CAMBRIDGE, UK, May 19, 2026
Cyclana Bio announced that it has received Health Research Authority (HRA) and Research Ethics Committee (REC) approval for its large-scale PEMP (Predicting Endometriosis Mechanisms and Populations) clinical observational study investigating the underlying biology of endometriosis. The 500-patient study has already recruited its first participants at Peterborough City Hospital, while recruitment has also begun at Rosie Hospital. The study aims to generate deeper biological understanding of endometriosis using tissue-level analysis, human biopsy samples, menstrual fluid, and advanced 3D disease models to identify novel therapeutic targets and improve patient stratification. The announcement marks a major milestone for Cyclana Bio as the company expands its tissue-first drug discovery platform focused on underserved women’s health conditions and chronic inflammatory diseases.
PEMP Study Aims to Decode the Biology of Endometriosis
Endometriosis affects approximately 1 in 10 women worldwide, yet treatment options remain limited because of poor disease modeling and incomplete understanding of the biological mechanisms driving the condition. Cyclana Bio’s PEMP study is designed to address these gaps by collecting patient-derived biological samples including endometrial biopsies and menstrual fluid to build physiologically relevant 3D in vitro disease models. These models will allow researchers to investigate how endometriosis develops at the tissue level and identify pathways involved in inflammation, fibrosis, and disease progression.
The company plans to compare tissue dynamics between healthy women and patients with endometriosis to better understand the mechanisms underlying disease heterogeneity. Cyclana Bio previously identified a significant role for the extracellular matrix (ECM) in endometriosis progression, and the new observational study will further evaluate whether the disease is driven by a common biological pathway or requires more personalized therapeutic strategies. The findings may support development of targeted treatments capable of addressing the root causes of the disease rather than only managing symptoms.
The study is being conducted by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust. The research is led by Chief Investigator M. Saikat Banerjee at the Rosie Hospital, alongside Principal Investigator M. Lukasz Polanski at Peterborough City Hospital and Investigator Dr. Norman Shreeve in Cambridge. According to Cyclana Bio, integrating molecular phenotyping, genomics, and tissue-level disease modeling may significantly improve understanding of endometriosis biology and accelerate therapeutic discovery.
Tissue-First Drug Discovery Could Transform Women’s Health Research
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Cyclana Bio’s platform focuses on a tissue-first methodology designed to uncover shared disease mechanisms that may be missed by traditional intracellular drug discovery approaches. The company believes that studying intact tissue architecture and extracellular signaling networks can provide more accurate biological insight into chronic inflammatory diseases such as endometriosis. This strategy reflects growing interest across the biotechnology sector in developing physiologically relevant disease models that better predict clinical outcomes and improve drug development success rates.
Dr. Léa Wenger, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Cyclana Bio, stated that the company’s ultimate goal is to develop life-changing therapies for millions of women living with debilitating endometriosis. She emphasized that the startup environment enables rapid scientific iteration and flexible translational research, potentially accelerating the path toward better treatment solutions. The company also highlighted that current drug discovery programs focused primarily on intracellular mechanisms have often failed to generate optimal therapies for endometriosis patients.
Researchers involved in the study stressed the importance of improving scientific understanding of a disease that continues to be underdiagnosed and poorly understood despite its widespread prevalence. Investigators believe combining patient-derived tissue analysis with advanced molecular technologies could help identify previously unknown disease pathways and create opportunities for precision medicine approaches tailored to different patient populations.
Cyclana Bio Expands Precision Women’s Health Platform
The PEMP study is funded through Cyclana Bio’s previously completed £5 million pre-seed financing round, which closed last year. The company plans to use future financing rounds to expand patient recruitment across additional study sites and extend its tissue-level discovery platform into other chronic inflammatory diseases with similar biological mechanisms. Cyclana Bio’s broader strategy positions the company within the emerging biotechnology sector focused on precision women’s health and advanced disease modeling.
As awareness of women’s health research gaps continues to grow globally, biotechnology companies developing new approaches to endometriosis are receiving increasing scientific and investor attention. Cyclana Bio’s combination of clinical observational research, tissue engineering, and molecular profiling reflects a broader industry shift toward precision-driven therapeutics and biologically informed disease modeling. If successful, the PEMP study could contribute valuable data toward identifying new therapeutic targets and improving future treatment strategies for endometriosis patients worldwide.
Source: Cyclana Bio press release
