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START-UP STORY
European Biotechnology | Summer Edition | Vol. 14 | 2015
Nothing to sneeze at
The infant gut bacterial flora is at the heart of the Swedish biotech Swecure AB, or
more precisely, its influence on the development of allergies and other immunoregulatory disorders. Swecure has developed treatments based on the bacterial allies that live in our intestines.
SWECURE AB
It all started when three scientists at
Gothenburg University – Agnes Wold,
Ingegerd Adlerberth and Anna Rudin –
made an observation: there seemed to
be a correlation between bacteria and
the development of allergies. Newborn
babies that were colonised with the gut
bacterium Staphylococcus aureus were
a lot less likely to develop allergies. The
researchers believed: the bacterial strain
produces proteins that stimulate the immune system, so-called superantigens.
The bacterium usually lives on the
skin, and in the normal run of things, a
newborn baby would ingest it very early on. However, in the hyper-hygienic
Western world, this does not happen and
wide-spread allergies are the result. “Half
of the world population will suffer from
them by 2030,” explains Lars Fahlén,
CEO and co-founder of Swedish start-up
Swecure. “Allergies today are the biggest
epidemic in the world.” Not to mention
a multi-billion euro market.
So when the three scientists saw what
their bacterium could do, they realised
the potential. In fact, the findings were so
convincing that Swedish investor group
Serendipity Innovations AB came on
COMPANY PROFILE
Swecure AB
Founded in 2013
Based in Stockholm, Sweden
R&D in Göteborg, Sweden
Managing Director: Lars Fahlén
Web: www.swecure.com
fresh outlook and new ideas rather than
one that stays stuck in a rut.” The young
CEO is also backed by a board of directors with a wealth of experience.
From puppies to newborns
LARS FAHLÉN
Swecure AB, CEO
?
!
How are you going to change
the world?
By putting a stop to one of the
biggest healthcare problems in of
our time – allergies.
board and founded sister company Premune, which develops allergy treatments
for pets. “Serendipity does not usually go
for pharmaceutical investments, due to
the high risk they carry,” says Lars. But in
this case, they made an exception.
Two years later, Swecure was launched.
During the founding process, Serendipity
lived up to its name: Lars happened to
know someone at the investment firm,
who then recommended the industrial
engineering and management graduate to
the investors. Lars was promptly invited
to an interview, and four interviews later,
was appointed CEO of the company, still
without knowing much about the science
behind it. “It might appear to be a risky
move to hire a guy fresh out of university,” Lars smiles. “But that’s how Serendipity does things. They want a CEO with a
Meanwhile, Swecure’s pipeline is filling
up. One of their products, a treatment
based on another bacterium whose absense correlates with Inflammatory
Bowel Disease, is already nearing clinical trials. Efficacy of SWE01, their most
promising product based on the S. aureus superantigen, has been confirmed
in mice models. The therapy is currently tested in dogs. Proof of concept in humans is planned for 2020. Clinical trials
will be a challenge. After all, the treatment is given to newborns in the first
weeks after birth, so safety is a huge
concern. “We are well aware that this
issue will have to be addressed,” says
Lars. “But we will cross that bridge when
we come to it.” Getting the treatment to
the patients will be another hurdle, but
Lars is confident that many parents will
be willing to use the product: “We have
done the research. Parents that have allergies themselves are much more likely to consider such a prophylactic treatment for their own kids.”
Investors apparently believe in Swecure’s potential. After raising SEK2.5m
(¤270,000) in funds in 2014, another
SEK15m (¤1.6m) came in in April 2015.
There are now 60 shareholders, although
Serendipity still holds 65% of the company. Whether Swecure will eventually sell
the SWE01 portfolio, or find a big partner
to go through clinical testing with them, is
too early to tell. But Lars is certain of one
thing: “SWE01 will be a blockbuster.” [email protected]
Pictures: Swecure AB
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