Next Generation Sequencing, connection between quantum dots and tumours, and updates from our portfolio companies
Autumn is officially here – a time when the air feels crisper, and the green colours of summer have shifted to different shades of yellow, orange and red. At Sciety, we have several exciting projects underway, all with the goal of creating a brighter future in life science and digital health.
At the moment, Sciety is investing in PharmNovo - a pharmaceutical company at the clinical stage of developing a unique type of treatment for nerve pain. PharmNovo recently reported positive results in its Phase I clinical trial, more on that in the company news section below.
At Sciety, we are also preparing for an upcoming investment in a DNA sequencing company – an exciting field where technological advancements have led to a deeper understanding of our biology and new ground-breaking diagnostic tools and treatments.
The Life Science Barometer 2023 is now open
Every year, the industry organisation SwedenBIO surveys the Swedish life science sector in the Life Science Barometer. The purpose is to provide an up-to-date overview of Swedish life science and to highlight needs and trends in the industry.
This year's Life Science Barometer 2023 is now open and is aimed at senior management within life science companies and service providers to life science companies. The survey closes on 31 October and the results will be published in early 2024. To the survey?
Keep reading for more news about our portfolio companies and our insights, where we take a closer look at the possibilities of Next Generation Sequencing within newborn screening. We also share how quantum dots, the smallest components of nanotechnology, can be linked to the removal of tumour tissue.
News from our portfolio companies
PharmNovo reports positive phase I results for nerve pain drug candidate
PharmNovo, a pharmaceutical company developing a drug for neuropathic pain, reports positive phase I results for its drug candidate PN6047. The clinical results show that the candidate is both safe and tolerable at the doses expected to provide relief of nerve pain. The candidate showed no signs of side effects such as respiratory depression, addiction or cardiovascular problems that occur with other treatments prescribed for nerve pain. The company is now preparing for a phase II study starting in mid-2024.
Capitainer's products at the cornerstone of a covid-19 study published in The Lancet
Medtech company Capitainer , developing intelligent solutions for self-sampling of blood, has played an important role in two major initiatives. A recent study, carried out by the Swedish Public Health Agency and Ume? University, shows that more, and more frequent, doses of the covid-19 vaccine reduce mortality from covid-19 in people in nursing homes. The testing at the nursing home was conducted through self-sampling and assisted sampling, using Capitainer's patented sampling card. The study results were recently published in the prestigious scientific journal The Lancet. Capitainer was also a key player in a collaborative project within personalised medicine and diagnostics, where the goal was to develop reliable diagnostic platforms for various medical conditions. The project was recently granted 12 million SEK in funding from KK-stiftelsen. Three out of four sub-projects are based on sampling with Capitainer's technology.
Read more about the covid-19 study and the funding from KK-stiftelsen
Encare recruits key roles with a focus on global expansion
Healthtech company Encare - Enhancing ERAS? , developing a SaaS solution to improve the outcomes of surgery, strengthens the team by adding two key roles. The company's new Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Niklas Wallin, will focus on product development and geographical growth. Niklas Wallin is an experienced IT expert with a diverse technical background, including roles as development manager and engineering manager in industries such as defence and telecom. Encare's new Chief Sales Officer (CSO), Lotta Sellén, will focus on Encare's continued global expansion and further development of the company's business model. Lotta Sellén has extensive experience from various roles in the pharmaceutical industry, including management consulting within healthcare, business development and digital health strategy.
领英推荐
Akiram Therapeutics presents promising preclinical data at EANM Congress
Akiram Therapeutics , a biotechnology company specialising in targeted radioimmunotherapy, presented positive preclinical data for its drug candidate for various forms of cancer, at the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) Congress held in Vienna in September. The results show the drug candidate's potential to be used in the treatment of several different types of cancer, including thyroid cancer, head and neck tumours and lung cancer. The phase I study for the company's drug candidate is planned for 2024. Read more about Akiram's drug candidate and study results so far
Neogap winner of Business Swedens Catalyst Program 2023
Biotechnology company NEOGAP Therapeutics AB , focused on personalised immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer using the patient's own cells, has been selected as one of three winners in Business Sweden's Catalyst Program 2023 in the Deep Tech category. The program identifies Swedish companies that have the strongest potential to scale up globally. As a winner of the Catalyst program, Neogap will receive a tailored market entry project worth 250,000 SEK to support and accelerate its international growth journey.
Monthly spotlight
Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) makes it possible to sequence the complete genetic information of an individual relatively quickly, and at an increasingly lower cost. As the technology becomes more user-friendly and cost-effective, NGS will be increasingly applied in healthcare.?
An apparent use case for NGS is newborn screening, especially related to early detection of rare diseases. As a matter of fact, about 72% of all rare diseases are genetic. In some cases, these diseases are apparent at birth, but in other cases, symptoms may appear much later, when critical opportunities for treatment or medical intervention may have already been missed.
In Sweden, all newborns are offered genetic screening through the so-called PKU screening, which was introduced in the 1960s. Today's PKU tests cover 26 congenital and severe diseases that begin early in life, and which are possible to prevent or treat if detected early. Currently, this type of screening is carried out using traditional methods, so-called tandem mass spectrometry.
However, NGS can identify potential health problems in newborn screening better than traditional methods, according to a recent study by Revvity Omics. NGS enables a comprehensive screening of multiple genetic conditions in newborns in a single test, including rare or newly discovered diseases which cannot be detected by traditional methods. NGS also enables a faster and more accurate diagnosis, paving the way for early and targeted interventions.
In other words, NGS makes it possible to detect and treat more genetic diseases already at birth, something that could become standard practice in health care for newborns. NGS is gradually being phased into medical laboratory research, screening and disease diagnostics. The global market for NGS is expected to grow to USD 35.5 billion by 2030 at an annual growth rate of 18% between 2021 and 2030.
Did you know...
Quantum dots can do more than spread light in TV screens and LED lights, they can also be used to guide surgeons when removing tumour tissue. This year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry rewarded the discovery and development of quantum dots, the smallest components of nanotechnology. A quantum dot is a very small crystal semiconductor of only a few nanometres, i.e., one billionth of a meter. Quantum dots absorb light and when the light is sent out again, they take on a specific colour. It is the size of the quantum dots that determines the wavelength of the light, i.e., the colour. The light from quantum dots can be used in, for example, biochemistry to map cells and organs. Doctors have also begun to investigate the potential use of quantum dots to track tumour tissue in the body. In other words, quantum dots can potentially serve as a valuable tool within medical research and diagnostics.
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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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