What APIM Therapeutics does

APIM Therapeutics AS is a venture-capital financed Norwegian biotech company founded in 2009/2010 as a spin-off from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim. The company is developing proprietary peptide drugs that target PCNA (Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen) and the novel APIM (PCNA-interacting motif) interaction, a therapeutic intervention point critical in regulating cellular stress responses and tumor evasion from therapy. Its lead drug candidate, ATX-101, is a first-in-class cell-penetrating peptide that rapidly penetrates cells and impairs PCNA/APIM-containing protein complexes, thereby modulating DNA repair, signaling pathways (MAPK/AKT/ERBB2/EGFR), and apoptotic response in cancer cells.

ATX-101 has completed a Phase I first-in-human clinical study demonstrating favorable safety profile and disease stabilization in advanced progressive tumor patients, with a Phase Ib study in platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer concluded and a Phase II investigator-initiated study in lipo- and leiomyosarcoma ongoing at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. The company holds no commercial revenue and operates with 1-10 employees, supported by more than EUR 25M in cumulative funding from public and private Norwegian sources including Sarsia Seed, Trond Mohn Stiftelse, Investinor AS, and UNIFOB. Revenue generation is anticipated through future partnering deals, licensing agreements, or eventual product commercialization.

The company's business model is a clinical-stage biotech go-to-market pursued through research collaborations, partnering opportunities with pharmaceutical companies, and active participation in industry conferences (Swiss Biotech Day, BioEurope, ASCO, ESMO). Its core customer segment is oncology patients with advanced cancers lacking standard treatment options, including ovarian cancer, sarcoma, glioblastoma, multiple myeloma, and bladder cancer. The proposed all-stock merger with Nordic Nanovector ASA announced in November 2022 was cancelled in December 2022 due to insufficient shareholder approval, leaving APIM Therapeutics operating independently and advancing its clinical pipeline.

Name

APIM Therapeutics

Legal name

APIM Therapeutics AS

Website

https://apimtherapeutics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

APIM Therapeutics AS is a Norwegian clinical-stage biotech developing ATX-101, a first-in-class cell-penetrating peptide targeting PCNA/APIM interactions for cancer treatment, with Phase Ib/II trials in ovarian cancer and sarcoma.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Trondheim

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Pipeline Development & Clinical Trials: Pre-revenue clinical-stage biotech company developing ATX-101 through clinical trials. Revenue generation anticipated through partnering deals, licensing agreements, or eventual product commercialization.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

APIM Therapeutics is developing ATX-101, a first-in-class, clinical-stage cell-penetrating peptide drug candidate that targets the interaction between Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) and APIM-containing protein complexes in cancer cells. The lead candidate has been tested in ovarian cancer (Phase Ib) and sarcoma (Phase II) patients as both monotherapy and combination treatment, and is designed to potentiate DNA-damaging drugs, microtubule-targeting agents, molecular targeted agents, and radiotherapy while re-sensitizing resistant cancer cells.

Product overview

APIM Therapeutics is developing a pipeline of peptide drugs that target PCNA-dependent stress responses in cancer cells. The company's lead product is ATX-101, a first-in-class cell-penetrating peptide that targets proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). ATX-101 has completed Phase I clinical studies demonstrating favorable safety profile and disease stabilization, and is currently undergoing Phase Ib testing in ovarian cancer and Phase II testing in sarcoma as both monotherapy and combination treatment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ATX-101 First-in-class, clinical-stage cell-penetrating peptide drug candidate comprising the APIM motif together with cell penetration and nuclear localization domains. It targets PCNA/APIM-containing protein complexes, is being tested in ovarian cancer (Phase Ib) and sarcoma (Phase II) patients, and potentiates the action of DNA-damaging drugs, microtubule-targeting agents, molecular targeted agents, and radiotherapy. Intended ultimately for oncology pharmaceutical partners and cancer patients with advanced, treatment-resistant disease.

Quantifiable outcome

• Phase I study demonstrated favorable safety profile with disease stabilization in advanced, progressive tumor patients lacking standard treatment options
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Columbia University Irving Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvestigator-initiated Phase II clinical study in sarcoma (lipo- and leiomyosarcoma) conducted by Columbia University. APIM supports this clinical trial as an important proof-of-concept study for ATX-101. Preliminary data confirmed therapeutic potential.
• Nordic Nanovector ASAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn November 2022, APIM Therapeutics and Nordic Nanovector announced a definitive merger agreement to combine in an all-stock transaction. The merger was cancelled in December 2022 as it did not obtain sufficient shareholder votes at Nordic Nanovector's Extraordinary General Meeting.
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPIM Therapeutics is a biotech spin-off from NTNU (Trondheim). The company's technology originated from research at NTNU, and the CSO (Marit Otterlei) is an NTNU Professor. Ongoing research collaboration and scientific advisory relationship.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apim-therapeutics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about APIM Therapeutics