Alumni Archives

Lipum – a novel treatment of chronic inflammations

Lipum develops a biological pharmaceutical for a novel mechanism of action in the treatment of chronic inflammations. The lead candidate drug (SOL-116) is a monoclonal antibody directed towards the protein bile salt-stimulated lipase, BSSL. One indication is as an orphan drug for the more severe forms of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), providing patients with an effective treatment alternative having less adverse effects than the drugs used today.

Nordic Biomarker AB – a manufacturer of latex reagents for coagulation and clinical chemistry analyzers

Nordic Biomarker was founded in 2007 by the biochemist Dr Göran Aronsson and the clinical biochemist Dr Gunnar Pohl. Their business idea didn’t directly come from their research at the time at Umeå University, rather from a clear customer need that they identified after their research period. Today, Nordic Biomarker has grown to 20 employees, has a turnover of SEK 40 million with good profitability, and has customers all over the world.

Medsens AB – exact real time prostate cancer diagnosis

By combining two different methods, Medsens AB is aiming at offering a whole new tool for realtime microdiagnostics during prostate cancer surgery. The company’s instrument is far more accurate that the methods used by clinicians today – which could make surginal procedures much more efficient. The project is based on the work of Olof Lindahl och Kerstin Ramser.

HILICON AB

HILICON is a world leading company in developing and manufacturing chromatography products for HILIC (hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography) separation of polar and hydrophilic compounds. They offer a broad range of HILIC products under the brand names of iHILIC®-Fusion, iHILIC®-Fusion(+), iHILIC®-Fusion(P), and iSPE®-HILIC.

Brain Stimulation – stroke rehabilitation with virtual reality (VR)

Brain stimulation offer digital evidence-based virtual reality rehabilitation for improved quality of life for stroke patients. We offer an accessible treatment strategy for patients suffering from neglect with shorter stay at hospital and eventually less need of support in their daily life.

MD Biomedical – the startup behind the Onzurf Probe

The company has developed a unique and patented probe and method, Onzurf, which can be used to monitor the status of bodily organs from the surface of the organ in question. The probe provides critical life-saving information for patients, and saves resources for the health care sector.

Lipigon AB – a lipid biology specialist company

Lipigon is a lipid biology specialist company. It utilizes proprietary and unique know-how and technologies to discover and develop novel therapies for patients with lipid disorders and other cardio-metabolic risk factors.

On a mission to develop antivirals to combat herpes virus infection

Fredrik Elgh and Jonathan Gilthorpe identified a novel antiviral activity against the herpes virus that targets the early stages of viral infection. They have explored this further to develop an antiviral drug that can be used to treat herpes virus infections more efficiently and help overcome antiviral resistance.

Eirium AB – on a mission to find a treatment for immuno-compromised patients

Eirium AB was founded in 2012 as a spin-off company from Umeå University, Sweden. The vision of the company was to develop novel antiviral therapies to address an unmet medical need – a treatment for immuno-compromised patients. The company is currently on hold.

Tanomed AB – developed a unique nasal spray

Tanomed has developed a unique nasal spray to relieve and prevent the progression of the common cold by reinforcing the body’s own defenses. The patented technology is based on Swedish research carried out in cooperation with Umeå University and with business development support from the Umeå Biotech Incubator. The company was sold to Karo Bio AB in spring 2015.

UmeCrine Slim – a novel substance to modulate appetite control

Obesity is a serious and increasing worldwide problem. Inhibition of the appetite-stimulating factors would be a possible treatment for obesity. This discovery provides a target for possible drug intervention for limiting food intake among the obese. Today the hypothesis still holds and three drug companies have been formed.

Betulaceae Pharmaceuticals – improved quality of life during cancer

Our project goals aim at increased survival, improved quality of life and less suffering for cancer patients. Our novel chemical entities (NCE) can prevent over-activation of certain signaling pathways and are based on existing pharmaceuticals that are well tolerable and easy to produce. This will be a first in class drug with little side effects (known drug class), addressing cancer induced cachexia and suppression of the immune system.

Mouth-rinse against periodontitis and tooth loss

Periodontitis, or gum disease, is both painful and socially stigmatizing. Anders Johansson and his team identified a plant extract with the ability to neutralize the A. actinomycetemcomitans leucotoxin as a possible solution for a new treatment.

Inficure AB – in vivo validation of fibrotic drug candidates

InfiCure Bio offer advanced drug validation services for pharmaceutical companies developing drugs against fibrosis – or scar tissue formation in organs. The shortage of existing model systems that reflect human fibrotic disease conditions, make this a very attractive CRO-service for pharmaceutical developers.

Morphobloc – new antifungal agents blocking virulence

Current drugs against mycoses are toxic. We aim to develop a new class of antifungal agents that disarm the invasive forms of fungal cells instead of merely eradicating them. This has two advantages: The new compounds are less aggressive for the host and resistance development is reduced.

Molecular phenotyping for neurodegenerative diseases

We are developing a targeted mass-spectrometry biomarker tool for differentiating subgroups of patients with Parkinsonian disorders exhibiting similar clinical symptoms but having distinct molecular etiologies of neurological disease.

Dianox – educational solutions in anaerobic bacteriology

Delayed or inappropriate treatment of anaerobic infections may result in severe disease or death. With knowledge levels dropping at many clinical laboratories, the need for anaerobic proficiency increases. Dianox is developing educational solutions to halt this trend in health care.

Programming cyanobacterial cells for self-aggregation

Cyanobacteria have significant potential as industrial biotechnology platforms to produce a wide variety of bio-products, such as polymers, sugars and powerful antioxidants such as C-phycocyanin. Our team have created a set of genetic tools that give significant advantages in the microalgae industry for save, efficient and specific bioproduction.

Pro Test Diagnostics – the next generation of anti-doping tests

Pro Test Diagnostics has developed a routine test to monitor and detect illegal use of one’s own stored blood to enhance performance in elite athletes. The ABT™-test can expose athletes who have used blood doping and the result is not affected by the athlete’s training intensity, the use of high-altitude training or the use of low oxygen tents.

Gobroxia AB – neutralizing bacterial exotoxins

A natural compound-approach for neutralizing exotoxins from various gram-negative pathogens. Gobroxia AB has developed a novel method to treat pathogens causing diseases such as diarrhea, sepsis, tooth loss and whooping cough in humans, as well as bovine respiratory disease in cattle and pneumonia in pigs.