17-07-2019
CellMabs S.A., founded by Paula Videira, Professor and Researcher at FCT NOVA, and by the alumnus Nuno Prego Ramos, raised a substantial first round of investment with Portugal Ventures, a venture capital company. This investment will advance the development of a new class of immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer.
The project, focused on the area of glycobiology and oncobiology, is centered on the identification of distinct and specific elements of tumor cells. CellMabs will develop and exploit proprietary technology from NOVA, through its organic units FCT NOVA and IHMT NOVA, along with IPO Porto (Institute of Oncology of Porto) and HZDR (Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Germany). This technology is the result of years of collaborative scientific research that allows the development of immunotherapies against solid tumours as well as innovative treatments and personalized medicines, such as the revolutionary CAR-T cells. This project is already attracting several multinational pharmaceutical companies.
"CellmAbs is an output of the great science work that is being done in academia, showing a successful example of technology transfer from academia research to the market. Our technology represents one of the greatest recent breakthroughs in the field of oncology worldwide. In the absence of effective treatments for most of the solid tumors that kill millions of people every year, it is emergent to provide innovative treatments. Therefore, this investment is essential, as it will allow us to perform the trials we need to go forward to the pre-clinical stage," says Nuno Prego Ramos.
The company was formally constituted on the last month of June, and its promoters worked on the valorization of Intellectual Property with the assistance of RIA - Research and Innovation Accelerator - FCT NOVA service that supports the innovation cycle of the FCT NOVA's scientific community, from the genesis of an idea until its application in the market, thus contributing to the School's creation of value.
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