Nordic Life Science 1
Naturally, if brought to patients, EpiEndo’s new
treatment could have a significant impact, both on global health as well as economically. “A COPD diagnosis is considered if a patient experiences any of the following symptoms; dyspnea, chronic cough, or sputum production. Acute worsening of respiratory symptoms is referred to as exacerbations and reduction in exacerbations would benefit the healthcare system since the greatest proportion of the economic burden of COPD comes from hospitalization of severe patients with exacerbations,” says Bech. The economic burden of COPD is increasing and is estimated to represent over three percent of the total annual healthcare budget in the EU, totaling around 38 billion USD, says Bech. In the US, the direct costs of COPD are estimated to be 32 billion USD annually. In 2019, drug sales in COPD totaled 13 billion USD in the US and EU5&Japan (*). In August, EpiEndo closed a 20 million EUR Series A financing round, led by Iðunn Venture Fund and Flerie Invest, with existing investors ABC Ventures participating, as well as the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund joining the round. The Series A financing secured funds to advance clinical development of EP395, which entered phase I clinical trials in April, through Phase IIa, targeting COPD as a lead indication. “In 2022, we will complete our phase I single and multiple ascending dose study in healthy volunteers with EP395. This is a study evaluating the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic properties of our lead compound. In addition, the plan is to bring EP395 into phase II in patients with COPD. I am very much looking forward to when the first patient is treated with EP395. That will be a significant milestone for the company,” says Bech. EpiEndo is an Icelandic company, but the core team is based across Iceland, Sweden, Germany and the UK. “Our thinking from the start has been to bring the best and most skilled individuals into EpiEndo, regardless of where they are located. The important thing for us is to have the right competence in the company, and if we have that, we know we are doing our best to make this a success,” says Bech. “On a day-to-day basis we work virtually, which has been a real advantage during the pandemic as this is our normal way of working. We try to meet at least a couple of times per year with the larger team of employees and consultants, and the core team more frequently. However, as for everyone these past 1.5 years, travel has been restricted.” Being an Icelandic life science company, strategically located between Europe and USA, is an advantage as the local interest in the company in Iceland, as well as abroad, is considerable, continues Bech. “However, our success results from tapping into the industry tradition and experience available in the Nordics as well as the UK and EU. Our virtual model allows a critical mass of people working in multinational teams across the globe to advance the development of our drugs towards market registration given the essential partnerships, funds, and services.” In the Nordics, the company has a strong community within life science, many companies to learn from and experienced people to either hire or consult with, adds Bech. “Being part of this is of major importance for us as we grow, both with regard to attracting talent but also access to expertise in the life science area,” she concludes. NLS * GLOBAL STRATEGY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS, MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (2020 REPORT), DATAMONITOR REPORT 2020, WHO FACT SHEET ‘THE TOP 10 CAUSES OF DEATH’ (9 DEC 2020) Maria Bech, CEO, EpiEndo Pharmaceuticals 36 BUSINESS