Birk Venture

Accession Therapeutics’ elegant Trocept platform has potential to treat some of the most intractable and widespread forms of cancer. Based in Oxford, UK, it is developing a pipeline of products to the early clinical trial stage. Led by Bent Jakobsen, PhD FMedSci, a pioneer of T cell receptor therapy for cancer, the team is highly experienced in taking immuno-oncology products to the clinic. Accession Therapeutics’ Trocept technology is based on over a decade’s work and has generated exceptional preclinical data. Accession Therapeutics’ proprietary technology incorporates cancer-tropic viruses, the first time that viruses have been genetically modified to exclusively target cancer cells. As non-cancerous cells are not targeted by Trocept, systemic toxicity is eliminated meaning the drugs can be delivered intravenously and traffic to the tumour. Trocept’s highly potent and local activity gives it potential in some of the hardest to treat and most widespread forms of cancer. This includes breast, cervical, colorectal, gastric, head and neck, lung, oral, ovarian and pancreatic cancer.

Zelluna Immunotherapy AS develops T-cell receptor (TCR) therapies targeting cancer antigens. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in Oslo, Norway.

APIM Therapeutics AS is a biotechnology company based in Trondheim, Norway, founded in 2009. The company specializes in developing combinatorial therapies for cancer treatment, focusing on proprietary peptide drugs that target proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). PCNA plays a crucial role in DNA repair and cellular responses to DNA damage and stress, making it a significant target for cancer therapies. One of the company's key compounds, ATX-101, has demonstrated proof-of-concept in various preclinical in vitro and in vivo cancer models. The foundation of APIM Therapeutics is rooted in original research by Professor Marit Otterlei and her team at the Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine at NTNU.

Targovax ASA is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company based in Oslo, Norway, focused on developing oncolytic viruses and neoantigen cancer vaccines to treat challenging solid tumors. Its lead product, ONCOS-102, is currently undergoing Phase I/II clinical trials for various cancers, including mesothelioma, melanoma, peritoneal disease, and prostate cancer. Additionally, Targovax is advancing TG01, a cancer vaccine in Phase I/II trials for resectable pancreatic cancer, which aims to activate the immune system to target specific RAS mutations in cancer cells. The company collaborates with notable organizations, including Cancer Research Institute, Ludwig Cancer Research, and AstraZeneca, to enhance the development of its therapies. Targovax's innovative approach aims to induce robust immune responses by leveraging both helper and cytotoxic T-cell mechanisms, demonstrating potential for improved patient survival and favorable tolerability profiles. Established in 2010 by inventors from the Radium Hospital Research Foundation, Targovax is dedicated to addressing unmet medical needs in oncology.

APIM Therapeutics AS is a biotechnology company based in Trondheim, Norway, founded in 2009. The company specializes in developing combinatorial therapies for cancer treatment, focusing on proprietary peptide drugs that target proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). PCNA plays a crucial role in DNA repair and cellular responses to DNA damage and stress, making it a significant target for cancer therapies. One of the company's key compounds, ATX-101, has demonstrated proof-of-concept in various preclinical in vitro and in vivo cancer models. The foundation of APIM Therapeutics is rooted in original research by Professor Marit Otterlei and her team at the Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine at NTNU.

BerGenBio is a clinical stage oncology biotech company, which is engaged in developing therapeutics against novel drug targets that drive aggressive cancers. Its drug candidate bemcentinib (BGB324) is in clinical development as a novel treatment for a variety of cancers.

Nordic Nanovector ASA, a biopharmaceutical company, develops and commercializes therapeutics for haematological cancers. The company’s lead product candidate is Betalutin, an antibody-radionuclide-conjugate, which has completed Phase I/IIa clinical trial for the treatment of patients with non-hodgkin lymphoma, a life-threatening blood cancer. Nordic Nanovector ASA has collaboration agreements with Paul Scherrer Institute; Areva Med; LegoChemBio; and Heidelberg Pharma. The company was formerly known as Nordic Nanovector AS and changed its name to Nordic Nanovector ASA in 2014. Nordic Nanovector ASA was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Oslo, Norway.

Nextera AS is a drug discovery company based in Oslo, Norway, specializing in the development of therapies for autoimmune diseases and other major disease classes, including chronic infections and cancer. Founded in 2009, the company utilizes advanced phage display technology to identify new drug targets and enhance the discovery of potential drug candidates. Its innovative platforms, including taggerphage and DeltaPhage technologies, improve the efficiency and stability of drug candidate discovery. Nextera also emphasizes the integration of companion diagnostics with its therapeutic leads, ensuring effective treatment tailored to specific disease mechanisms. By focusing on high-resolution target discovery and lead candidate development, Nextera aims to provide improved therapeutic efficacy while minimizing off-target side effects.