Sten Verland, PhD MSc

Glycom is a biotechnology company with locations in Hørsholm and in Esbjerg, Denmark. We focus on the development, synthesis and commercialization of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). HMOs are a group of oligosaccharides which are present in high concentrations in human milk and contribute to many of the wonderful health benefits of mothers milk. In particular, they modulate the infant’s intestinal microbiota to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria and reduce pathogens, protect the infant against infections, and promote development of the infant’s intestine and immune system. HMOs are also believed to contribute to the development of the infant’s brain. They may also be extremely beneficial to older children and adults. Previously commercial use of HMOs has been blocked by lack of availability and high cost. Our breakthrough technologies are changing this paradigm permanently. We have developed efficient microbial fermentation, chemical and enzymatic technologies allowing us to synthesize HMOs. The lead HMOs in our pipeline have robust production technologies now entering industrialisation and we have produced them on large scale under GMP conditions. We and our partners have conducted large, randomized, controlled clinical studies showing safety and tolerance in infants and adults and impact on microbiota. Also, our lead HMOs have been approved for use in foods in Europe and the US. We also have a rich pipeline of other HMOs in early stages of development. We have an active pre-clinical and clinical program to investigate and prove the beneficial properties of HMOs. We are currently expanding our team in production and process development in Esbjerg and R&D in Hørsholm so check out our openings!

Sunstone Life Science Ventures’ is a European, early-stage investor based in Copenhagen. We invest in drug development opportunities across the European Life Science sector, and prefer to make our initial investment in companies raising Series A/B rounds based on solid in-vivo preclinical data and a well understood mechanism of action that fits well into the pathology. We seek opportunities which improve patient outcome. Our team brings together a diverse set of professional experiences: from entrepreneurial ventures to corporate management and financial services. Our background allows us to support our portfolio companies on a breadth of issues, ranging from high strategic level to specific operational issues. Sunstone Life Science Ventures is supported by InnovFin Equity, with the financial backing of the European Union under Horizon 2020 Financial Instruments and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) set up under the Investment Plan for Europe.

VAXIMM is a privately held, Swiss/German biotech company that is developing oral T-cell immunotherapies for patients suffering from cancer. VAXIMM’s product platform is based on a live attenuated, safe, orally available bacterial vaccine strain, which is modified to stimulate patients’ cytotoxic T-cells to target specific structures of the tumor. The Company has a pipeline of complementary development candidates targeting different tumor structures. Lead product candidate, oral VXM01, activates killer cells targeting tumor-specific vasculature and certain immune-suppressive cells, thereby increasing immune cell infiltration in solid tumors. VXM01 is currently in clinical development for several tumor types, including brain cancer. VAXIMM has completed a clinical trial evaluating VXM01 in combination with the human anti-PD-L1 antibody, avelumab, as part of a scientific collaboration with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. VAXIMM also has a collaboration agreement with China Medical System Holdings (CMS), granting CMS full rights in China and other Asian countries (excluding Japan) to VAXIMM’s existing programs. VAXIMM AG is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. Its wholly owned subsidiary, VAXIMM GmbH, located in Mannheim, Germany, is responsible for the Company’s development activities.

Skovlyst originates from a small brewery in Hareskoven. We wanted to encapsulate the tastes and aromas of the forest in home-brewed beers. We are still passionate about that. Today, we have moved out of the woods and closer to the consumers. At Skovlyst, a craft beer is a complete and authentic experience brewed with inspiration from the forest and the consumers desire for high quality. This has been the case since we moved out of the forest, and it is the same recipe that motivates us daily in our work: We want to be the favorite craft beer choice of the Danish people. This means, that the quality must be top notch and at the same time be affordable. This means that our beer must be tasty, but accessible. We try to make this ambition a reality through cooperation with family-owned quality breweries in France, Austria and Poland. Breweries that all share our values and our store passion for innovation.

Orphazyme is a global biopharmaceutical company, headquartered in Denmark, with a rapidly growing presence in the United States. We are pioneering a new kind of treatment, applying our specialized expertise to bring innovative therapies to patients with neurodegenerative orphan diseases. With a late-stage drug pipeline, we are relentless in our commitment to advancing treatments and making a profound impact for those touched by these rare, serious diseases. Today we are listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen (TICKER: ORPHA.CO) and Nasdaq U.S. (TICKER: ORPH), and are expanding our global presence with offices in Denmark, Switzerland, and our US headquarters in Chicago. See our community guidelines: bit.ly/3uapRYr

The Innovation Fund Denmark invests in the development and marketing of knowledge, new technologies and products with the purpose of finding solutions to societal challenges, support business opportunities and strengthen growth, employment and welfare. With the establishment of the Innovation Fund April 1 2014 the Danish research and innovation system was significantly simplified. The Foundation will be offering grants for activities within strategic research, technology and innovation. The budget of the Foundation is close to DKK 1.6 billion in 2014. The Innovation Fund Denmark will contribute to stronger coherency across research, technological development and innovation, including community partnerships focused on product development and innovation.