2cureX  Prof Ole Thastrup, CEO
2cureX that was spun-out of Carlsberg in 2006 is a drug discovery company that rapidly generates drug candidates for the treatment of defined populations of cancer patients. 2cureX's core technology ChemoCellomics® allows for the first time high throughput screening directly in rare cancer cells from individual patients. 2cureX is leveraging its ChemoCellomics® technology to merge its drugs with functional profiling of cancer cells from individual patients. 2cureX is engaged in oncology projects within colon cancer and neuroblastoma. The most progressed project has delivered promising lead candidates that show efficacy in cancerous cells from patients without activity in corresponding healthy cells from the same patient. Matching activity has been confirmed in vivo (animal disease models). The compounds are progressed through pre-clinical studies together with a technology partner who is boosting their pharmacological profile. 2cureX is developing its drug candidates together with clinical and commercial partners until proof of principle in man has been shown.
Denmark

Alligator Bioscience  Dr Mats Andersson, Vice President Discovery
Sweden

Astertherix  Dr John Jenkins, CEO
AstherTherix is an oncology drug discovery company that has developed a novel pathway based screening system. In this system it is possible to identify how novel therapeutics impact on multiple interacting pathways simultaneously. The company's innovative technology emerged from the founders' laboratories in the University of Liverpool and its primary focus is on the interactions in the HSP90 pathways. Astertherix welcomes interest from potential investors and corporate partners.
UK

AstraZeneca seeking new areas of investment with universities and biotechnology companies
AstraZeneca is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, with a broad range of medicines designed to fight diseases in important areas of healthcare: gastrointesintal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, cancer and infection. Backed by strong science and wide-ranging commercial skills, we are committed to sustainable development of our business and the delivery of a flow of new medicines that bring benefit for patients and add value for wider society. Worldwide, AstraZeneca's R&D organisation employs approximately 12,000 people. The company boasts six major research and development sites, four discovery facilities and a clinical research site in locations spanning Canada, France, India, Japan, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States. AstraZeneca has broad access to advanced technologies in biomedical research, chemical libraries, high throughput screening, and product delivery systems. While exceptional internal research strength remains a hallmark of our success, we are selectively seeking new areas of investment with universities and biotechnology companies to expand and complement our capabilities.
Prof Barry Furr  UK,  Dr Campbell Wilson  UK
Dr Svend Lorentz Jørgensen, Medical Advisor Oncology  Denmark

AvantiCell Science Ltd  Dr Colin Wilde
AvantiCell Science Ltd is a biotechnology company specialising in cell biology and cell culture technology. AvantiCell services range from development of novel, client-specified, culture systems to cell-based testing of candidate drugs, biomaterials and traditional medicines. AvantiCells growing product portfolio includes cell-based assay kits containing pre-dispensed, cryopreserved cells in easy-use, off-the-freezer-shelf formats.The company is a partner in UK Technology Strategy Board and EU FP7 programmes focused on building of three-dimensional cell cultures with physiological relevance and application in drug discovery.
UK

BioInvent  Dr. Björn Frendéus
Sweden

Prof Barry Furr  OBE BSc MA (Cantab) FmedSci
Barry Furr is a reproductive biologist and endocrinologist by training who worked for over 33 years at AstraZeneca and its associate companies. He held a range of research management positions, retiring in 2005 as Chief Scientist. He worked on the antioestrogenic breast cancer drug, tamoxifen, and both Zoladex and Casodex for prostate cancer were discovered in his laboratory.
UK

Biotica  Dr Ming Zhang, Senior VP R&D
Biotica aims to discover drugs that address serious unmet medical need, such as cancer and inflammatory diseases. The Company conducts its drug discovery by optimizing natural products, in particular polyketides - a prolific source of successful pharmaceuticals (~$20 billion sales p.a. across multiple therapeutic areas), through genetically engineered biosynthesis. Biotica is looking for partners with complementary skills and expertise in cancer and inflammation biology and resources to commercialise these products.
UK

Brighton & Sussex Medical School  Dr Timothy Chevassut
As a clinician and a scientist, I am interested in translational bench-to-bedside research aimed at improving outcomes in leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma. In the case of acute myeloid leukaemia, evidence suggests that post-treatment relapses are caused by leukaemia stem cells that evade killing by conventional drugs. My current focus aims to characterise the leukaemia stem cell using a murine xenograft model with a view to testing new drug treatments that specifically target the stem cell compartment, such as rapamycin and parthenolide, with a view to taking these forward into phase I/II clinical trials in Brighton. I am also interested in using RNA interference and antisense strategies to therapeutically target key oncogenes expressed in the haematological malignancies. My previous research has included work on embryonic stem cells, haematopoiesis, RNA interference and DNA methylation. I look forward to establishing partnerships for translational research aimed at improving treatments for patients with haematological cancer. A state-of-the-art clinical investigation unit has recently been opened in Brighton for the purpose of undertaking early phase trials with strong links to both King's College Hospital and the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.
UK

Chroma Therapeutics  Dr Scott Cuthill, Business Development Manager
Chroma Therapeutics is focused on harnessing the power of chromatin biology and novel drug accumulation approaches to discover and develop a new generation of targeted cancer and inflammation treatments. We are seeking selective partnerships with companies and leading academic groups to further strengthen our pipeline and develop our novel drug accumulation technology.
UK

CREATE Health  Dr Carsten Rose
The center is unique in its kind, offering a superbly equipped and integrated omics platform concentrated in a single area, directly interacting with the clinicians.
Sweden

DanDrit Biotech A/S  Dr Mai-Britt Zocca, Prof Mogens Claesson
We develop and manufacture cancer vaccines and intent to launch innovative therapeutic and prophylactic treatments in Denmark and internationally. Our vaccines will improve the patients' immune response against solid tumours and their metastases. Our vaccines will be administered as mono therapy as well as adjuvant (complementary) to other cancer treatments.
Denmark

Danish Cancer Society Julio E. Celis, Research Director, Institute of Cancer Biology
The aim of the Institute of Cancer Biology is to carry out research intended to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer and to bridge the gap between basic and clinical research for the benefit of the patient. The Institute consists of 6 Departments: Cell Cycle and Cancer, Proteomics in Cancer, Molecular Cancer Biology, Apoptosis, Tumor Endocrinology and Laboratory of Cancer Genomics. In addition, there are two research Centers affiliated to the Institute: The Danish Centre for Translational Breast Cancer Research and the Centre for Genotoxic Stress Research. The Institute hosts Molecular Oncology, an international journal that was conceived to foster the development of discovery-driven translational cancer research, an emerging discipline which uses knowledge-based, multidisciplinary approaches to derive new diagnostics and targeted cancer treatments for the benefit of the patient.
Denmark

Danish Cancer Society Jorg Klingelhofer, Molecular Cancer Biology
At the Department of Molecular Cancer Biology we study the mechanism of metastasis in context of the crosstalk between the tumor and the surrounding stroma. Additionally, we are investigating the cellular events leading to the formation of metastatic niches ready to accept tumor cells. We have isolated several genes associated with metastasis formation. One of these genes is encoding S100A4,which is mainly expressed in human and mouse tumor stroma. By using different mouse tumor models we established a correlation between the levels S100A4 expression and cancer progression and metastasis formation. S100A4 is known to be expressed in aggressive subtypes of a variety of different human cancers and a correlation has been established between S100A4 expression and poor prognosis. These data identify the S100A4 protein as a prognostic marker. Another area of interest is the link between inflammation and cancer. We found strong up-regulation of S100A4 in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriasis. The third area of interest covers the involvement of S100A4 in cardiovascular disease. We and our collaborators found that S100A4 can act as a novel cardiac growth and survival factor. Besides understanding the underlying molecular events of S100A4 action in different pathological conditions we attempt to develop drugs that interfere with the biological activity of the S100A4 protein. Our strategy is to develop a therapeutic antibody or alternatively to identify small chemical compounds interfering with the target-binding pocket of S100A4.
Denmark

ENKAM Pharmaceuticals  Dr Gro Povlsen, Mr Martin Pedersen, Dr Morten Albrechstsen
A small biopharmaceutical development company focused on cancer and CNS disorders, ENKAM's Protein Mimetic Technology Platform (PMTP) allows the design of active peptides that mimic specific functions of larger proteins. ENKAM currently has two lead compounds in its oncology portfolio: Dekafin2 is a peptide that targets the Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor (FGFR) and is derived from the Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF). Inherbin3 is a peptide that targets the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and functions as an inhibitor of EGFR dimerisation and activation. Our current activities around these compounds are focused on deeper investigations of the mechanism of action, selection of key indications, and search for partnering.
Denmark

Fusion Antibodies Ltd  Paul Kerr, Director of Business Development
Fusion Antibodies is committed to developing therapeutic antibodies and recombinant proteins to disease specific markers. Using latest genomic mining software a pipeline of targets (mediators in disease development) have been discovered and are presently being evaluated for therapeutic and diagnostic suitability. Our team of researchers stem from haemtology, clinical oncology, pharmacology, immunology and molecular biotechnology. The use of an integrated and multi disciplinary team approach to drug discovery enables Fusion Antibodies to rapidly design and develop test reagents for project evaluation using our high throughput recombinant protein platform. The R&D is primarily focused on the key areas of oncology and angiogenesis where immunotherapeutic intervention has a proven track record. The company's researchers have experience in clinical oncology, pharmacology, immunology and molecular biotechnology, and the use of an integrated and multi-disciplinary team approach to drug discovery enables Fusion to rapidly design and develop test reagents for project evaluation. The company's genomic mining and proteomic approach has been validated through the development of its pipeline, which now exceeds ten targets, most in discovery with two in early-stage preclinical. Building on this Fusion Antibodies intends to take the most promising leads into late pre clinical and / or Phase 1 trials and then into collaborations with partners. Fusion Antibodies oncology programme is focused on the discovery and validation of novel therapeutic antibody targets derived from proteomics & mircoarray data through to pre-clinical analysis. We are interested in discussing co-development of both theranostic or therapeutic antibodies with other companies from the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. We are seeking partners researching in an area complementary to our technologies and services.
UK

Hypoxium Ltd  Dr Dan Cowell, Dr Rebecca Foster
A contract research organization specializing in cell biology within the oncology therapeutic area. Using our expertise in drug discovery and oncology translational research, we assist biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to rapidly and successfully progress their lead compounds. Core services - Compound screening in cellular assays - Development of bespoke cell assays - Support, interpretation and understanding of oncology cell biology - Provision of dedicated resource
UK

Imperial College, London Eve Jacques, Business Development Manager for oncology
As the business development representative for Imperial College's oncology research base, I am looking to establish new collaborative relationships with companies in areas of mutual interest. Our oncology department boasts particular excellence in disciplines including imaging, drug resistance, signalling and biomarker discovery. These themes cut across expertise in breast, ovarian, lung, prostate and haematological cancers. The college has a real emphasis on research that is translational, and the oncology group are leading the way in identifying novel targets and biomarkers for unmet clinical needs.
UK

LIDDS AB  Dr Hans Lennernas, CSO
Improving quality of life for patients with prostate diseases. LIDDS AB is developing innovative pharmaceutical products, based on its proprietary parenteral drug delivery technology. The primary aim is to satisfy the unmet needs for improved focal treatment of prostate cancer, benign prostate hyperplasia and other diseases of the prostate. The drug delivery technology is based on a ceramic drug carrier matrix that can be injected as a paste and which releases the active substance slowly up to several months. LIDDS' first product, Liproca®, is based on a well known active pharmaceutical substance (an antiandrogen) and is targeted for local (intra prostate), long term treatment of prostate cancer, thus eliminating the systemic adverse effects of current oral anti androgen therapy while delivering the same or an improved local anti-cancer effect. This novel focal therapy with Liproca® can be used either alone or in combination with other, already established, treatments alternatives and has the potential to increase the clinical effect while substantially lowering the adverse effects and thus increase quality of life. Liproca® has been tested in various animal models up to six months. The first tolerance and safety study in patients with prostate cancer is in progress. As LIDDS' drug delivery platform is applicable also to various, other active pharmaceutical substances and indications, outside the prostate, development of other pharmaceutical products, intended for local treatment, are being actively explored.
Sweden

Meabco A/S  Stig Lofberg, CEO
a Biotech company focusing on cancer
Denmark

New-Use Therapeutics  Dr Timothy Bates, CSO
Seeking to out-license small molecules with potent pro-apoptotic activities for use in cancer chemotherapy, and to partner with companies and academic institutes seeking expertise in mitochondrial drug targeting. Founded in 2007 by Dr. Timothy E. Bates, the business focus of New-Use Therapeutics Limited is on the discovery and development of drugs for use in cancer chemotherapy. With laboratories and offices at BioCity Nottingham (Europe's largest Bio-incubator) New-Use Therapeutics has an IP portfolio which consists of drugs which have potent pro-apoptotic properties for use in the treatment of solid tumours and leukaemia in humans and animals. These drugs are unique in that they have targets in cancer cell mitochondria, and take advantage of the innate metabolic differences between "normal" (non-cancer) cells and cancer cells. This mitochondrial "Achilles heel" in cancer cells, has been investigated and defined by Dr. Bates and colleagues over the last 25 years. New-Use Therapeutics has a unique platform technology for the High Throughput Screening (HTS) of mitochondrial function, which we use with our own compounds and the chemical libraries of partnering companies. We have a developing pipeline of drugs for out-licensening, including RP 1486, a small molecule with a novel mitochondrial target, for use in lung (and other) cancers. RP 1486 has been patented by us for use in cancer, but is already in use in man for other indications. RP 1486 therefore represents a considerable business opportunity, as it will have a much shorter and less expensive route to market, due to human toxicity studies already having been performed. Our latest research has shown that cannabinoid receptor agonists (previously thought to have their action solely on cell surface [CB1 and CB2] and nuclear [PPAR] receptors) can induce apoptotic cell death in human lung cancer cells thorough binding to mitochondrial proteins, inhibiting their enzymatic activity.
UK

Novo Nordisk
Dr Eva Ehrnrooth
Denmark

Oxford Genome Sciences  Dr Alasdair Stamps
Oxford Genome Sciences (OGeS) has embarked upon an ambitious strategy to establish the company as a major player in the field of biological medicines in oncology. The company discovers and develops targeted antibody medicines with its partners Medarex and Biosite to deliver innovative & cost effective medicines to large unmet patient needs. OGeS also intends to develop companion diagnostics for selected antibody programmes. The company expects to improve disease management and treatment outcomes by integrating diagnostics into product development and commercialisation activities. OGeS owns what is currently the largest database of disease-associated proteins in the world, OGAP®, the Oxford Genome Anatomy Project, providing the opportunity to apply this approach to other diseases. Contained within OGAP® is also the largest cancer protein database which has revealed a large number of novel clinically relevant cancer drug targets and diagnostics. OGeS continues to seek partnerships that will bring biologics technologies to bear upon its novel target discoveries
UK

Peakdale Molecular  Mark Hopkins, Business Development Manager
Peakdale Molecular offers a range of products and services to its pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers to accelerate their drug discovery initiatives. The Company's approach is based upon its strength in synthetic organic chemistry and the desire to further research through novel compounds and methodologies.
UK

Protherics  Dr Ian Scoular, Business Development Manager
Protherics (LSE: PTI, NASDAQ: PTIL) is a leading biopharmaceutical company focused on the development, manufacture and marketing of specialised products for critical care and cancer. Through in-licensing we are looking to expand our portfolio with late phase III, registered or marketed products
UK

Takeda (TGRD) Europe  Dr Ian Moules, Senior Director
Takeda has created numerous pharmaceutical products, including the four international strategic products (Leuprorelin Acetate, Lansoprazole, Candesartan Cilexetil, Pioglitazone Hydrochloride), which are distributed in many countries around the world. In the hopes of continuously developing superior pharmaceutical products to follow these and delivering at the earliest possible date the new drugs that are eagerly awaited by patients, we are committed to the development of new drugs by focusing our management resources on the four core therapeutic areas of: life-style related diseases; oncology and urological diseases; central nervous system diseases, and gastroenterological diseases. Takeda has a long history of partnerships in research, drug development and commercialisation to strengthen its own core capabilities. Takeda has an active in-licensing programme to help build portfolio in these key areas.
Ian Moules has worked in clinical development for over 20 years, 13 of these being with Takeda. He has experience in a wide variety of therapeutic areas, including oncology, gastroenterology, urology, diabetes, and neurodegeneration. He is now a member of the global licensing team at Takeda looking for novel therapies in oncology, as well as Takeda's other core therapeutic areas. Takeda has a long history in small molecule development, but it is also active in the biologics field, with interests in antibodies, stem cells, therapeutic vaccines and peptides.
UK

UK Trade & Investment, British Embassy Stockholm  Heledd Poole, Senior Market Advisor
Sweden

UK Trade & Investment Lifesciences Team  Philip Kendall, Senior Sector Manager
UK Trade & Investment is the Government organisation that helps UK based companies succeed in international markets. We assist overseas companies to bring high quality investment to the UK's vibrant economy. We help biotechnology and pharmaceutical organisations develop business networks and partnership opportunities, both in the UK and internationally. We also offer practical advice, support and a package of assistance to companies who want to build their international business.
UK

UK Trade & Investment R&D Programme   Prof Janet Bainbridge OBE, Global R&D Specialist
Janet has been extensively involved in delivering UK science strategy advice to the UK Government. She has wide experience as an R&D innovator within the pharma, healthcare, food manufacturing and speciality chemicals sectors; has specialist knowledge of accessing EU funding, especially the Framework Programme (FP7) and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme; and has held advisory roles within the European Commission.
UK

University of Copenhagen, Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC)  Prof Cord Brakebusch
Rho GTPases are small GTPases known to regulate the cytoskeleton and cell movement, cell-cell adhesion and cell-extracellular matrix adhesion, proliferation and apoptosis. Our group is studying the function of Rho GTPases in vivo with a special focus on tumors and inflammatory diseases. To this end we generated different mice with targeted alterations in Rho GTPase genes which we now test in different disease models. We have special expertises in the generation of mice with targeted gene alterations, and in the analysis of mouse mutant with phenotypes in skin and hematopoietic system.
Denmark

University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Life Sciences  Prof Nils Brunner
At the Faculty of Life Sciences we are performing basic, translational and clinical cancer research with a focus on companion diagnostics and targeted therapy. We have at present in late stage clinical development serological protein markers for early detection of colorectal cancer, prognostic evaluation of early stage colorectal cancer patients and predictive markers for chemotherapy resistance. In preclinical development we have an innovative new treatment modality where chemotherapy resistant cancers are identified and then pre-treated in order to sensitize the cancer cells to subsequent chemotherapy.
Denmark

University of Liverpool, Business Gateway  Dr Sonja Jonas
Business manager for biomedical activities in the University, with a particular focus on oncology (therapeutics, diagnostics, devices). Particular interest in latest trends, opportunities for partnerships and engagement with biotech companies. One of the partcipating companies at this workshop receives significant business support as a spin out company from the the University.
UK

University of the West of Scotland  Prof HT Hassan
Screening potential novel drugs against Human Adult Cancer stem cells. Prof Hassan's current oncology research focusses on two main themes: 1)- Characterisation and biological features of Embryonic gene Expression in Human Adult Cancer Stem Cells We have identified and reported the expression of three important embryonic genes: CD133, c-Kit and Oct-4 in a number of human adult haematological and non-haematological malignancies using multi-colour Flow Cytometry, Immunoflourscence and Western Blot. These findings are published in British Journal of Haematology and Experimental Hematology. The forthcoming investigations are studying the correlation between these 3 gene expressions and the drug resistance as well as the self-renewal extent in adult human cancer stem cells. 2)-Screening potential novel drugs against Human Adult Cancer stem Cells. We established an in vitro screening protocol for new potential anti-cancer drugs using adult human drug-resistant leukaemia Stem Cells and published in Leukemia Research Journal. The protocol not only is cost-effective but also allows reliable evaluation of drug interactions for any synergism in these unique human adult drug-resistant cancer stem cells.
UK

ZGene A/S  Dr Zoran Gojkovic, CEO
ZGene was founded in 2001 on research from three Danish Universities. ZGene has developed the ZAS™ platform technology, which efficiently enhances the effect of current anti-cancer drugs and reduces their toxicity. Potentially, ZGene's technology may revolutionize the treatment of cancer. ZGene is specialized in developing genetically enhanced enzymes, which can activate FDA approved anti-cancer and anti-viral drugs. The activators may be delivered by any delivery system, viral, cellular or lipid-based. The research portfolio covers the most common cancer types such as breast, pancreatic, bladder, lung and brain cancer. ZGene also offers this technology as a safety mechanism for companies focused on gene delivery, and is collaborating with biotech companies in Europe and the USA on the evaluation of the ZAS platform technology for several different cancers. ZGene has obtained proof-of-concept for this technology in a predictive animal model of glioblastoma multiforme (brain cancer). The first-in-man dosing (Clinical Phase I/II) using ZGene's technology is scheduled to commence in 2009.
Denmark