Background

The roots of Karolinska Development date back to 2003. At this time, Karolinska Institutet – one of Europe’s largest medical universities and Sweden’s largest center for medical training and research – initiated a system to secure financing for the many innovations coming from its researchers.

Initial investments took place through Karolinska Development I and Karolinska Development II, formed in 2003 and 2005, respectively.

Over a short period of time these companies demonstrated their ability to advance life science innovations towards commercially viable products, both at a competitive pace and in a highly cost-efficient manner. In 2008, the companies were merged into Karolinska Development, which was formed in 2006.

In contrast to the previous companies, Karolinska Development has the potential for far greater flexibility to grow business opportunities and to achieve the optimum exit point for both owners and innovators.

The company continues to grow and now manages a portfolio of 36 life science projects across a wide range of therapeutic areas. With its unique development approach, Karolinska Development has become a next-generation pharmaceutical company.

Karolinska Institutet Innovations AB (KIAB) and Deal-Flow Agreement

Karoliska Development is aligned with KIAB. This gives the company continued access to many of the brightest life science ideas and innovations coming out of Nordic academia.

KIAB was established by Karolinska Institutet to identify and commercialize the most promising ideas originating from its various research programs. Today, the innovation system is an open model and KIAB welcomes ideas from any research-based organization both within and outside of the Nordic region. To date, KIAB has screened more than 1,200 innovations. Over 35 licensing deals have been concluded and over 40 start-up companies have been created.

A long-term agreement gives Karolinska Development the right to first refusal regarding all innovations screened by KIAB. This exclusive deal-flow agreement with KIAB, along with other cooperation agreements with leading Nordic universities, provide Karolinska Development with access to a rich flow of commercial start-up opportunities.

Number of evaluated projects by KIAB