Ilya Pharma
Ilya Pharma AB is a clinical-stage Swedish biopharmaceutical company developing engineered Limosilactobacillus reuteri living biotherapeutic products, with lead asset ILP100 delivering human CXCL12 for wound healing, oral mucositis, and pulmonary infections.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersUppsala, Sweden
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Ilya Pharma does
Ilya Pharma AB is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2016 and headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden, that develops living biotherapeutic products (LBPs) based on engineered Limosilactobacillus reuteri. The platform programs the bacterium to act as a local mini-bioreactor at the disease site, secreting therapeutic human proteins. The lead asset, ILP100 (emilimogene sigulactibac), is a proprietary L. reuteri strain engineered to express human CXCL12, and is being developed in three formulations: ILP100-Topical (chronic and surgical wounds, with a lead SAVI indication under FDA Rare Pediatric Disease Designation), ILP100-Oral (ulcerative colitis and chemotherapy-induced or ICI-induced mucositis), and ILP101-Inhale (pulmonary infections, including antimicrobial-resistant indications). The platform is classified as a Gene Therapy Medicinal Product by both EMA and FDA, conferring specific regulatory pathways and the potential for a Priority Review Voucher upon approval of the lead asset.
The company operates a conventional clinical-stage biotech business model with no current product revenue: capital is raised through a mix of non-dilutive EU grants (Horizon 2020 SME Phase 2, EIC Accelerator including the WHILYAs-2 award) and private equity rounds, including an EUR 8.5M round in 2022 anchored by the EIC Fund and family offices, and a EUR 5M round in 2024. Total disclosed funding exceeds EUR 20M. The 2022 acquisition of Nordic Bioanalysis brought bioanalytical capabilities in-house, supporting clinical pharmacokinetic and CMC work. Partnerships with Uppsala University (co-founder Mia Phillipson), NIH, Great Ormond Street Hospital, and University of Pennsylvania support clinical execution. The company employs 11-50 people, has indicated preparation for a potential public market listing, and is led by a team that includes former Pfizer executive Sylvia McBrinn.
Revenue mechanics are pre-commercial: the company is funded to advance its pipeline through Phase 2/3 and to regulatory approval, with future monetization expected via direct commercialization in specialty indications, partnership/licensing deals, or potential Priority Review Voucher monetization. Customer segments in the eventual commercial setting are expected to be specialty wound care centers, gastroenterology practices, and pulmonary/critical care providers, though no products are yet sold.
Ilya Pharma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ilya Pharma
- Legal name
- Ilya Pharma AB
- Website
- https://ilyapharma.se
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ilya Pharma AB is a clinical-stage Swedish biopharmaceutical company developing engineered Limosilactobacillus reuteri living biotherapeutic products, with lead asset ILP100 delivering human CXCL12 for wound healing, oral mucositis, and pulmonary infections.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ilya Pharma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biopharmaceutical Immunotherapies
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Immunology & Inflammation Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Gastroenterology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAE), Infectious Disease Specialty Pharmaceuticals (Non-vaccine) (HLAIACAM), Transplant & Immunosuppression Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAJ), Cytokines, Interferons & Immunomodulatory Proteins (HLAAAAAC)
Keywords
Where Ilya Pharma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Uppsala
- HQ country
- Sweden
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Ilya Pharma business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Pharmaceutical product sales: Ilya Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharma company developing novel immunotherapies. The company is developing multiple drug candidates (ILP100-Topical, ILP100-Oral, ILP101-Inhale) targeting rare diseases (SAVI, Cystic Fibrosis) and broader indications (ICI-induced colitis, diabetic wounds). Revenue would be generated through product sales upon regulatory approval.
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Ilya Pharma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ilya Pharma develops living biotherapeutic drug candidates using engineered Limosilactobacillus reuteri as local mini-bioreactors that produce human therapeutic chemokines (CXCL12, CXCL17) directly at disease sites. The lead asset ILP100 (emilimogene sigulactibac) is being developed in topical and oral formulations for wound healing, SAVI, and ICI-induced colitis, with ILP101-Inhale targeting MDR lung infections in Cystic Fibrosis and SAVI patients.
Product overview
Ilya Pharma is developing a portfolio of living biotherapeutic products based on its proprietary ILP-technology platform. The platform leverages engineered lactic acid bacteria (Limosilactobacillus reuteri) as local mini-bioreactors to produce human therapeutic proteins at the site of disease. The lead product is ILP100 (emilimogene sigulactibac), available in two formulations: ILP100-Topical for wound healing applications including SAVI and diabetic foot ulcers, and ILP100-Oral for ICI-induced colitis. Additional pipeline programs include ILP101-Inhale for respiratory diseases. The technology enables delivery of proteins unsuitable for traditional biologics, offering advantages including ambient temperature storage, favorable safety profile, and potential to address over 1700 proteins.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ILP100-Topical (emilimogene sigulactibac) Topical formulation of L. reuteri expressing human CXCL12 1a for treatment of difficult-to-heal skin wounds, including pediatric SAVI, diabetic foot ulcers, and surgical wounds in patients with prediabetes, diabetes, and obesity. A first-in-human double-blinded RCT demonstrated 10 days faster skin healing with a favorable safety profile. FDA RPDD with PRV eligibility granted for SAVI indication.
- ILP100-Oral (emilimogene sigulactibac) Oral formulation of L. reuteri expressing human CXCL12 1a for treatment of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-induced colitis in cancer patients. Demonstrated superior efficacy versus Infliximab (Remicade) and Vedolizumab (Entyvio) in preclinical colitis models with very favorable safety profile. FDA pre-IND meeting completed supporting first-line evaluation in mild and moderate ICI-induced colitis.
- ILP101-Inhale Inhaled formulation of L. reuteri expressing human CXCL17, a mucosal chemokine with anti-inflammatory and bacteria-killing effects. Being developed for lung diseases including Cystic Fibrosis and SAVI with lung phenotype to preserve lung function and treat multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. Currently in non-clinical proof-of-concept stage.
Quantifiable outcome
- ILP100-Topical demonstrated 10 days faster skin healing in first-in-human double-blinded RCT
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Ilya Pharma
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ilya Pharma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Ilya Pharma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- KPMGminorProposed new auditor for the company as per AGM proposal. Will replace current auditor upon shareholder approval.
- Great Ormond Street HospitalcoreLead site for planned confirmatory clinical trial in SAVI patients with skin ulcers.
- GE Healthcare Testa CentercoreIlya Pharma was one of the first companies to use bioprocess equipment at GE Healthcare's newly opened Testa Center in Uppsala for validation and scale-up of manufacturing process. Reduced risk and accelerated time to clinical trial.
- Uppsala UniversitycoreLong-term research collaboration. Professor Mia Phillipson from Uppsala University is co-founder. Company extends research collaboration with Uppsala University. Industrial PhD student program B-ACTIVE.
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)coreAcademic partner in B-ACTIVE Marie Skłodowska-Curie program. Collaborates on chemokine immunobiology research and doctoral training.
- KU Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)coreAcademic collaborator and partner in B-ACTIVE Marie Skłodowska-Curie program. European academic thought leader in life sciences.
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)coreClinical trial planned together with experts at interferonopathies at NIH for pediatric SAVI patients. Planning 'An Open Label Dose Escalation Exploratory Phase 2 Study to Evaluate Safety and Biological Effect of ILP100-Topical in Subjects with SAVI'.
- Akademiska (Uppsala University Hospital)coreClinical development collaborator. KOL engagement and lead sites for clinical trials.
- Nordic BioanalysiscoreStrategic investment/acquisition of bioanalytical company to facilitate development of ILP pipeline. Acquiring one of its long-term partners to strengthen supply chain. Leo Groenewegen appointed as CEO.
- University of Pennsylvania (uPenn)coreLead site for planned confirmatory clinical trial in SAVI patients.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Ilya Pharma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Synlogic: Clinical-stage company developing engineered probiotic (E. coli Nissle and SYNB8802) therapeutics as living biotherapeutics for metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Closest direct peer to Ilya Pharma's engineered-bacteria platform, although Ilya differentiates via topical/oral/inhaled formulations and chemokine delivery.
- Prokarium: Privately held UK-based biotech using engineered Salmonella and Lactobacillus platforms for oncology and inflammatory disease. Comparable as an engineered live-biotherapeutic developer pursuing immuno-oncology and immunomodulation, with a similar bacterial-delivery modality.
- Vedanta Biosciences: Clinical-stage developer of defined bacterial consortia (live biotherapeutics) for immuno-oncology and inflammatory diseases including colitis. Directly comparable as a live-biotherapeutic company with immune-modulation programs, though Vedanta uses defined consortia rather than engineered single-strain platforms.
- Finch Therapeutics: Clinical-stage microbiome therapeutics company developing live biotherapeutics (Full-Spectrum Microbiota, SER-109) for inflammatory and infectious diseases. Directly comparable as a live-biotherapeutic developer with oral bacterial therapeutics in IBD-adjacent indications.
Emerging players
- Eligo Bioscience: French biotech developing engineered microbiome therapeutics using phage-based and bacterial platforms (Eligobiotics). Comparable as a next-generation engineered-microbiome player tackling chronic inflammatory and infectious diseases.
- Novome Biotechnologies: Engineered bacterial therapeutics company (formerly a Chroma Medicine subsidiary) developing genetically engineered gut bacteria for enteric hyperoxaluria and inflammatory disease. Comparable chassis-based engineered probiotic approach, focused on GI indications similar to ILP100-Oral.
Broad incumbents
- Integra LifeSciences: Large, diversified medical device and wound-care company selling skin substitutes, regenerative wound matrices and surgical instruments. Comparable as a wound-healing market incumbent where Ilya Pharma's ILP100-Topical would compete in diabetic foot ulcer and complex wound care.
- Organogenesis: Commercial-stage regenerative medicine company (Apligraf, Dermagraft, PuraPly) focused on advanced wound care and surgical biologics. Comparable as a wound-care incumbent that ILP100-Topical would compete against for diabetic foot ulcer and chronic wound market share.
- uniQure: Commercial-stage gene therapy company (Hemgenix for hemophilia B) with AAV-based GTMP experience and EMA/FDA regulatory expertise. Comparable as a GTMP-classified gene therapy developer navigating the same regulatory framework that governs Ilya Pharma's ILP platform.
- Takeda Pharmaceutical: Global pharmaceutical company marketing Entyvio (vedolizumab), the leading anti-α4β7 biologic for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Directly comparable as the benchmark incumbent whose drug ILP100-Oral demonstrated preclinical superiority over in colitis models.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ilya Pharma social profiles
Digital presenceIlya Pharma compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Ilya Pharma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ilya Pharma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Ilya Pharma subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Ilya Pharma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ilya Pharma M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ilya Pharma
What does Ilya Pharma do?
Ilya Pharma develops living biotherapeutic drug candidates using engineered Limosilactobacillus reuteri as local mini-bioreactors that produce human therapeutic chemokines (CXCL12, CXCL17) directly at disease sites. The lead asset ILP100 (emilimogene sigulactibac) is being developed in topical and oral formulations for wound healing, SAVI, and ICI-induced colitis, with ILP101-Inhale targeting MDR lung infections in Cystic Fibrosis and SAVI patients.
Is Ilya Pharma a public or private company?
Ilya Pharma is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Ilya Pharma founded?
Ilya Pharma was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ilya Pharma based?
Ilya Pharma is headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden, in the Europe region.
How does Ilya Pharma make money?
One revenue line is on record: pharmaceutical product sales.
Who are Ilya Pharma's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Synlogic, Prokarium, Vedanta Biosciences and Finch Therapeutics. Emerging players are Eligo Bioscience and Novome Biotechnologies. Broad incumbents are Integra LifeSciences, Organogenesis, uniQure and Takeda Pharmaceutical.
Does Ilya Pharma have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ilya Pharma.
What industry is Ilya Pharma in?
Ilya Pharma's product category is Biopharmaceutical Immunotherapies. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAAAD, Immunology & Inflammation Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of HLAIACAE, Gastroenterology Specialty Pharmaceuticals. Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.