are naturally produced in the body, the company also believes the development risks associated with its compounds will be greatly reduced.

Arriving via the reverse takeover of existing AIM shell General Industries, the company is expected to valued at £28.8 million on arrival.

‘Over the last decade the big companies in the pharmaceutical industry have become increasingly interested in licensing novel blockbuster drugs from small research and development-based companies,’ says Dimitriou. ‘With ImmuPharma’s innovative portfolio of drug candidates in niche therapeutic areas, we are well placed to meet this need and attract major corporate deals.’