Sofia Mayans, a seasoned life science professional and co-founder of InfiCure Bio, has joined Diamyd Medical in Umeå as Director of Business Development, focusing on leveraging new production capabilities and exploring additional business opportunities related to diabetes treatment.
QureTech Bio has secured a SEK 14 million investment from Kempestiftelserna and Nascent Invest to enhance its development of innovative antibiotics targeting antimicrobial resistance. The funding will accelerate programs addressing multidrug-resistant bacteria, significantly impacting global health advancements.
Urban Eriksson has been appointed Chairman of Umeå Biotech Incubator, bringing 30 years of leadership experience, notably as CEO of SLU Holding. He emphasizes the importance of bridging research and practical applications in life sciences for sustainable development.
Umeå based Nil Medical has developed an ergonomic, medical vest for children undergoing cancer treatment, allowing for greater mobility by concealing IV equipment within the garment. The vest is being evaluated in a national quality of life study, in collaboration with Swedish healthcare. Nil Medical aims to introduce the CE-marked "Vestpack" to the international market.
AlexoTech, a Swedish biotech firm, achieved a record turnover in 2023, driven by strong demand for customized proteins and peptides. CEO Anders Olofsson emphasizes sustainable growth, inspired by local role model Agrisera, and plans to expand workforce and product offerings. AlexoTech is based in Umeå, a rapidly growing life science city.
Umeå based QureTech Bio has appointed Markus Thor as CEO, succeeding Helén Fält. With 30 years of pharmaceutical experience, Thor aims to advance the life science company's pipeline toward clinical trials, focusing on solutions for antimicrobial resistance.
Christian Hedberg, a professor at Umeå University, is developing a revolutionary drug to treat cryptosporidiosis in animals and humans. He collaborates with France's INRAE and the treatment has shown promising results in ruminant models and has the potential to address a significant global health issue. Christian Hedberg has joined Umeå Biotech Incubator to bring the treatment to the market.
HiloProbe, based in Umeå, secures SEK 3 million in funding from existing owners for sales initiation. The capital injection aims to attract more investment and reach a break-even point. The company is close to a breakthrough with ColoNode, a reagent kit for analyzing lymph nodes in colorectal cancer patients.
Umeå secures 1.8 million (22 SEK million) in EU funding for life science projects to boost innovation and industry growth. The project "Life Science City" is run by Umeå Biotech Incubator and seeks to expand the sector and strengthen collaborations. The SOLH project is a joint effort between Västerbotten and Norrbotten aiming to streamline and unify the innovation system.
MetaCurUm Biotech AB plans to raise 100 million SEK following founder Maréne Landström being named Sweden's Cancer Researcher of the Year. Their groundbreaking cancer treatment, still in the preclinical phase, aims to halt the TGFβ pathway cancer cells utilize. The Umeå based company is collaborating with international researchers and exploring biomarkers for patient stratification.
Mucocort AB has received approval to start a clinical trial for an intraoral patch (M045A) to treat aphthous stomatitis, a condition causing mouth ulcers. The patch aims for immediate pain relief and healing promotion. The trial will be conducted in collaboration with Oral Care AB and produced by Aurena Laboratories AB in Sweden.
The Umeå Lab Fair, organized by Umeå Biotech Incubator, will take place on April 25th with 18 participating companies showcasing the latest developments in the life science industry. The new fair targets regional laboratory personnel and fills a gap in Umeå's event calendar. A Life Science Pub at Cinco will follow the fair, providing a networking opportunity for exhibitors and attendees.
The Vinnova project BRIDGE Sweden is receiving a 7.7 million SEK investment to streamline the transition from research to commercialization of biological pharmaceuticals and precision medicine. The initiative aims to integrate research infrastructure with innovation systems, develop new cell lines on SciLifeLab's DDD platform, and enhance Sweden's global position in drug development.
Diamyd Medical is expanding its workforce in Umeå, hiring individuals with key competencies for the production of technical batches of recombinant GAD65 protein. The company's biomanufacturing facility in Umeå is established for the production of Diamyd, currently being evaluated in a Phase III clinical trial for preserving insulin production.
Umeå Municipality is targeting 500 new Life science jobs, aiming to attract major companies to the region. With a focus on expanding the industry, utilizing the academic resources of Umeå University, and promoting diversity, the municipality is working towards a thriving Life science sector by 2030.
Umeå Biotech Incubator has been named one of "Europe's leading Start-Up Hubs" by Financial Times, Statista, and Sifted. "This is an acknowledgment that our efforts are competitive, even globally," says Peter Jacobsson, UBI's operation coordinator.
Fredrik Almqvist and Marta Bally have been appointed as the new Directors of UCMR, the hub for microbial infection research at Umeå University. Their forward agenda includes enhancing collaboration with clinical research and establishing Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) labs for both in vitro and in vivo experiments.
Umeå Biotech Incubator (UBI) is inviting academic researchers and life science companies to meet and collaborate at its new ‘Open up for Innovation’ event on the 27th of February.
“We have world-class research being conducted at Umeå University and internationally successful companies based in town. Now we’re gathering 100 bright minds under one roof to stimulate innovation”, says Andreas
The Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) is set to significantly expand its operations in Umeå this spring after announcing plans to hire around 20 new employees to the CBRN Defence and Security department. Global developments mean Sweden needs to strengthen its national defence capability – with long-term research provided by FOI playing an important role.
The Umeå based company SpinChem AB is set to play a crucial role in the "Beat-PFAS project", funded by Formas, a Swedish government research council dedicated to sustainable development, with a grant of SEK 19.9 million. The project, led by Professor Jurate Kumpiene, aims to develop an effective solution for removing and destroying PFAS from contaminated soil and water.
Umeå Biotech Incubator (UBI) is one of Sweden’s state-of-the-art business incubators within the life sciences. We help researchers to use their data to the benefit of patients and citizens, improving their health. We support and train entrepreneurs in the fields of pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and medical engineering, and act as a bridge between academia, medicine and the business community.