Tom Hunter has confirmed West Coast Capital (WCC), the investment arm of the Hunter family, has made a multi-million pound investment in Ellipses Pharma, the cancer drugs venture founded by biotech entrepreneur Chris Evans.

WCC said Ellipses Pharma’s investors include United Arab Emirates president Mohamed bin Zayed, Redrow founder Steve Morgan, and the Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood.

Hunter said: “I’ve known Chris for over 25 years and invested with him over the years.

“This investment for us is very exciting – the quality of the team, world class use of expert knowledge and the intelligent disruption of financing the drug discovery…

“And then of course led by the force of nature that is Professor Sir Chris Evans.”

Ellipses Pharma has invested $150 million into its clinical drugs pipeline and is planning to invest another $100 million, of which $40 million was raised recently.