Our Mission is to develop novel therapies for cancer with a particular focus on hard-to-treat, recurrent and metastatic cancers.

2012
Company Incorporation

VAR2 Pharmaceuticals spuns out from the University of Copenhagen propelled by an unexpected finding linking cancer to malaria.

2015
Identification of Target Molecule

Oncofetal Chondroitin Sulfate (CS) is identified as a secondary, post-translational sugar (glycosaminoglycan) modification to proteins expressed in the placenta. We subsequently identify that oncofetal CS re-appears in cancer.

2016
Identification of a first lead therapy candidate

We identify VAR2CSA as the protein allowing the malaria parasite to bind oncofetal CS in the human placenta. We focus our efforts in converting this protein into a lead candidate for cancer therapy.

2017
Diagnostics' Subsidiary

VARCT Diagnostics is established as a subsidiary of VAR2 Pharma to pursue diagnostic applications based on the detection of oncofetal CS.

2020
Pre-clinical validation of first lead candidate

We compile a strong pre-clinical data package demonstrating that VAR2CSA could be conjugated to a toxin and used to treat cancer in several mouse models

2022
Identification of Vartumabs

We identify and characterize first-in-class antibodies binding oncofetal CS with high affinity and high specificity specificity, a tremendous breakthrough considering the nature of our target.

We prioritized these candidates over the former VAR2CSA given their superior scalability in both economic and technical aspects.

2023
Pre-clinical data package on Vartumabs

We establish the safety and efficacy of using Vartumabs in different therapy formats with a focus on antibody-drug conjugates and CD3-bispecifics.

2024
First Clinical Study

We initiated our first clinical study - a Phase 0 PET/CT imaging study - in November 2024. This study will provide biodistribution, PK/PD data on our lead assets.

2012

Company Incorporation

VAR2 Pharmaceuticals spuns out from the University of Copenhagen propelled by an unexpected finding linking cancer to malaria.

20??

Identification of Target Molecule

Oncofetal Chondroitin Sulfate (ofCS) is identified as the molecule being expressed in the placenta and later demonstrated to be ubiquitously, selectively and highly expressed in cancers.

20??

Identification of first therapeutic agent

VAR2CSA is identified as the malaria parasite protein responsible for binding ofCS in the placenta. VAR2 Pharma team successfully produces a recombinant variant

2017

Diagnostics' Subsidiary

VARCT Diagnostics is established as a subsidiary of VAR2 Pharma. VARCT focuses on various diagnostic applications using ofCS presence in circulating tumor cells and other relevant agents.

20??

rVAR2 in vitro and in vivo efficacy and safety demonstrated

rVAR2 demonstrated to bind various cancers (incl. patient tissues), and conjugation with toxins resulted in efficacious tumor regression in various cancers in mouse models. rVAR2 has been discontinued as a therapeutic approach (but not as a detection tool, see to VARCT Diagnostics website) in favor of proprietary antibodies with superior scaling characteristics.

2022

Vartumabs (IP-protected Abs) identified

Testing multiple large phage display libraries in an elaborate panning strategy on rVAR2 purified ofCS resulted in 2 lead candidates with high affinity and high specificity for ofCS. VAR2 Pharma has extensively tested and validated these lead candidates as short chain variable fragments.

2023

Strong in vivo safety and efficacy data

VAR2 Pharma has demonstrated strong safety and efficacy in mouse models of 10+ cancer types using different therapeutic assets, including Antibody-Drug Conjugates and CD3-bispecifics.

2024

First Clinical Study

Microdosing Phase 0 study planned to start Q3 2024. GMP production of scFvs completed.

Our Mission is to develop novel therapies for cancer with a particular focus on hard-to-treat, recurrent and metastatic cancers.

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