Show Notes 174: Growing Drugs on Trees: How Hot House Therapeutics is Revolutionising Sustainable Medicine Discovery

Episode 174 of the Cambridge Tech Podcast reveals an extraordinary approach to drug discovery that sounds like science fiction but is very much reality.

If you've ever wondered how we might make pharmaceutical manufacturing greener without sacrificing innovation, this week's episode delivers some genuinely exciting answers.

Hot House Therapeutics, a Norwich-based biotech, is harnessing AI and plant biosynthesis to develop the next generation of therapeutic compounds—and they're doing it in greenhouses, not laboratories.

The Weekly Briefing

Before diving into the main feature, hosts Faye Holland and James Parton kicked off with some cracking Cambridge tech news:

• Fact Trace emerges as a timely new startup combating AI-driven misinformation, founded by Loubna Bouarfa (who previously built and sold Okra AI)

• Cambridge Gan Devices appoints new CEO Fabio Necco, with co-founder Giorgio Longobardi transitioning to Chief Marketing Officer

• Upcoming events: Form the Future's "Young People and Work in the Age of AI" conference (29 January) and Cambridge Independent SciTech Awards deadline (end of January)

The Main Event: Hot House Therapeutics

Dr. Dave Sheppard and Dr. Phil Spence joined the show to discuss their genuinely innovative approach to drug discovery. Here's what makes them different:

The Core Technology

Hot House uses AI to screen billions of molecules and genes across plant species, identifying the chemical "tools" that plants have evolved over millions of years. Rather than extracting compounds from nature or synthesising them in labs, they reprogram plants to produce novel therapeutic molecules.

"We use AI and plants to make small molecule therapeutics. Plants have evolved these tools over millions of years to make small molecules—we essentially hijack this system and combine tools from different species to make new molecules with therapeutic purposes." — Dr. Dave Sheppard

Why Stealth Mode Made Sense

One standout decision: Hot House remained deliberately quiet since mid-2024, only emerging from stealth last week. This wasn't about mystery—it was strategic.

"If you're working in a truly disruptive area, you've got to be careful that you go out and tell people what you're going to do without actually having proof that you can deliver it." — Dr. Dave Sheppard

The payoff? Proof of concept. Their vaccine adjuvant program now demonstrates in vivo efficacy in animal models, and they're delivering chemistry at competitive purity levels (95%+) on a bimonthly basis.

Key Differentiators:

• Novel chemical space: Compounds that would take synthetic chemists years to produce individually

• Sustainable production: Using greenhouses and vertical farming rather than chemical labs

• Dual-track approach: Discovery projects (finding new compounds) and production projects (scaling hard-to-access natural compounds)

• Market education: They're not just building a company; they're pioneering an entirely new approach to drug discovery

The Norwich Advantage

The team emphasises Norwich's emerging biotech ecosystem, particularly the John Innes Centre and Anglia Innovation Partnership. With 8 team members currently and plans to scale to 20 post-funding, they're committed to keeping operations rooted in Norwich.

"Norwich is where our roots are. All the skills are there, that's where everybody lives. We're going to be there, our labs are going to be positioned there." — Dr. Phil Spence

What's Next?

Funding round launching January 2026, expansion into additional therapeutic areas (neurodegeneration, oncology), and continued focus on proving that sustainable drug discovery isn't just better for the planet—it's better for patients too.

This is genuinely exciting stuff. If you're interested in deep-tech innovation, sustainable biotech, or just want to hear how AI is enabling entirely new approaches to one of humanity's oldest challenges, this episode is essential listening.

Subscribe to the Cambridge Tech Podcast to hear the full conversation.

To listen and subscribe, search for ‘Cambridge Tech Podcast’ on your favourite podcasting platform or visit cambridgetechpodcast.com.