Domainex Ltd., a UK-based drug discovery company, has announced an investment round to raise £ 1.5m (US$ 2.3m; EUR 1.7m) of capital. The investment will help to develop a range of drug compounds that can address some of the most acute diseases like the kinase based drug development programmes against TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) and IkappaB kinase epsilon (IKKε), both novel drug targets with applications in the treatment of cancer, and epigenetics targets.

This investment round had a successful first close in December 2012, with investments made by Longbow Capital, Calgary, Canada, Bury Fitzwilliam-Lay and Partners, Craven Arms, UK, and University College London Business (UCLB), UK, who together represent the interests of more than half of Domainex’s current shareholders. Longbow Capital is leading the round and will now seek to raise the remaining investment before a second close at end of April.

• Domainex Ltd., Cambridge, UK