EQT life science develops innovative medicines, devices, and tools to address the single important thing that matters to the preservation of health. The organization believes that such opportunities add value to all stakeholders.

EQT Life Sciences

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the discovery, development, licensing, manufacturing, marketing, distribution, and sale of pharmaceuticals and nutritional products.  Bristol Myers Squibb focuses on areas such as oncology, cardiovascular, immunoscience, and fibrosis to develop therapies that address significant unmet medical needs. The company's research and development efforts are centered around discovering new drugs and advancing existing ones to improve patient outcomes. BMS has a diverse portfolio of medicines, including several blockbuster drugs used in the treatment of cancer and other diseases. The company is committed to advancing the science of medicine to help people fight serious diseases and improve their quality of life.

Bristol-Myers Squibb

BioMedPartners is one of the leading European venture capital firms providing private equity and mezzanine financing to early- and mid-stage healthcare and human life science companies. They target the entire industry with special focus on pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, diagnostics and medical technology.

BioMedPartners

Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund GmbH (BIVF) invests in groundbreaking therapeutics-focused biotechnology companies to drive innovation in biomedical research. BIVF is searching for significant enhancements in patient care through pioneering science and its clinical translation by building long-term relationships with scientists and entrepreneurs. BIVF’s focus is to target unprecedented therapeutic concepts addressing high medical needs in immuno-oncology, regenerative medicine, infectious diseases and digital health. These may include novel platform technologies to address so far undruggable targets, new generation vaccines and/or new biological entities, such as oncolytic virotherapy.

Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund

The seed investor High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) finances tech start-ups with growth potential and has supported more than 700 start-ups since 2005. With the launch of its fourth fund, HTGF now has about 1.4 billion euros under management. Its team of experienced investment managers and start-up experts support young companies with expertise, entrepreneurial spirit and passion. HTGF’s focus is on high-tech start-ups in the fields of digital tech, industrial tech, life sciences, chemistry and related business areas. To date, external investors have injected about 5 billion euros of capital into the HTGF portfolio via more than 2,000 follow-on financing rounds. In addition, HTGF has already successfully sold shares in more than 170 companies. Fund investors in this public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital and 45 companies from a wide range of industries. Fund investors in this public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital and 45 companies from a wide range of industries.

HTGF | High-Tech Gruenderfonds

Inkef is a venture capital firm based in Amsterdam, backing promising early stage companies in Europe. Inkef takes pride in being a patient, long-term investor with the ability to support companies through several rounds of funding. From the early stages of a technology or life science venture, Inkef supports entrepreneurs building their ideas into successful international businesses. Investment areas: Technology and Healthcare

Inkef

Sunstone Partners is a new investment fund focused on growth equity investments and majority buyouts in technology businesses in North America. The team previously worked together at Trident Capital, a multi-stage investment firm with seven funds and $1.9 billion under management since 1993.  The firm is currently investing out of Sunstone Partners I, LP, a fund with $310 million of committed capital. Sunstone Partners invests in both sizable minority positions and control transactions.  Sunstone Partners was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA. It was previously known as TC Growth Partners.

Sunstone Partners

Coparion provides venture capital to accelerate momentum and growth. With a currently active fund of EUR 275 million, Coparion has the means to do so. Coparion supports entrepreneurial vision with know-how, but without intervening in daily business operations. Thanks to in-depth experience in venture capital and in building companies, the Coparion team discerns potential and opens up new perspectives. Coparion has the substance, tenacity, and creativity required to mutually manage difficult situations successfully. Coparion only invests with co-investors. The fund invests up to EUR 15M per company, usually in several financing rounds of EUR 0.5-8M each. The investment focus is on German companies in the start-up and early growth phases. Coparion is based in Cologne and Berlin.

coparion

Fund+ is a venture capital firm that invests in companies operating in the diagnostics, therapeutics, medical devices, and life science sectors. The firm wants to create sustainable shareholders' value, contribute to the development of a leadership position in the life sciences sector, and generate a tangible, beneficial societal impact. Fund+ was established in 2015 and is based in Leuven, Belgium.

Fund+

Hadean Ventures is a life science fund manager that invests in life science companies across europe with a particular focus on the nordic region. The funds are backed by leading private and institutional investors. Hadean Ventures has offices in oslo and stockholm and collaborates with world-class academic institutions and start-up hubs across the region

Hadean Ventures

Cardior Pharmaceuticals

Cardior Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company that engages in the development of non-coding RNA based therapeutics for the treatment and prevention of heart disease. It focuses on developing CDR-132X, an oligonucleotide-based inhibitor of a molecular master switch (microRNA) controlling pathological alterations of the heart following stress or injury. Cardior Pharmaceuticals is a planned academic spin-off developing new therapeutics for the treatment and prevention of heart disease - the number one cause of death in the western world.

Cardior Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotech company pioneering the discovery and development of RNA-based therapeutics designed to prevent, repair, and reverse cardiovascular diseases. The company's approach targets distinctive non-coding RNAs as a platform to address the root causes of cardiac dysfunctions, aiming for lasting patient impact.

German Authority Gives Go Ahead To Novo Nordisk's Small Bolt On Acquisition As Danish Firm Seeks To Build Heart Drugs Pipeline - Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO)

Novo Nordisk to acquire heart disease-focused Cardior Pharmaceuticals in deal worth $1.1 billion

Successful exit for HTGF: Novo Nordisk to acquire Cardior Pharmaceuticals

Novo Nordisk Expands Cardio Reach by Buying Heart Drugs Biotech Cardior

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Cardior

CARDIOR • life science startup

Novo Nordisk to acquire biotech company working on new heart failure drug for $1.1B

German Biotech Raises €15M to Treat Heart Failure with Non-coding RNA

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Targeting complex diseases with complex molecules

Large-molecule Therapeutics

Cardior Pharmaceuticals on LinkedIn: We are happy to announce that the transaction on the acquisition of…

Cardior Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotech company pioneering the discovery and development of RNA-based therapeutics designed to prevent, repair, and reverse cardiovascular diseases. The company's approach targets distinctive non-coding RNAs as a platform to address the root causes of cardiac dysfunctions, aiming for lasting patient impact.
Cardior's lead compound, CDR132L, is an oligonucleotide-based microRNA-132 (miR-132) inhibitor currently in Phase 2 clinical development for treating heart failure. By selectively blocking abnormal levels of miR-132, CDR132L has the potential to halt and partially reverse cellular pathology, leading to improved heart function. In a Phase 1 billion trial published in the European Heart Journal, CDR132L demonstrated safety, tolerability, and suggested cardiac functional improvements compared to placebo. As of July 2022, CDR132L is being evaluated in the Phase 2 HF-REVERT trial involving 280 patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction after myocardial infarction.
In March 2024, Novo Nordisk agreed to acquire Cardior for up to EUR 1.025 billion, including an upfront payment and additional milestone payments. The acquisition reflects Novo Nordisk's strategy to establish a presence in cardiovascular disease and the transformative potential of CDR132L as a disease-modifying therapy for heart failure. The transaction was completed in May 2024, with Cardior becoming a fully-owned subsidiary of Novo Nordisk.

Innovent Biologics is a leading biopharmaceutical company founded in 2011 with the mission to develop and commercialize innovative and affordable medicines. The company focuses on oncology, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, autoimmune disorders, and ophthalmology. As of March 2024, Innovent has ten approved products in the Chinese market, including TYVYT (sintilimab injection), BYVASDA (bevacizumab injection), SULINNO (adalimumab injection), and others. The company's core product, TYVYT, is an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody approved across seven indications, making it the most widely approved PD-1 inhibitor in China.
Innovent has a robust pipeline with three new drug applications under review, four assets in Phase III or pivotal trials, and 19 molecules in early clinical development. The company's innovative pipeline spans various modalities, including bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and RNA therapeutics. In oncology, Innovent is advancing the next-generation immunotherapy combinations with ADCs, such as the CLDN18.2 ADC (IBI343) and the EGFR/B7H3 bispecific ADC (IBI3001). The company's metabolic pipeline includes mazdutide, a first-in-class GLP-1R/GCGR dual agonist in late-stage development for weight management.
Innovent has a strong emphasis on global innovation, with its Innovent Academy delivering eight novel molecules into IND-enabling stage in 2023. The company has established large-scale manufacturing facilities in Suzhou and Hangzhou to support global supply. Innovent collaborates with over 30 global healthcare leaders, reinforcing its commitment to advancing biopharmaceutical innovation worldwide.

Innovent Biologics

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 ADC Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for treating cancer. The company's ADCs leverage highly potent and targeted pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimer technology, which causes the ADCs' antibodies to bind to specific tumor cell surface antigens. Once internalized, the potent PBD dimer is released inside the cell, creating covalent cross-links between the DNA strands, disrupting cell division without triggering DNA repair mechanisms.
 
 
 
 
 ADC Therapeutics' lead product candidate, Zynlonta, received FDA approval in April 2021 for treating adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy. The company is also advancing a deep pipeline of other PBD-based ADCs targeting hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. As of May 2021, ADC Therapeutics reported revenues of USD 38.2 million, reflecting initial sales of Zynlonta.
 
 
 
 
 In March 2022, ADC Therapeutics acquired US commercial rights to Overrkey Biological's anti-HER2 ADC Overena, broadening its cancer treatment portfolio. The acquisition aligned with the company's strategic focus on expanding globally with its PBD-based ADC technology.
 
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ADC Therapeutics

Sirnaomics is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of RNA therapeutics. The company focuses on innovative drugs for indications with unmet medical needs and large market opportunities. Sirnaomics utilizes two proprietary delivery platforms: the Polypeptide Nanoparticle Formulation (PNP) and the second generation of GalNAc conjugates called GalAhead.
Sirnaomics has established a robust pipeline of drug candidates, with several products in clinical and preclinical stages. The company's lead clinical product, STP705, has demonstrated positive results in Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma in situ (isSCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Additionally, STP705 is being explored for focal fat reduction in the medical aesthetics field. Another promising candidate, STP707, is a PNP formulation consisting of two siRNAs targeting TGF-β1 and COX-2 for intravenous treatment of solid tumors. STP707 has shown promising results in a Phase I basket clinical study, exhibiting stable disease response in 74% of evaluable patients.
Sirnaomics achieved a significant milestone by advancing STP122G, the first candidate utilizing the GalAhead technology, into clinical development. STP122G targets Factor XI for anticoagulation therapeutics and is currently undergoing Phase I clinical trials.
In March 2023, Sirnaomics' subsidiary, RNAimmune, received IND clearance from the FDA to initiate a Phase I clinical trial for RV-1770, an mRNA vaccine targeting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Additionally, RNAimmune obtained FDA clearance for a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine booster candidate, RV-1730.
Sirnaomics has established its manufacturing facility in China, enabling the transition from a biotech company to a biopharmaceutical corporation. The facility has successfully produced a full GMP batch of STP707 for human injection and is expected to support the company's clinical pipeline.
In July 2024, Sirnaomics announced the completion of IND-enabling studies for STP125G, an siRNA therapeutic targeting Apolipoprotein C3 (ApoC3) for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The positive results from non-human primate studies support the filing of an IND with the FDA.

Sirnaomics

Sesen Bio is a late-stage clinical company that previously focused on developing targeted fusion protein therapeutics for cancer treatment. Its lead product candidate, Vicineum, is a locally administered targeted fusion protein composed of an anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) antibody fragment tethered to a truncated form of Pseudomonas exotoxin A for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).
In February 2021, the FDA accepted Sesen Bio's Biologics License Application (BLA) for Vicineum to treat BCG-unresponsive NMIBC, granting Priority Review. However, in August 2021, the company received a Complete Response Letter from the FDA, requiring an additional Phase 3 clinical trial for potential resubmission. Following discussions with the FDA in March 2022, Sesen Bio aligned on most elements for the trial design and planned to meet again in mid-2022 to finalize outstanding items.
On July 15, 2022, Sesen Bio made the strategic decision to voluntarily pause further development of Vicineum in the US due to the incremental timeline and costs associated with the additional Phase 3 trial. The company shifted its primary focus to consummating a strategic transaction to maximize shareholder value while seeking a partner for Vicineum's further development.
In September 2022, Sesen Bio announced a pending merger with Carisma Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing immunotherapies based on engineered macrophages. This merger was approved by Sesen Bio's stockholders in March 2023, with the combined company operating under the name Carisma Therapeutics Inc. and trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker "CARM".
Upon closing the merger in March 2023, Sesen Bio declared a special cash dividend of USD 75 million (around USD 0.36 per share) to its stockholders and issued them Contingent Value Rights (CVRs) entitling them to potential proceeds from the sale of Vicineum and other assets, as well as a USD 30 million milestone payment under the Roche Asset Purchase Agreement.

Sesen Bio

ACELYRIN, INC. is a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on developing transformative medicines for immunology and inflammatory diseases. The company's lead product candidate is izokibep, a next-generation inhibitor of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) designed to overcome limitations of monoclonal antibodies. Izokibep is being evaluated in multiple late-stage trials for moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and noninfectious uveitis.
In March 2024, ACELYRIN reported positive top line data from a global Phase 2 billion/3 clinical trial of izokibep in PsA, meeting the primary endpoint of ACR50 at 16 weeks with high statistical significance. The trial also demonstrated robust clinical responses for higher hurdle endpoints like ACR70, PASI100, and composite measures, indicating izokibep's potential to provide clinically meaningful benefits. Additionally, ACELYRIN announced differentiated long-term 32-week data from a global Phase 2 billion trial of izokibep in HS, showing rapid, dose-ordered improvement across multiple disease manifestations, including HiSCR100 achieved earlier than reported by other IL-17 inhibitors.
ACELYRIN's other late-stage asset is lonigutamab, a subcutaneously delivered monoclonal antibody targeting IGF-1R being investigated for the treatment of thyroid eye disease (TED). In March 2024, ACELYRIN announced positive proof-of-concept data from a Phase 1/2 trial, demonstrating rapid improvements in proptosis and clinical activity score within three weeks after the first dose.
As of December 31, 2023, ACELYRIN had cash, cash equivalents, and short-term marketable securities totaling USD 721.3 million, providing a runway to support key late-stage data milestones and registrational studies across multiple indications. In January 2023, ACELYRIN acquired ValenzaBio, adding lonigutamab and other immunology assets to its pipeline.

ACELYRIN

Companies that develop engineered proteins that can target specific proteins or cells in the body

Companies that develop large molecules that can be used to target specific RNA molecules in the body, either to silence or replace them

Companies that develop large molecules that combine the targeting ability of monoclonal antibodies with the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy drugs

Companies that develop large molecules that can be used to replace or supplement deficient or malfunctioning proteins in the body

Companies specializing in peptide-based treatments leverage short amino acid chains, known as peptides, to target and modulate various biological processes for therapeutic applications

AL/ML used to identify potential drug targets, and support protein engineering and optimization

Cardior Pharmaceuticals

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