At the start of the year, Felipe Velasquez assumed the CEO role after more than 30 years in the life sciences industry and a prior role as an advisor to Omnio.
”I’ve spent three decades in healthcare. My strength lies in taking a project from A to Z and optimizing that journey. That’s what we aim to do with Omnio,” he says.
Omnio AB, founded by board member and head of R&D, Professor Tor Ny, raised approximately 4.3 million euros (about SEK47 million), primarily from its existing shareholder base.
“It’s a strong capital boost. Several of our investors are biotech-focused and understand the challenges and opportunities. Others come from different sectors but see clear value in our science,” says Felipe Velasquez.
Omnio’s mission is to help people with hard-to-heal diabetic foot ulcers regain mobility and avoid amputation. The lead drug candidate is a recombinant form of plasminogen, a protein with pro-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties.
Preclinical regulatory studies planned this summer
The GMP-adapted manufacturing process is currently being finalized, with preclinical regulatory studies planned for later this summer. Phase IIa clinical trials are scheduled to begin in mid-2026.
“While there are many products on the market for advanced wound healing, ours stands out. The studies we’ve conducted suggest that our plasminogen-based therapy is comprehensive — active in all phases of wound healing — and also offers protection against infections, including those caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.”
Drug development is inherently complex, and the company’s scientific expertise is a key asset. Felipe Velasquez says that a thorough understanding of the protein is essential for creating a stable, scalable, and commercially viable manufacturing process.
“Plasminogen isn’t widely known, but our team has deep expertise — especially Tor Ny, who is among the most experienced professionals in this field.”
Plans to expand the workforce
Though Omnio operates with a small internal team, it collaborates with an extensive network of consultants. Currently, the company employs four staff members in Umeå, comprising a financial manager and three R&D specialists, including Tor Ny. In addition, Omnio engages a manufacturing specialist based in Denmark and a clinical trials expert located in the United Kingdom.
The new CEO is based in Barcelona but has already made two trips to the headquarters at Tvistevägen 48 in Umeå.
With fresh funding, the company plans to expand its workforce and strengthen the regulatory and manufacturing teams during 2025.
“We’ll continue to grow our R&D capacity as we develop additional therapies beyond diabetic foot ulcers over the next two to three years. R&D positions will likely be based in Umeå, while locations for other roles are yet to be determined,” concludes Felipe Velasquez.
For further information, please contact:
Felipe Velasquez
CEO, Omnio AB
Email: info@omnio.se