The first approved T cell therapy for solid tumours, how the eye can display how your liver is doing and progress in our portfolio companies

Spring is almost here and we look forward to brighter days with more natural light here in the Nordics. Natural light has many benefits—not only does it improve our mood, it also regulates our circadian rhythm and promotes better sleep quality. So it's no wonder that we feel more energetic in the spring!

Last week, the funding round of Capitainer —a medtech company that offers a unique platform for self-sampling of blood and plasma from the fingertip—was completed. In total, Sciety and Sciety Venture Partners invested SEK 20.2 million. The funds will be used for expansion of the company's production and establishment in the USA.

Keep reading for more news about our portfolio companies and our insights, where we take a closer look at the first approved T cell therapy for solid tumours and a revolutionary method for studying liver health through the eyes.

News from our portfolio companies

Capitainer strengthens the board and enters strategic partnership

Medtech company Capitainer , developing intelligent solutions for self-sampling of blood, welcomes Andreas Lindblom, Managing Partner at Sciety, and Louise Warme, head of We Venture Capital (Werfen Group's venture capital operation), to the board. The appointment of these new board members strengthens Capitainer's board with strategic competence and expertise, providing a solid foundation for the company's upcoming commercialisation phase.

Capitainer has also entered into a collaboration agreement with the privately owned genetic laboratory Life Genomics, to broaden the use of the company's self-sampling technology. The collaboration initially focuses on offering tests for hypothyroidism (a condition characterised by a lack of thyroid hormone), which increases the availability of diagnostic tests and has the potential to improve the quality of life for people with thyroid issues.

Read more about Capitainer's new board members and the agreement with Life Genomics

Neogap granted Australian patent and secures EU funding for cancer research project

Biotech company NEOGAP Therapeutics AB , developing personalised cancer immunotherapy using the patient's own cells, has been granted a patent in Australia for a new method in the treatment and diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). The method covered by the patent uses specially designed molecules to reprogram the immune system so that it tolerates rather than attacks the body's own cells, which is key to effective MS treatment. This method, combined with Neogap's EpiTCer? technology, paves the way for advances in the development of both treatment methods and diagnostic processes for MS.

Neogap has also received SEK 5 million in EU funding from Eurostars, for a collaboration project with the French biotech company Okomera. The funding will support the development of a method to analyse T cell activity against cancer, which is part of Neogap's work to develop individualised immunotherapy for the treatment of colorectal cancer. The collaboration with Okomera focuses on improving the understanding of T cells' ability to attack tumour cells, with the goal of predicting the effectiveness of Neogap's cell therapy products.

Read more about Neogap's granted patent and the EU funding

PharmNovo reports successful Phase I results

PharmNovo , a pharmaceutical company developing a new treatment for nerve pain, reports successful Phase I results for its drug candidate PN6047. By demonstrating safety and tolerability, PN6047 stands out as a promising alternative in pain management, which—above all—is free from the negative effects and abuse risk associated with traditional opioids. The company is now preparing to start the next phase of clinical development. Read more about PharmNovo's Phase I results

Encare is paving the way for improved surgical care at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center

Healthtech company Encare - Enhancing ERAS? , developing a SaaS solution aimed at improving surgical outcomes, has enabled ERAS? qualification at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, a flagship center within one of America's largest healthcare providers. By using Encare's ERAS? Interactive Audit System (EIAS), the hospital has achieved significant improvements in patient outcomes and efficiency of surgical processes in colon, liver, and pancreatic surgeries Plans are underway for additional ERAS? implementations in urology and thoracic-pulmonary surgery. With a network of 39 hospitals across the United States, the collaboration with Kaiser Permanente presents a significant opportunity for Encare to expand its business and customer base.

Synartro welcomes globally recognised expert to the team

Biotech company Synartro , developing a unique treatment for knee osteoarthritis, welcomes Dr. Ali Mobasheri as Senior Scientific Advisor to the team. Dr. Mobasheri is a globally recognised expert in musculoskeletal physiology (the study of muscle and skeletal function) working at the University of Oulu. He has in-depth knowledge of cartilage biology and osteoarthritis biomarkers, and with his extensive pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare experience he will contribute to the development of treatments for osteoarthritis. Dr. Mobasheri has previously held leading roles in prominent international organisations focused on research and development in osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and cartilage health.

Monthly spotlight

In February this year, the FDA approved the first T cell therapy against solid tumours—lifileucel. This method utilises tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), a type of T cell naturally targeting cancer cells, extracted from the patient's own tumour and then multiplied in a laboratory environment. Ultimately, the cells are reintroduced to the patient through a one-time infusion therapy, meaning the treatment is administered once rather than in repeated doses. As such, the treatment is completely personalised, leveraging the patient's own immune system to directly attack the cancer cells.

The T cell therapies previously approved by the FDA have all targeted various types of blood cancer. Lifileucel, which has now been approved for treating adult patients with a type of skin cancer that cannot be surgically removed or that has metastasised, showcases the potential of immunotherapies in combating solid tumours.

Ongoing research aims to enhance the effectiveness and reduce the costs associated with TIL treatment. For instance, scientists are exploring genetic manipulations to make TILs even more proficient at infiltrating and eliminating tumours. This could open up entirely new possibilities for cancer patients to recover from the disease.

Did you know...

The eye can reveal how your liver is doing. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet (KI) have discovered a revolutionary method to study liver health through the eyes. By transplanting liver cells, known as spheroids, into the anterior chamber of the eyes of mice, they have not only managed to keep the cells alive, but also maintain their liver functions. This technology offers insights into conditions like fatty liver disease by observing fat storage in these cells, mirroring the liver's behaviour in an unhealthy diet. The method of transplanting cells and mini organs into the anterior eye chamber of mice has been used by the KI research group for many years, but the technique has recently been extended to include liver research. This method opens new opportunities for researching metabolic diseases, like type 2 diabetes and obesity, without invasive procedures.

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Sciety is a leading investment company, committed to supporting the growth of innovative life science and health tech companies in the Nordic region. We invest alongside Sciety Venture Partners, comprising family offices, private investors and venture capital firms. Our mission is to enable the full potential of life science innovations, helping to bring breakthroughs in healthcare to people all over the world.

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