Pro-Cure Therapeutics Limited (Pro-Cure) was formed in 2001 as a spin-out company from the University of York to exploit commercially the work of Professor Norman Maitland and his team in the Yorkshire Cancer Research (YCR) Cancer Research Unit (CRU). Initial funding was provided by the university, YCR and the White Rose Technology Seedcorn Fund.

In 2002, Professor Maitland and his team embarked upon an ambitious programme to identify stem cells from prostate cancers and to catalogue gene expression in these cells relative to normal differentiated cells. This work, which has now been completed, has identified a unique set of genes, which are specifically up-regulated in prostate cancer stem cells and which the group believes provides a definitive catalogue of new prostate drug targets. These potential prostate targets have also been categorised into distinct classes, providing a functional basis for subsequent prostate drug discovery efforts. Pro-Cure has established a significant patent portfolio in respect of these potential drug targets.

Pro-Cure is now in an excellent position to commercialise these research findings which it believes will lead to the next generation of therapeutic drugs for the treatment of prostate cancer. As part of this activity, Pro-Cure is now expanding its team and its commercial and laboratory capabilities. It occupies modern and well equipped research laboratories in York, at the heart of the hugely successful University Science Park.