What Draupnir Bio does

Draupnir Bio is a Danish preclinical biotechnology company developing oral small molecule protein degraders that target extracellular and membrane-bound disease-causing proteins—a category accounting for approximately 40% of the human proteome that first-generation PROTAC technologies cannot reach. The company's core technology is the proprietary SORTAC (Sortilin-based Lysosome Targeting Chimera) platform, a modular architecture consisting of a small molecule binding the sortilin lysosome receptor connected via a linker to a small molecule binding the extracellular disease protein. This ternary complex is internalized into the cell where the disease protein is destroyed while sortilin and the SORTAC are recycled, producing PROTAC-like catalytic activity and sustained target depletion. The platform offers multiple implementation formats including genetically encoded degraders, antibody conjugates, and fully synthetic small molecules, and its reliance on sortilin—which is expressed across all tissues—provides broad applicability across disease areas.

The pipeline is risk-diversified across three primary therapeutic areas: cardiovascular disease (originally PCSK9-targeted, the founding focus), inflammatory conditions (TNFα degradation in macrophages and Schwann cells, with successful proof-of-concept published in Cell Chemical Biology in March 2026), and neurodegenerative disease (alpha-synuclein degradation for Parkinson's disease via the DESYNA project, a three-year collaboration with Aarhus University funded by Innovation Fund Denmark with DKK 26.7M and targeted for preclinical validation by 2029). Key business inputs include the €30M Series A (October 2019), €12M seed round (July 2024), and additional non-dilutive grant funding, with a syndicate of European life sciences investors (Novo Holdings, Gilde Healthcare Partners, Inkef Capital) plus strategic investor MP Healthcare (Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma's corporate venture) and EIFO.

Draupnir Bio generates no commercial revenue and operates under a licensing and partnership model. As a preclinical-stage company with 11-50 employees, it will monetize through pharmaceutical partnering, licensing deals, milestone payments, and potential royalties as candidates progress through clinical development and commercialization. Headquartered in Copenhagen with research operations at INCUBA Skejby in Aarhus, the company is led by CEO Andrew Hotchkiss (former Dermira/Immunocore/Eli Lilly executive) with co-founder Simon Glerup serving as CSO.

Name

Draupnir Bio

Legal name

Draupnir Bio ApS

Website

https://draupnir.bio

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Draupnir Bio is a Danish preclinical biotechnology company developing oral small molecule protein degraders targeting extracellular disease-causing proteins via its proprietary SORTAC platform, with pipeline programs in cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and Parkinson's disease.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Targeted Protein Degradation Therapeutics

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization) (HLAAAIAC)

Keywords

• Targeted protein degradation
• Extracellular protein degraders
• Small molecule therapeutics
• Lysosome receptor targeting
• Preclinical biotech platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Risskov

HQ country

Denmark

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. Pharmaceutical Development and Licensing: As a preclinical biotech company, Draupnir Bio is developing a pipeline of oral small molecule protein degraders. Revenue will be generated through pharmaceutical partnerships, licensing deals, milestone payments, and potential commercialization of therapeutic products.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Draupnir Bio develops a preclinical pipeline of oral small molecule protein degraders using its proprietary SORTAC (Sortilin-based Lysosome Targeting Chimera) technology platform, which extends targeted protein degradation to extracellular and membrane-bound disease-causing proteins. The company targets validated and difficult-to-drug extracellular proteins for neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson's via alpha-synuclein), inflammatory conditions (via TNFα degradation), and cardiovascular disease (via PCSK9). As a preclinical biotech, Draupnir plans to commercialize through pharmaceutical licensing deals, partnerships, and milestone payments.

Product overview

Draupnir Bio is a Danish biotechnology company that has developed the SORTAC (Sortilin-based Lysosome Targeting Chimera) technology platform as its core offering. The SORTAC platform enables targeted protein degradation of extracellular and membrane-bound disease-causing proteins, representing the next frontier of targeted protein degradation (TPD). The company is building a risk-diversified preclinical pipeline of oral small molecule protein degraders utilizing this platform, with programs targeting validated targets and traditionally difficult-to-drug proteins for potential treatment of inflammatory conditions, neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson's), and cardiovascular disease.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SORTAC Technology Platform Proprietary Sortilin-based Lysosome Targeting Chimera (SORTAC) technology platform that extends targeted protein degradation beyond cytosolic targets to extracellular and membrane-bound proteins (approximately 40% of the human proteome). The platform uses orally bioavailable small molecules that bind to sortilin via a linker to extracellular disease proteins, forming a ternary complex that redirects disease proteins to lysosomal degradation while sortilin and the SORTAC are recycled. Supports multiple implementation formats including genetically encoded degraders, antibody conjugates, and fully synthetic small molecules.
• DESYNA Parkinson's Disease Research Program Research program combining Draupnir Bio's SORTAC protein degradation technology with Aarhus University's neurodegeneration research to develop the world's first therapy targeting alpha-synuclein protein aggregates for Parkinson's disease. Funded by Innovation Fund Denmark with DKK 26.7 million investment.
• Extracellular Protein Degrader Pipeline (Inflammatory and Cardiovascular Programs) Risk-diversified preclinical pipeline of oral small molecule protein degraders targeting extracellular disease-causing proteins, including programs for inflammatory conditions via TNFα degradation and cardiovascular disease via PCSK9 targeting.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successful degradation of multiple therapeutically relevant targets including TNFα in macrophages and Schwann cells with hallmark PROTAC characteristics (ternary complex formation, catalytic activity, sustained target depletion)

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Aarhus UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2026DESYNA project collaboration combining Draupnir Bio's SORTAC protein degradation technology with Aarhus University's neurodegeneration research to develop therapies targeting alpha-synuclein aggregates for Parkinson's disease. The 3-year project aims to develop both injectable and oral treatment options with preclinical validation targeted for 2029.
• Max-Planck SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founding partner from which Draupnir Bio was spun out, based on breakthrough scientific findings of Professors Simon Glerup, Camilla Gustafsen, Peder Søndergaard Madsen, and Peter Seeberger.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Arvinas: Clinical-stage pioneer in targeted protein degradation using PROTAC technology. Most direct peer in the TPD space with multiple clinical assets and major partnerships with Pfizer and Bayer, representing the established leader that Draupnir's SORTAC platform seeks to differentiate from.
• Kymera Therapeutics: Clinical-stage TPD company developing heterobifunctional degraders and molecular glues across immunology and oncology. Direct competitor in TPD modality with significant pharma partnerships (Sanofi, Vertex) and similar platform-based approach.
• Nurix Therapeutics: Clinical-stage TPD company with both degrader and E3 ligase modulator approaches. Direct competitor with multiple programs in immunology and oncology and a major partnership with Gilead.
• C4 Therapeutics: Clinical-stage TPD company developing degraders using TORPEDO platform. Direct peer with similar small molecule degrader approach and partnerships with Biogen, Roche, and others.
• Amphista Therapeutics: European TPD company developing targeted protein degraders with a differentiated mechanism. Closely comparable as a European peer also working on novel TPD modalities with broader target reach than traditional PROTACs.
• Monte Rosa Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotechnology developing molecular glue degraders. Direct competitor in TPD space with similar focus on expanding the druggable proteome through induced protein degradation.
• Captor Therapeutics: European TPD company developing small molecule degraders for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Closely comparable as another European preclinical/early-clinical TPD platform company.

Emerging players

• Foghorn Therapeutics: Clinical-stage company developing medicines targeting chromatin regulatory biology including through protein degradation. Partial overlap as another platform-based TPD approach with oncology focus.
• BioTheryx: Preclinical/clinical TPD company developing bifunctional degraders. Comparable as a smaller TPD-focused biotech working on expanding protein degradation to broader target classes.
• Proxygen: European biotech developing molecular glue degraders for historically undruggable targets. Comparable as European peer using novel E3 ligase approaches to enable protein degradation of difficult targets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/draupnirbio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors6 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 Draupnir Bio