Vaccibody is partner in the EU’s 7 framework programme “Advanced Immunization Technologies”, ADITEC, where the scope is to produce knowledge necessary to develop novel and powerful immunization technologies for the next generation of human vaccines.
Some of the most competitive European research groups from public institutions and biotech companies have agreed to join forces in ADITEC, together with top US groups on systems biology and adjuvants to support this enterprise. Vaccibody will contribute with its vaccine technology shown to be especially suited for increasing the cellular immunity.

“ We are very proud to be a partner in this programme, enabling us to utilize our vaccine platform in a powerful consortium where the goal is to achieve better vaccines “, Vaccibody's CEO Ole Henrik Brekke says in a comment.

Novozymes launches an improved version of its Albufuse product, called Albufuse Flex. The improved product originates from a collaboration project with Inger Sandlie's group at Center for Immune Regulation, University of Oslo. The group is also central in two of BMI's portfolio companies, Vaccibody and Nextera. Details: Article in Dagbladet, Novozymes product pages. 

Serodus ASA approved for listing on Oslo Access. Ticker: SER 

The Board of Oslo Børs resolved to admit shares in Serodus ASA to listing on Oslo Axess. The Board stipulated that, prior to the first day of listing, the company must satisfy the requirement for the number of shareholders as specified in Section 2.4.2 of the Oslo Axess Listing Rules, and must publish an approved prospectus. The Board also stipulated that the company must raise at least NOK 26 million of liquidity through its planned share issue prior to the first day of listing. The Board authorised the Chief Executive Officer of Oslo Børs to fix the date of the first day of listing, which is to be no later than 10 June 2011.

Contact info Serodus AS (Serodus): Eva Steiness, CEO, eva[at]serodus.com, Tel: (+45) 22 26 56 87
 

Serodus has entered into a license agreement with Roche for a selective serotonin-4 (5-HT₄) antagonist for the potential treatment of heart failure (RO1160367). 

Serodus has entered into a license agreement with Roche for a selective serotonin-4 (5-HT₄) antagonist for the potential treatment of heart failure (RO1160367). Under the Agreement, Serodus will receive the full preclinical and clinical documentation for RO1160637. In return, Roche will receive an upfront payment as well as be entitled to receive development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments. Roche is also eligible to receive royalties on sales of products commercialized under the license. Serodus has been granted the exclusive development, manufacturing and worldwide marketing and sale rights with the rights to sub-license. In certain cases, Roche has a right to negotiate to regain the product rights.

Contact info Serodus AS (Serodus): Eva Steiness, CEO, eva[at]serodus.com, Tel: (+45) 22 26 56 87
 

Bio-Medisinsk Innovasjon AS (BMI) and Inven2 AS have signed “Inven2 Partner Forum Agreement”. BMI operates as an early stage investor with active involvement in its main portfolio companies.

BMI will through the Inven2 Partner Forum, IPF, have access to information regarding significant research, development and commercialization activities, as well as investment opportunities originating from Oslo University Hospital and the University of Oslo.” We are very pleased with signing of this agreement”, says Ingrid Alfheim, CEO of BMI. “Excellent research performed at Oslo University Hospital and the University of Oslo leads to excellent inventions, and comprises one of our most important sources for new projects. BMI and its team has a commercial market focus, and can give additional momentum and direction to development of new therapies and diagnostics.” The IPF agreement replaces the former agreement between BMI and Medinnova.

More info:

Contact info Bio-Medisinsk Innovasjon AS (BMI): Ingrid Alfheim, CEO, ingrid[at]bmioslo.no, Tel: (+47) 22958190

Bio-Medisinsk Innovasjon AS (BMI) and Lund University Bioscience AB (LU Bio) has decided to co-operate in order to leverage their activities in development of bioscience inventions.

BMI and LU Bio are both early stage investors active within the field of biomedicine.  As both financial resources and pharmaceutical development experience are decisive, a closer collaboration will greatly increase the chances of success for both organizations and their portfolio companies.

“We will meet on a regular basis with the aim of making syndicate investments, but also to learn from the other’s experience”, says Ingrid Alfheim, the CEO of BMI. “We have excellent people in both organizations with different fields of competence and knowledge, all needed for successful commercialization of biomedical projects. The combination of skills in both teams will act in a synergistic manner”.

“In Sweden we have a history of pharmaceutical industry, and consequently industrial experience available for startup companies. We find great science in both countries, and we believe that the opportunity for international success will increase by picking the winners and jointly support them”, says Thomas Anderson, CEO of LU Bio.

At the moment BMI is actively involved in the management of 6 companies, whereof 3 (Vaccibody, Nextera and siRNAsense) are devoted to development of effective cancer therapies. Also LU Bio is involved in cancer therapy as lead investor in Cantargia AB that develops an effective therapy targeting leukemic stem cells. Today LU Bio is actively involved in the management of 5 companies.

More info:

Contact info Bio-Medisinsk Innovasjon AS (BMI): Ingrid Alfheim, CEO, ingrid[at]bmioslo.no, Tel: (+47) 22958190

Contact Lund University Bioscience (LU Bio): Thomas Andersson, CEO, thomas[at]lubio.se, Tel: (+46) (0)46 286 48 21

Bio-Medisinsk Innovasjon AS (BMI) and Sahlgrenska Science Park (SSP) have agreed to collaborate in order to advance their efforts in the commercialization of biomedical research.

“We will meet on a regular basis with the aim of increasing the scientific and commercial progress for our portfolio through exchange of information and expertise, but also to learn from each other”, says Ingrid Alfheim, CEO of BMI.

“Our collaboration will help our projects and companies gain even more”, says Gunilla Bökmark, CEO of SSP

More info:

Contact info Bio-Medisinsk Innovasjon AS (BMI): Ingrid Alfheim, CEO, ingrid[at]bmioslo.no, Tel: (+47) 22958190

Contact Sahlgrenska Science Park (SSP): Gunilla Bökmark, CEO, gunilla.bokmark[at]sahlgrenskasciencepark.se, Tel: (+46) (0)031-741 17 07

Serodus AS has acquired the rights to Zealand Pharma's ORL-1 agonist ZP120.

Serodus intends to develop the compound for the treatment of patients with isolated systolic hypertension. ZP120 has previously been studied in patients with chronic and acute heart failure. Under Serodus' development, ZP120 will be given the code SER100.

The Deltaphage and MHC II related technologies are potent building blocks in Nextera's platform technology.

Deltaphage is a helper phage specially designed for optimized pIX display. The MHC II related technology allows efficient presentation of MHC II on phage, opening both for drug discovery for this class of molecules with an unprecedented speed and quality.

siRNAsense has been notified that patent will be granted in EPO on drug composition for its lead drug candidate, siRNA targeting Tissue Factor for treatment of cancer metastases. Patents are already approved in Japan and Australia.