Will Off-the-Shelf Cellular Immunotherapies Revolutionize the Fight Against Cancer?

breast cancer awareness on teal wooden surface
Photo by Miguel Á. Padriñán on Pexels.com

Key Takeaways:

  • Glycostem Therapeutics is a Netherlands-based biotech company specializing in off-the-shelf allogeneic cellular immunotherapy using Natural Killer (NK) cells.
  • Its proprietary product, oNKord®, exhibited solid safety data and a strong indication of clinical activity in early trials.
  • Glycostem leverages six patent families, technical expertise, and ‘Orphan Drug Designation’ to maintain a leadership position in the global NK-cell market.
  • The startup expects to receive GMP certification by the end of 2018 and initiate a pivotal clinical trial in the first quarter of 2019.

Fighting cancer just got a revolution kick with Glycostem Therapeutics, a clinical stage biotech startup based in The Netherlands. The company, which operates in the intersecting fields of biotechnology, life science, and pharmaceutical, is pioneering off-the-shelf allogeneic cellular immunotherapy using Natural Killer (NK) cells. These NK cells, being the body’s first line of defence, can rapidly and accurately identify and destroy cells under stress, such as cancer or virally-infected cells.

Their lead product, oNKord®, has already proved its potential by concluding a successful phase I clinical trial, providing solid safety data and a strong indication of clinical activity, even provoking a response on Minimum Residual Disease (MRD) in elderly and fragile Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) patients. Glycostem’s state-of-the-art production facility allows for ex vivo expansion of a high number of pure and highly activated NK-cells for clinical applications. The facility plays a key role in the production of oNKord® that can be distributed globally from The Netherlands.

Glycostem Therapeutics stands out by its pioneering approach in evolving potent immunotherapies for several types of cancer. Leveraging six patent families, longstanding technical expertise, and resources, Glycostem maintains a strong position in the global NK-cell market. By using off-the-shelf allogeneic cellular immunotherapy, the company provides a promising and well-needed advancement in the biotech industry. Glycostem’s process also benefits from the ‘Orphan Drug Designation’, adding a unique value to its approach.

Keep exploring EU Startups  Startup Showcase: HR Path

Besides, Glycostem is planning to introduce a pivotal clinical trial for oNKord® early in the coming year. Trial outcomes, along with a fast-emerging NK-cell market, are closely watched by the biotech industry that is in dire need of innovations over traditional cancer treatments. Glycostem’s progress thus underscores the company’s commitment to revolutionizing the fight against cancer.

In conclusion, Glycostem Therapeutics has the potential to disrupt the biotech industry by making strides in cellular immunotherapy. Advancements in the NK-cell market and the promising results of Glycostem’s proprietary drug, oNKord®, showcase the potential of the startup to disrupt the traditional approaches to cancer treatments. Looking ahead, the company’s approach could be a significant breakthrough in the fight against cancer. Learn more about Glycostem’s endeavours by visiting their website or following their journey on Linkedin.


Want to amplify your startup’s story? EU Startup News is your launchpad to reach startup founders, investors, and C-level execs across Europe. Discover our tailored promotional strategies such as Sponsored Articles and Partnerships. Click here to learn more or contact us directly at [email protected]. Join us, and let’s make your startup the talk of Europe!

Keep exploring EU Startups  Is Disrupting Recruitment with Data and Technology the Future of HR?
Previous Story

Revolutionizing EV Charging: Can Mobile Stations Dominate Urban Energy Services?

Next Story

Can Digitising Logistics Increase Performance for E-commerce Businesses?