Novolytics was formed in 2002 as a spin-out from the University of Warwick, Coventry, UK, to exploit the results of research into the use of bacteriophages to combat bacterial infection (phage therapy). The unique proprietary technology of the company is the basis for its success and its market readiness.

A bacteriophage is a virus, made up of a piece of genetic information within a protein coat, and can reproduce only in susceptible cells. The target cells for phages are specific kinds of bacteria. They cannot infect the cells of more complex organisms because of major differences in key intracellular machinery as well as in cell-surface components. Bacteria and phages have evolved together. In the wild each kind of bacterium has its own phages associated with it. These may be isolated wherever that particular bacterium grows. Phages can be either lytic, causing immediate rupture of the bacterial cell, or lysogenic; here the phage can integrate with the bacterial DNA and remain dormant until environmental stresses trigger the assembly and release of progeny phages and rupture of the cell. This dormant stage of a lysogenic phage is known as a prophage.

Phage therapy was first developed early in the 20th century but has been little used in the West since the advent of antibiotics in the 1940s. However, it has been widely used in Eastern Europe, and many successes have been reported over the last fifty years. The results of that work, together with recent animal work in the West, encourage optimism that phages can play an important role in dealing with increasingly drug-resistant microbes. Previously, phages were given by virtually every route, at unknown concentrations, to patients without specific bacteriological diagnosis, using uncontrolled trials with little or no long-term follow-up. The success of phage therapy therefore needs to be validated using proper controlled clinical trials and proper diagnoses.

Phages are both self-replicating and self-limiting, and are targeted far more specifically than antibiotics to the specific problem bacteria. They cause much less damage to normal bacterial flora, reducing the risk of secondary infections, hospitalisation time, expense and mortality. They also have the advantage that, unlike antibiotics, they continue multiplying and penetrating deeper as long as the infection is present. Phages could be used independently or in conjunction with other antibiotics to help reduce the development of bacterial resistance, or be used prophylactically at times of risk to help protect against hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections. Few, if any, side effects have been reported for phage therapy. Patients with allergies to conventional antibiotics may tolerate phage therapy approaches better.

John graduated with a First in Biological Sciences from Birmingham University and then became a Chartered accountant with KPMG in London. He worked in corporate finance for a private client merchant bank and Deloitte Touche before joining 3i Group plc in 1994. After 4 years with the private equity group he became Group Finance Director of The Safa Group Limited, a healthcare business that 3i had backed in a management buyout from The Intercare Group. Safa was reversed into an AIM listed shell in 2003. In recent years John ran a regional venture capital fund called NWEF, investing primarily in early stage technology businesses. He became Novolytics' CEO in October 2009.

Geoff is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales having qualified with PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1981; he attained his Chartered Tax Adviser qualification in 1984. He is an experienced Finance Director who has served on the Boards of numerous venture capital backed and AIM listed businesses. He has wide experience of businesses operating in healthcare, drug testing services, medical testing services for LifeCos, and early stage pharmaceutical R&D. Geoff has worked closely with Mark Hurley over the last 4 years in a number of investee companies assisting with fundraisings, implementing and strengthening management information systems and internal controls and closely managing cash.

David has enjoyed a highly successful career in the medical diagnostics, pharmaceuticals and healthcare sectors. He has extensive board and operational experience through appointments with Chiron Diagnostics, Ciba Corning Diagnostics, Boehringer Mannheim, American Monitor Corporation and Flow Laboratories. David also has extensive skill in helping small life science businesses to prosper. He was the founder of Stratagem CFS where he remains a Director. He is also Director of Stratagem Intellectual Property Management and Non-Executive Director of clinical trials specialist AMS Advanced Medical Services.

David is a business angel investor who works in risk management for the insurance industry.

Mark is a serial entrepreneur and is an active investor and director in several UK Companies. He is a self made multi millionaire who built and sold a company with £80 million turnover, and subsequently established and ran a variety of licensing companies generating income in excess of £22 million. He chairs a number of Venture Capital backed businesses, predominantly in the drug and medical device development, and diagnostics sector. Mark has a degree in Mathematics, an MBA and completed The Patent Office exams.