How Vaccibody became Nykode Therapeutics – with bolder ambitions

One of Norway’s most successful biotech companies is Nykode Therapeutics, formerly known as Vaccibody. After securing a $700 million-plus deal with Roche for its neoantigen cancer vaccine in 2020, the Norwegian biotech company recently attracted a new partner in Regeneron in late 2021.

This deal is one of the largest deals made in Norwegian biotech history and marks a significant increase of interest and support for technology and future products of Nykode. 

A deal that enables growth opportunities

With this new partner, Nykode is transforming from a two-asset-focused company to a fully-fledged platform biotech company. The agreement with Regeneron includes five different research programs, three of which will focus on cancer and two on infectious diseases. Each of these programs may include multiple vaccine candidates, all of whom may be eligible for milestone payments and royalties.

Vaccibody will be responsible for creating the vaccines, characterizing them and product supply through the end of Phase 1 trials. Regeneron is responsible for antigen identification, preclinical and clinical development, end-of-phase production, and commercialization.

Pipeline of pioneering vaccines (as of Dec. 10, 2021)

VB10.16

Currently in Phase 2 trials for the treatment of cervical cancer, VB10.16 is a therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of human papillomavirus 16-induced malignancies.

VB10.NEO

The cancer neoantigen vaccine, VB10.NEO, is one of their lead product candidates and is exclusively out-licensed to Genentech. It is currently in Phase 1b trials for the treatment of locally advanced and metastatic tumors and Phase 1/2a trials for the treatment of melanoma, lung, head and neck, renal, and bladder cancers.

COVID-19 vaccine

In 2021 they initiated a Phase 1/2 trial with their two next-generation COVID-19 vaccine candidates.

Empowered by long-standing partnerships

In their mission to bring their discoveries to the people who need them, they are proudly collaborating with world-class organizations. In oncology, their partners include Roche, Genentech, and Nektar Therapeutics. Nykode Therapeutics also have a multi-target collaboration with Regeneron within oncology and infectious diseases. For COVID-19 vaccine development, they have a strong relationship with Adaptive Biotechnologies.

What is Nykode Therapeutics?

Agnete Fredriksen, Co-Founder Nykode

Nykode Therapeautics, formerly known as Vaccibody was created in 2007 by Agnete Fredriksen, Bjarne Bogen and Inger Sandlie. Fredriksen is Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer at Nykode, and CEO is Michael Engsig. 

The Research Council Innovation Award 2020 was awarded to Agnete Fredriksen from Vaccibody for their work on research based innovation and efforts for the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Nykode Therapeutics is not a publicly listed company (the company’s shares are registered on Euronext Growth Oslo), but the company seeks direction from the guidelines and procedures stipulated in the Norwegian Code of Practice for Corporate Governance (issued October 17, 2018 (NCPCG)).

Contribution by
Mari Strømsvåg, The Oslo Region Alliance & Jeremy McCrohan, Norwegian Health Investor Network