Oncos Therapeutics wins Venture Cup
Helsinki, Finland, 8 April 2009 - Oncos Therapeutics, a biotech company developing novel cancer therapies based on its next generation oncolytic viruses, has won Venture Cup Finland 2009. Venture Cup is a respected business plan competition attracting innovative companies, teams and ideas to compete each year.
In addition to winning the overall Best Business Plan, Oncos Therapeutics was also awarded a special nomination as the best scientific research based business idea.
With oncolytic viruses developed by Oncos Therapeutics, over 100 patients have already being treated in the compassionate use program since 2007, suggesting strong safety and efficacy for terminally ill cancer patients not responding to routine therapies. Oncos Therapeutics aims at developing these program results and its science into a cancer therapeutic during the following years. The roots of Oncos Therapeutics are in University of Helsinki and its world class Cancer Gene Therapy Group, led by research professor and Oncos co-founder Akseli Hemminki.
The compassionate use treatments of Oncos Therapeutics are administered in Helsinki, Finland, by International Comprehensive Cancer Center Docrates. “Virus therapy may provide a chance for patients whose disease fails to respond to available routine therapies. We also believe Oncos Therapeutics will proceed to clinical trials in the near future”, says Harri Puurunen, CEO of Docrates.
“Our compassionate use program with its promising results is a great advance in the treatment of cancer. Next, we aim at establishing the safety and efficacy of our oncolytic viruses in clinical trials to make them available globally”, adds Pekka Simula, CEO and co-founder of Oncos Therapeutics.
Oncos Therapeutics
Oncos Therapeutics develops novel cancer therapies based on its next generation oncolytic viruses. Since the onset of our Compassionate Use Program in 2007, 100 patients have undergone tailored treatment suggesting strong safety and efficacy. The program is based on extensive scientific research at the University of Helsinki and serves as the foundation for our future clinical development.
Website: www.oncostherapeutics.com
International Comprehensive Cancer Center Docrates
Docrates is a Finland-based private clinic specializing in oncology diagnostics, treatments, and follow-up as well as research on new cancer and pain medication.
Website: www.docrates.com
Venture Cup
Venture Cup Finland is Finland’s largest and most important annual business plan competition, sponsored by leading venture financiers in Finland.
Website: www.venturecup.fi
