**Swedish Innovator Nyctea Technologies Seeks Growth in Drug Purification Technologies**
Nyctea Technologies, a Swedish startup focused on both deeptech and medtech, is setting its sights on expanding into new markets with its pioneering biomolecular purification system.
Originating as a project from Chalmers University and supported by Chalmers Ventures, this innovative company has managed to bring its technology to the pharmaceutical sector within a short span of four years.
Just earlier this year, they unveiled a collaborative research initiative with AstraZeneca and are actively pursuing partnerships with other pharmaceutical trailblazers to deliver safer, more affordable medications at a faster pace.
In drug manufacturing, removing impurities is a crucial step to ensure product safety and maintain cost-effectiveness of medicines. The traditional purification method, chromatography, is relatively outdated; it relies on aggressive chemicals which can damage the drug’s essential components and inhibit efficiency. This method can account for 60-80% of production costs, significantly hindering innovation.
Nyctea’s revolutionary approach utilizes gentle electric signals, electrodes, and digital tools, circumventing the need for chromatography resin and harsh chemicals, thereby boosting efficiency by up to 700%.
“While conducting research for my PhD at Chalmers University, my team and I stumbled upon this technology by sheer chance. Entrepreneurship was never part of my plan, but we quickly realized we had the potential to fast-track the creation of innovative medicines to help countless patients battling cancer and autoimmune diseases,” shares Gustav Ferrand-Drake del Castillo, founder and CEO of Nyctea Technologies.
There’s an increasing demand for new treatments, especially in the realms of cell and gene therapy. As cancer cases surge globally and as our population ages, addressing diseases like Alzheimer’s becomes critical. Bridging this gap and accelerating innovation cycles is imperative. According to WHO, higher cancer mortality rates are witnessed in countries with lower human development indices (HDI). Accessible, economical medication is vital for lower-income nations facing rising cancer cases.
“Pharmaceutical firms are making every effort, but there’s always a risk: only one in ten new drugs becomes successful. To boost their R&D investments, ensuring a safe, consistent, and effective manufacturing process is paramount. Making medicines affordable and widely available can prevent many tragedies, reduce global inequalities, and democratize healthcare,” states Ferrand-Drake del Castillo.
Currently, Nyctea Technologies has an established clientele in the pharmaceutical sector and is actively seeking strategic investors and R&D collaborators to explore their technology further in medical manufacturing.
“Nyctea Technologies exemplifies how university-driven innovations can significantly touch millions of lives. At Chalmers Ventures, we’re thrilled to witness Nyctea’s swift progression—they’ve gained traction with paying clients and are now partnering with prominent global pharmaceutical entities,” says Pontus Ottosson, CEO of Chalmers Ventures.
Founded in 2020, Nyctea Technologies AB is a private biotech company dedicated to leading sustainable and economical biopharmaceutical production. A major challenge to achieving this is revolutionizing the purification process, which currently represents 50-80% of manufacturing expenses.