About us
The Biovator story began with the research of Professor Birger Andersson at Stockholm’s Karolinska Institutet during the 1980 and ‘90s. His creation of the Cytokine Profile Assay (CPA) was built on several proprietary discoveries about the reaction of human cells (leukocytes) when exposed to substances with known allergenicity. It quickly became clear that these predictable reactions could form the basis of a valuable In Vitro tool for predicting the allergenicity of chemical substances, without having to use live animals as test subjects.
Following the initial research phase, Biovator was established in 1994. During the remainder of the ‘90s the testing parameters were further elucidated, both with regard to proof of concept and for the patent application. A first patent was soon awarded, and today, more than 50 substances known to induce allergy have been tested. Based on the concept of using activated human cells as a read-out of potential allergenicity, two technology platforms and several product ideas were identified.
In the first platform, release of substances such as cytokines or other activation products were measured (CPA = the Cytokine Profile Assay). In order to make the test practical and reproducible in routine use, the screening of a large number of human cell lines was performed to find the most suitable candidate lines within the CPA criteria. Optimization of the test protocol continued within the frame of the EUREKA-supported “CPA Development” project – a collaboration between Biovator, Astra Zeneca, Medicago, IBL Hamburg and University of Linköping. The main objective was to further refine and validate the test protocol for CPA Protein.
A strong focus during test optimization has been to ascertain proper, highly purified and well-characterized protein reference substances to be used during protocol development, validation and as test controls. Progress in these efforts has resulted in several patents being issued to date.
The second technology platform, known as the Gene Activation Profile Assay (GAPA) is based on the measurement of specific RNA in the cells as a result of gene activation when cells are exposed to substances with potential allergenicity. A patent for the “Gene Expression Profiling of Human Cells Following Allergen Treatment” has been filed.
Management
The Biovator team’s talents reflect deep expertise in both biochemistry and business development.
Stan Mikulowski (MBA), CEO. Senior Venture Manager in LinkMed since 2004. Senior executive positions in international Pharmaceutical and Medical Device industries, including director of Commercial Strategy HIV at GlaxoWellcome RTP, North Carolina, U.S., CEO DynaMed AB and DynaMed Inc., Los Angeles, U.S., Marketing Director of Cilag-Ortho-McNeil in Sweden and CEO of Wellcome Sweden AB.
Karin Mattsson (MSc, PhD), Project Coordinator and Project Manager of CPA Development. More than 19 years experience working as a medical technician, molecular biologist and scientific researcher in medical laboratories, research organizations and industry.
Tove Eriksson (MSc, PhD), More than 13 years experience within industry and academia, including management and Cell Based Assay Development at Affibody AB.
Board of Directors
Ingemar Lagerlöf (B.Sc in Business Administration and Economics) Chairman, Linkmed founder, CEO and Senior Venture Manager with more than 30 years experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnical industries including Brand Manager at Sandoz (now Novartis), Area Manager for Vitrum, Country Manager Sweden for KabiVitrum (now Pfizer), CEO and Nordic Manager for Fisons Pharmaceuticals and CEO for MiniDoc.
Jan Hed (MD, PhD), Asst. Prof. of Clinical Immunology at the Karolinska Institute with more than 100 published scientific papers. Co-founder and senior executive positions in international Pharma and Diagnostic companies, including AnaMar, Absorber AB and Pharmacia & Upjohn Diagnostics.
Willy Heyman Former Director at Texas instruments, Axel Johnson AB and Managing Director of venture capital company TUAB.
Jan Thorell (MD, PhD), Former Director of R&D at Ferring AB, Pharmacia Diagnostic AB and Biolin Medical.
Olle Zetterström (MD, PhD). Professor at Centre of Allergy at University of Linköping, Sweden.
Please contact us if you are interested in the breakthrough opportunities that Biovator represents.
