A Name with Purpose

The name Barinthus comes from a character named in legends relating to King Arthur of Britain, mentioned in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Vita Merlini (Life of Merlin), written 1150 AD, in which the character is noted as a guide and navigator.

Barinthus was the name of the mythological navigator who guided the legendary King Arthur of Britain by ship to the island of Avalon to be healed, when he was wounded.

The company has evolved significantly since it was created in 2016 and we wanted a name that reflected the company’s history, would help tell our more recent story and tie-in to the science behind our platforms. We feel that the story of the legendary king being wounded and being guided to a place of healing where he continues to live is mirrored in terms of our proprietary platforms and technology. ChAdOx, MVA, SNAP-TI and SNAP-CI platforms are very much focused on guiding the immune system towards an appropriate, balanced and durable healthy response – whether that is to help overcome immune suppression to clear a chronic HBV infection or dial down an autoimmune response to gluten protein in Celiac Disease.

The inspiration of the name from Arthurian legend nods to our UK-based history, while the strengths of a good guide and navigator very much reflect our company values and technological approach:

• Leading the way with our passion for science,
• Having the flexibility to adapt and take advantage of opportunities or avoid obstacles,
• Empowering employees to navigate for themselves,
• Being accountable to ensure we are maximizing value to drive innovation,
• And of course, inspiring trust in the patients who we are working on behalf of.

Barinthus Biotherapeutics aims to help patients’ immune systems navigate their way to overcoming chronic infectious diseases, autoimmunity and cancer.