About – ASGARD THERAPEUTICS

We are exploring direct cell reprogramming as a strategy to force cancer cells to become immunogenic again.

OUR VALUES

THINK DIFFERENTLY

We want to merge cell reprogramming and cancer immunotherapy fields.

be passionate

We are committed to the challenge of making cancer immunotherapies available for every patient.

RETRIBUTE

We aim to use our direct reprogramming discoveries to contribute to create a positive impact in patients life.

OUR STORY

In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was fought between the Greeks and Trojans. After 10 years of conflict, the Greeks implemented a strategy based on a hollow wooden horse, the Trojan horse, to enter Troy and win the war from within. According to Norse myths, while the city of Troy was completely devastated, thousands of Trojans left immediately after the war and moved north across Europe. When they arrived to the Baltic Sea in Scandinavia, they built Asgard, a fortified city resembling Troy and described as “Troy in the north”, the city of Gods.

In 2015, researchers at the University of Coimbra, Portugal, started working on a direct cell reprogramming approach to set in motion immune responses based on the unique properties of Dendritic Cells. While reprogramming approaches had been mainly restricted to regenerative medicine, this conceptual shift opens exciting opportunities to merge the fields of cell reprogramming and cancer immunotherapy.

In 2017, the same team of scientists, just like the Trojans, crossed Europe and moved to Lund University where they established Asgard Therapeutics AB to explore and develop the TrojanDC concept and its applications in cancer immunotherapy.

Winner of the NOME Start-up Competition

Nordic Mentor Network for Entrepreneurship (NOME) is an elite Nordic Mentoring program for promising life science projects and start-ups with world class mentors.

Horizon 2020 SME Instrument Phase 1

The SME Instrument supports new market-creating innovations, top class entrepreneurs and small companies with funding opportunities and acceleration services across Europe. Financial support from the SME Instrument will be used to further support TrojanDC development.

Read here

Novo Nordisk Fonden Exploratory Pre-seed Grant

The Novo Nordisk Fonden Exploratory Pre-seed Program is a stimulus fund established to accelerate commercialization of biomedical research findings and development of novel technologies within the health sciences. The scientific founders of Asgard Therapeutics were awarded with this Exploratory Pre-seed Grant to complete proof-of-concept studies.

Sten K Johnsons Stiftelse Award

The Sten K Johnson Foundation supports innovative ideas with potential to benefit society. Asgard Therapeutics was awarded with the 2019 Sten K Johnsons Stiftelse Award in the field of Medicine.

VINNOVA Innovativa Start-ups

This grant provides support to small, newly started companies that need funding to develop innovative, sustainable solutions that can reach the market and contribute to Sweden's development and competitiveness. Asgard Therapeutics was selected from 613 applicants to receive funding to support defining the regulatory and IP strategy for TrojanDC gene therapy for cancer.

Incorporation of Asgard Therapeutics AB

Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into antigen-presenting dendritic cells

Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into antigen-presenting dendritic cells. Read here Comment by Yona and Mildner. Read here

Publication of PCT WO 2018/185709 A1

2018

StemTherapy LU Innovation Award

The aim of this grant is to bridge the gap between basic research and innovation/utilization of research result among the projects belonging to StemTherapy unit at Faculty of Medicine, Lund University. Asgard received financial support to complete TrojanDC proof-of-concept studies.