Companies

Alder Therapeutics, founded in 2021 by Kristian Tryggvason, is a newly formed Swedish pre-clinical stage biotech, based on discoveries and IP generated by and licensed from DUKE-NUS Medical School in Singapore and Biolamina (which Kristian co-founded). Alder focuses on building a novel cell therapy platform with the best functional cells based on the most simple and robust processes. Alder is a virtual company working with leading cell therapy experts around the world. Their unique platform, initially focusing on retinal and cardiac cell therapeutic products, will allow for better pluripotent cell therapy treatment for the wider masses.

Amarna is a pre-clinical stage biotech company based in Leiden, the Netherlands, developing a non-immunogenic viral vector platform (“Nimvec™”) to produce new gene replacement therapies and new auto-antigen based tolerance induction therapies. Other gene therapies currently in development or already approved typically induce a strong immune response, limiting the possibility for repeat dosing and efficacy in many patients. Nimvec™ is unique in that it does not induce an immune response. Instead, administration of Nimvec™ moderates the immune system to induce tolerance for any genes that are included in the Nimvec™ vector. Thus, Nimvec™ can be used to replace genes, as well as induce tolerance in autoimmunity. Preclinical data with Nimvec™ AM510 showcases its protective effects in delaying the onset of hyperglycemia and preventing the development of T1DM in relevant animal models.

AnaCardio is a Swedish clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel drugs to treat heart failure, increasing contractility with a unique and proprietary mechanism of action. It is based on Professor Lars Lund’s research at Karolinska Institutet on the ghrelin peptide, demonstrating a normalisation of heart function in a proof-of-concept trial in patients without increasing oxygen consumption, arrhythmia, ischaemia, or hypotension. The lead program AC01 is an in-licensed oral peptidomimetic small-molecule being investigated in a phase Ib/IIa clinical study in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction.

Atrogi is a clinical stage company developing a first-in-class drug for the oral treatment of type 2 diabetes, based on Professor Tore Bengtsson’s research at Stockholm University. The lead compound, ATR-258, is a new small molecular compound, targeting the β2-adrenoreceptor in a novel way, leading to stimulation of glucose uptake in skeletal muscle, independently of the insulin signaling pathway. This leads to improvement in glycaemic control with several additional advantageous nonglyceamic effects. A phase 1 trial has recently been completed with the lead candidate ATR-258 in healthy volunteers and patients for patients with type 2 diabetes, meeting both primary and secondary safety endpoints.

Buzzard Pharma is a Swedish clinical stage oncology company developing a potent Interleukin-1 inhibitor, Isunakinra, for the treatment of solid tumors in combination with a PD-1 inhibitor (checkpoint inhibitor). Isunakinra is a chimeric protein binding to IL1R1, inhibiting signaling with high potency. The rights to the drug were acquired from Eleven Biotherapeutics in 2017, repositioning the drug from the ophthalmology area to oncology. Isunakinra is currently in phase I/II in solid tumour patients at the Baylor Research Institute in Dallas, Texas.

Egetis Therapeutics (Egetis) is a publicly listed Swedish company, formed by the merger of PledPharma and Rare Thyroid Therapeutics in 2020. It is a dedicated orphan drug development company with two late-stage orphan drug assets: Emcitate® for treatment of MCT8 deficiency and and Aladote® for prevention of acute liver injury caused by paracetamol poisoning. Egetis submitted a marketing authorisation application (MAA) for Emcitate to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2023 based on existing clinical data and intends to submit a new drug application (NDA) in the US following the read-out of the ongoing registrational ReTRIAC trial.

Empros Pharma is a clinical stage company developing EMP16, an oral weight-loss medication. The product is a re-purposing of established weight-loss and diabetes drugs (orlistat and acarbose). The new controlled-release formulation has an impressive therapeutic effect, while avoiding the troublesome side effects of the two compounds on their own, improving compliance and quality of life. Their aim is to develop a safe oral first-line treatment for this growing patient group, with additional opportunities for paediatric, OTC and maintenance use. In 2024 Empros reported positive topline data for a phase 2b trial that met its primary endpoint demonstrating significantly greater weight loss than orlistat alone. The company is preparing to enter phase III trials.

EpiEndo is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a unique approach to inflammatory disorders that focuses on the enhancement of epithelial barrier integrity to reduce disease-causing inflammation. EpiEndo’s new class of orally available macrolide, with reduced AMR effect, known as a ‘Barriolide’, shows promise as a first-in-class therapeutic for chronic respiratory diseases as well as other inflammatory indications. EpiEndo’s lead asset, EP395, is the first Barriolide to enter into Phase II clinical trials, for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). EP395, aims to be the first on-market oral, barrier strengthening and anti-inflammatory macrolide with reduced AMR effect, for the treatment of COPD, which has a significant unmet need.

Geneos Therapeutics, a US-based clinical stage biotherapeutics company believes that the company’s personalized therapeutic cancer vaccines (PTCVs) may serve an important role in new immunotherapeutic paradigms for cancer. The company’s approach, using its proprietary GT-EPIC™ platform, is to target neoantigens (abnormal mutations produced by cancer cells) from individual patient tumors to develop novel and uniquely personalized treatments for cancer. They are targeting solid tumours, initially liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC). There is an ongoing phase Ib/IIa trial in second-line HCC patients, with initial encouraging results, including a number of complete responses pointing towards a potential cure in a patient group known for its poor prognosis.

KAHR is an Israeli clinical stage cancer immunotherapy company developing novel bi-functional fusion proteins. Their customizable immuno-recruitment cancer drug candidates utilise various methods to synergistically disable cancer defenses and activate a targeted response involving both innate and adaptive immunity. Their Multifunctional Immune Recruitment Protein (MIRP) platform is used to develop next generation solid and haematological tumour treatments with a number of ongoing clinical and preclinical programmes. KAHR’s lead product, DSP107, is a first-in-class CD47x41BB targeting agent currently in clinical development for patients with solid tumors.

Lipum is a publicly listed Swedish clinical stage drug development company. Its biological anti-inflammatory drug candidate SOL-116 has a novel mechanism of action targeting the BSSL protein (originally found in breast milk). Their initial focus is on the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, but they are in parallel exploring additional inflammatory diseases with a high unmet medical need such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. Lipum is evaluating SOL-116 in a clinical phase I study in healthy volunteers and patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Mendus is dedicated to changing the course of cancer treatment by addressing tumor recurrence and improving survival outcomes for cancer patients, while preserving quality of life. They are leveraging their unparalleled expertise in allogeneic dendritic cell biology to develop an advanced clinical pipeline of novel, off-the-shelf, cell-based immunotherapies which combine clinical efficacy with a benign safety profile. Their lead programme vididencel has delivered positive survival data in acute myeloid leukemia, providing the basis for a Phase II combination trial with standard of care (oral azacitidine) and preparing vididencel for late-stage clinical development, including a large-scale manufacturing alliance with NorthX Biologicals. Mendus has additional clinical programs in solid tumors. Based in Sweden and The Netherlands, Mendus is publicly traded on the Nasdaq Stockholm under the ticker IMMU.ST.

Microbiotica is a UK based microbiome company, spun-out from the Sanger Institute in Cambridge, UK in 2016. They are a leading player in the field of microbiome-based therapeutics and biomarkers. The company can identify gut bacteria linked to phenotype with unprecedented precision in order to discover and develop live bacterial therapeutics (LBPs) and biomarkers from clinical datasets, initially focussing on immune-oncology (IO) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Their aim is to develop LBPs that can increase the response rate of cancer patients to immune checkpoint inhibitors and induce remission in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Microbiotica's two lead products, both orally-delivered capsules containing fully manufactured bacterial consortia, MB097 (immuno-oncology candidate) and MB310 (ulcerative colitis candidate) will be evaluated in Phase 1b clinical studies. In addition to its lead programs, Microbiotica is developing a pipeline of follow-on candidates and biomarkers. Microbiotica has partnered with leading organisations, such as Cancer Research UK, Cambridge University Hospitals, University of Adelaide and Genentech.

Prokarium is a UK-based clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, pioneering the field of microbial immunotherapy. Their pipeline is designed to unlock the next level of immuno-oncology by building on the most recent advances in cancer immunology. Prokarium’s lead program is focused on transforming the treatment paradigm in bladder cancer by orchestrating immune-driven, long-lasting antitumor effects. It builds on the natural ability of their bacterial strains to seek out and colonise solid tumours. They have developed attenuated strains capable of targeting tumours without causing pathology in normal tissues. These strains are also capable of delivering specific immunostimulatory cargo aimed at activating the patient’s immune system to destroy tumours. In parallel, the company is developing an oral RNA platform.

Sixera Pharma is a Swedish clinical stage company developing a new treatment for Netherton syndrome, an ultra-orphan (very rare) and serious skin condition. The lead candidate SXR1096 is a small molecule formulated in a cream that is applied topically on the skin, comprising of a specific inhibitor of certain proteases (Kallikreins 5, 7, and 14). SXR1096 has the potential of becoming the first available treatment for this patient group, and it has received orphan drug designation (ODD) both by the EMA and the FDA for the treatment of Netherton syndrome. A phase I/II proof of concept study is being carried out to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the drug in patients at five European sites. The company’s CEO is serial biotech entrepreneur Maarten de Château, founder of Cormorant Pharmaceuticals, sold to Bristol Myers Squibb in 2016 for up to $520 million.

Strike Pharma is a Swedish company founded by KOL and serial entrepreneur Sara Mangsbo in 2021, developing a novel next generation Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) technology within the immuno-oncology precision medicine space, the ADAC technology. ADACs are short for Adaptable Drug Affinity Conjugates and are built to improve the delivery of tailor-made synthetic molecules to specific cell types for improved immune modulation. Their aim is to take precision medicine to a new level, enabling development of individualized immunotherapeutic treatments based on the genetic profile of each patient’s tumor. Such highly targeted treatments offer the potential to increase therapeutic efficacy and reduce dosage levels thereby minimizing the risk of side effects. Their lead molecule STRIKE2001-KRAS, covering multiple KRAS mutations, is currently in preparation for phase I trials.

Synerkine Pharma is a Dutch biopharmaceutical company developing a novel class of biologics, called Synerkines, that connect two different anti-inflammatory cytokines and enhance their activity via a unique mode of action. Their initial focus is on chronic pain. The company’s lead programme SK-01 is a fusion of interleukins IL-4 and IL-10 for complex regional pain syndrome, a severe form of chronic pain, and osteoarthritis. The SK-02 programme is a fusion of IL-4 and IL-13 and is being developed for in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Synerkine Pharma has proof of concept data in relevant animal models for the first in human indication and is working on the next development steps towards a first clinical trial. The ability to treat chronic pain with drugs that mimic endogenous immune molecules and are based on a different mechanism of action than the traditional analgesic drugs holds tremendous therapeutic and commercial potential. Synerkine has a manufacturing alliance with NorthX Biologics.

Toleranzia is a publicly listed Swedish drug development company aiming to restore the immune system’s normal ability to tolerate the endogenous substances that are mistakenly targeted in patients suffering from severe autoimmune diseases. The Company’s tolerogens have the potential to be the first long-acting or curative therapies that act specifically on the underlying cause of the autoimmune disease for which they are developed. Toleranzia's primary drug candidate, TOL2, is being developed as a treatment for the autoimmune orphan disease myasthenia gravis, which is a chronic and progressive disease that causes gradually increasing muscle weakness. The second drug candidate, TOL3, is being developed as a treatment for the autoimmune orphan disease ANCA vasculitis, which is a chronic and progressive disease that causes blood vessel inflammation and damage to blood vessel walls. The company is preparing for an upcoming phase I/IIa clinical trial in myasthenia gravis patients.

Vitara Biomedical is a US-based MedTech company in the preclinical phase of development. Inspired by nature, Vitara is developing a fluid-filled incubator for premature infants to reduce mortality and improve quality of life compared to the current standard of care. By reducing lifelong complications such as bronchial pulmonary dysplasia, chronic lung disease, sepsis, loss of vision, and necrotizing enterocolitis the quality of life of the baby could be dramatically improved.

Xspray Pharma is a Swedish publicly listed pharmaceutical company developing improved protein kinase inhibitors (PKIs) for the treatment of cancer using an innovative technology platform. PKIs are the second largest group of drugs in oncology, whereby drug prices are high. Xspray use their innovative, patented RightSize™ technology to develop improved stable amorphous versions of marketed drugs. This allows them to gain entry as the first competitor to today’s original drugs before the secondary patents expire. The current pipeline includes improved versions of three blockbuster cancer drugs Sprycel®, Tasigna® and Inlyta® plus an undisclosed pipeline. Their lead candidate Dasynoc (XS004) has achieved bioequivalence with a 30 percent lower dose compared to the original drug, Sprycel®, and is unaffected by the pH value of the stomach. Therefore this improved version can thus be used together with omeprazole without affecting the absorption of dasatinib, which facilitates treatment of peptic ulcers while the patient is being treated for cancer.

Cobra Biologics was a leading international advanced therapy CDMO with GMP approved facilities in both Sweden and the UK, sold to Cognate BioServices in 2019, which was subsequently acquired by Charles River Laboratories in 2021.

Cormorant Pharmaceuticals was a privately held, biopharmaceutical company founded by Maarten de Château and Urban Paulsson. Based on mounting research pointing to IL-8 being an important driver of malignant tumors, HuMax-IL8 (a fully human monoclonal antibody) was acquired from Genmab A/S and taken into development by Cormorant. Cormorant was acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb in 2016.

Wilson Therapeutics was a biopharmaceutical company, based in Stockholm, Sweden, developing novel therapies for patients with rare copper-mediated disorders. Wilson Therapeutics' product, WTX101, was in Phase 3 development as a novel treatment for Wilson disease when it was acquired by Alexion in 2018.