NEWS. Spring 2023 was an interesting time for Sciety. Our goal is to make scientific breakthroughs in medicine and technology available to people all over the world. This is why we strive to help innovative companies within life science and digital health to grow and reach their full potential. In partnership with our portfolio companies, we have taken important steps in this direction throughout the spring.
Join us as we look back on the spring highlights for Sciety and our portfolio companies!
A selection of our portfolio companies’ successes
Neogap Therapeutics
The cell therapy company Neogap Therapeutics received approval from the Swedish Medical Products Agency to start its clinical trial for personalized cell therapy for advanced colorectal cancer. The first patient was recruited to the trial this spring.
Neogap Therapeutics also entered into a collaboration with the pharmaceutical company Cellerys, which will use Neogap’s EpiTCer® technology in a phase II trial targeting multiple sclerosis (MS). During the spring, Neogap also reported that with the aid of the company’s EpiTCer® technology, researchers at Karolinska Institutet made discoveries strengthening the link between the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and multiple sclerosis (MS).
At the beginning of the summer, Neogap received soft funding from the European Innovation Council (EIC). Together with fifty other deep-tech companies, Neogap will receive a share of EUR 260 million.
Capitainer
The medical technology company Capitainer entered into a research collaboration with AstraZeneca using Capitainer’s self-sampling products to develop biomarker protocols. The aim of the collaboration is to improve patient diversity and efficiency in clinical trials.
Capitainer also strengthened its advisory board with Mathias Uhlén, a world-leading scientist in biotechnology and proteomics and a successful serial entrepreneur.
This spring Capitainer also launched a fully automated sample handler that, together with the company’s blood testing products, enables large-scale screening and diagnostics. This technology effectively reduces the number of manual steps as well as the time laboratory personnel need to spend preparing Capitainer’s samples for analysis. The first system was delivered to SciLifeLab in Stockholm.
Synartro
The biotech company Synartro has received approval from the Swedish Medical Products Agency and the Swedish Ethical Review Authority to start its phase I/IIa clinical trial for patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, marking an important milestone for the company. Synartro has developed a substance for new and improved treatment of knee osteoarthritis. The company is now applying for manufacturing approval in preparation for the trial, which is planned to start late 2023/early 2024.
Elypta
The diagnostics company Elypta has published research revealing new opportunities for early cancer detection. The research, conducted at Chalmers University of Technology by Elypta’s founders, presents new opportunities for commercializing diagnostic tests that can detect various cancers at an early stage with industry-leading cost-effectiveness and sensitivity. The company is now in discussions with clinicians to investigate how best to implement such testing within healthcare moving forward.
Elypta was also awarded a USD 1 million grant from the Roddenberry Foundation for its innovative metabolism-based test for early cancer detection. The Roddenberry Foundation, founded in memory of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, supports groundbreaking science and technology projects to contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Elypta won the largest grant, the Grand Prize, despite intense competition from companies from eighteen countries.
Akiram Therapeutics
Akiram Therapeutics is developing a targeted radiation therapy for hard-to-treat cancers. At the beginning of the year, the company raised new capital in the amount of SEK 68 million, with Sciety Venture Partners and Linc AB among the investors. Throughout the spring, the company refined its drug candidate for hard-to-treat forms of thyroid cancer.
The company has also expanded its team with a Project Manager and Head of CMC as well as advisors with different areas of expertise, such as clinical development, regulatory issues, and business development.
Marika Nestor, CEO and co-founder of Akiram Therapeutics, was interviewed on Radio Sweden’s science program, Vetenskapsradion, this spring on the subject of curing cancer with targeted immunotherapy. You can listen to the interview (in Swedish) here.
Sciety’s spring milestones
Spring investments
At the beginning of the year, Sciety Venture Partners invested SEK 68 million in Akiram Therapeutics. The investment company Linc AB participated in the stock issue in the amount of SEK 20 million.
Capitainer’s stock issue was closed in February. Sciety Venture Partners invested a total of SEK 55 million and this capital will go towards the company’s continued expansion and product implementation at more laboratories across Europe and the US.
Encare also carried out a new stock issue this spring, aimed primarily at existing stockholders. Encare offers an interactive SaaS solution that helps healthcare providers to follow international treatment guidelines before, during, and after major surgical procedures. The company raised SEK 16.7 million in the stock issue, with this new capital to be invested in continued international expansion and product development.
At the time of writing, we are in the final stages of our investment in the cell therapy company Neogap Therapeutics.
Sciety expands its team and board of directors
Sciety’s operations continue to grow, which has led to several key recruitments this spring.
At the beginning of the year, we welcomed Johannes Wallén and Vilton Bastiampillai to the team as new investment managers. The spring also saw ongoing recruitment efforts within our communications department, and in the fall, three new employees will join us – more information to come.
Sciety also strengthened its board of directors this spring. Tommi Unkuri, partner at Summa Equity, was appointed a new member of the board of directors at the general meeting held on June 13th. With extensive experience in building and developing companies within finance and investing in unlisted life science companies, Unkuri is a valuable addition to the board.
We are proud of the milestones accomplished this spring and celebrate the successes of our portfolio companies. We look forward to an eventful fall.
On that note – Sciety would like to wish you a wonderful, relaxing summer!
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