Contera Pharma
Contera Pharma is a Danish clinical-stage biotech developing RNA-based therapeutics (ASOs, siRNAs, small molecules) for serious neurological disorders via proprietary platforms (AttackPoint, OligoDisc, SpliceMatrix). It out-licenses its pipeline to pharmaceutical partners, most notably Lundbeck, for development and commercialization.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersCopenhagen, Denmark
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Contera Pharma does
Contera Pharma A/S is a Danish clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2010 (originally as Concit Pharma) and headquartered in Hørsholm, Denmark. The company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Korean pharmaceutical firm Bukwang Pharmaceutical (KRX-listed) and maintains a team of approximately 19 people focused on developing RNA-based therapeutics for serious neurological disorders with significant unmet medical needs — including Parkinson's disease (nocturnal immobility, morning akinesia, dyskinesia), Canavan disease, metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), familial cerebral cavernous malformations, and ALS. Contera is a pre-commercial biotech whose pipeline spans multiple modalities — small-molecule RNA modulators, antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), and siRNAs — anchored by three proprietary discovery platforms: AttackPoint Discovery® (RNA toolbox integrating in silico and wet-lab methods for identifying RNA attack points), OligoDisc® (algorithm-driven ASO/siRNA compound design ranking selectivity, conservation, structure and motif features), and SpliceMatrix® (NGS-based multiplexed assay design for small-molecule discovery).
The company's clinical and preclinical assets include JM-010 (a 5-HT1A/1B combination for levodopa-induced dyskinesia, Phase IIb ASTORIA did not meet its primary endpoint), CP-012 (a delayed-release dual-pulse levodopa/carbidopa tablet using BDD Pharma's OralogiK™ delivery, positive Phase 1b topline September 2025), CP-101 (MLD ASO), CP-102/CP0014753 (Canavan disease ASO, preclinical candidate nominated March 2025), CP-301 (CMT RNA-splicing modulator with Vernalis/HitGen), CP-107 (FCM) and CP-108 (ALS). Contera generates no current product revenue; its economics flow from upfront payments, research funding, milestone payments, and tiered royalties tied to out-licensing and co-development partnerships — most notably the October 2025 H. Lundbeck A/S RNA medicines collaboration, alongside earlier alliances with Bukwang (parent/Asian rights), Vernalis, BDD Pharma and Abzu (AI for target identification). The Lundbeck Foundation has no financial engagement in Contera, despite the Lundbeck partnership.
Contera Pharma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Contera Pharma
- Legal name
- Contera Pharma A/S
- Website
- https://conterapharma.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Contera Pharma is a Danish clinical-stage biotech developing RNA-based therapeutics (ASOs, siRNAs, small molecules) for serious neurological disorders via proprietary platforms (AttackPoint, OligoDisc, SpliceMatrix). It out-licenses its pipeline to pharmaceutical partners, most notably Lundbeck, for development and commercialization.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Contera Pharma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biopharmaceuticals
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- siRNA Therapeutics (gene silencing) (HLAAADAB), Target Identification & Validation Platforms (omics-driven, chemoproteomics, genetic validation) (HLAAAIAI), Neurology & Psychiatry (CNS) Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAF)
Keywords
Where Contera Pharma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Copenhagen
- HQ country
- Denmark
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Contera Pharma business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Licensing and milestone payments: Pre-commercial biotech with no current product revenue. Future revenue expected from upfront payments, research funding, milestone payments tied to preclinical, clinical, regulatory and commercial achievements, and tiered royalties on net sales from licensing partnerships such as the Lundbeck collaboration.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Contera Pharma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Contera Pharma is a clinical-stage biotech developing RNA-based therapeutics (small molecules, antisense oligonucleotides, and siRNAs) for serious neurological disorders. Using proprietary platforms (AttackPoint Discovery, OligoDisc, SpliceMatrix), the company identifies and advances drug candidates targeting Parkinson's disease motor complications, Canavan disease, metachromatic leukodystrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, familial cerebral cavernous malformations, and ALS through clinical stages and then out-licenses or co-develops with pharmaceutical partners.
Product overview
Contera Pharma is a clinical-stage Danish biotech company developing RNA-based therapeutics for neurological disorders through a proprietary discovery platform. The company's core portfolio includes multiple clinical and preclinical drug candidates: CP-012 (Phase 1b, levodopa/carbidopa for Parkinson's disease morning akinesia), CP-101 (ASO for metachromatic leukodystrophy), CP-102 (ASO for Canavan disease), CP-301 (small molecule for Charcot-Marie-Tooth), CP-107 (for familial cavernous malformations), CP-108 (for ALS), and JM-010 (for Parkinson's dyskinesia, Phase IIb completed). The company leverages three proprietary platforms: AttackPoint Discovery (RNA target identification), OligoDisc (oligonucleotide design), and SpliceMatrix (high-throughput assay design). The company operates through strategic partnerships including Lundbeck (RNA medicines collaboration), Vernalis (RNA-targeting small molecules), Abzu (AI for target identification), and BDD Pharma (OralogiK drug delivery for CP-012).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CP-012 A novel delayed-release, dual-pulse levodopa/carbidopa tablet designed to treat nocturnal immobility and early morning akinesia in Parkinson's disease patients; taken at bedtime on top of normal medication to prevent onset of nocturnal symptoms.
- CP-101 A first-in-class antisense oligonucleotide aimed at reducing toxic buildup of sulfatides in metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), thereby mitigating damage to myelin sheaths and potentially slowing or stopping disease progression.
- CP-102 A first-in-class antisense oligonucleotide designed to normalize NAA levels in the brain of Canavan disease patients, slowing or stopping disease progression.
- CP-301 A first-in-class small-molecule modulator of RNA splicing events being developed in collaboration with Vernalis for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
- CP-107 A therapeutic candidate for familial cerebral cavernous malformations (FCM), a hereditary condition with no current treatment available.
- CP-108 A therapeutic candidate for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons.
- JM-010 A proprietary combination of immediate-release buspirone and extended-release zolmitriptan for treatment of dyskinesia associated with levodopa replacement therapies in Parkinson's disease; Phase IIb ASTORIA trial did not meet its primary efficacy endpoint.
Quantifiable outcome
- Phase 1b trial of CP-012 showed safe and well tolerated results with pharmacokinetic and scintigraphy data confirming delayed levodopa delivery during early morning hours
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Contera Pharma
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Contera Pharma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature3 records
Contera Pharma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- H. Lundbeck A/ScoreStrategic research collaboration announced October 2025 to accelerate discovery and development of innovative oligonucleotide-based medicines for serious neurological conditions. Lundbeck gains option to advance candidates into later-stage clinical development and global commercialization. Contera receives upfront payment, full research funding, and eligible for milestone payments and tiered royalties.
- Vernalis Research (HitGen Inc.)coreDrug discovery collaboration on undisclosed target in RNA-targeting small molecules for neurological disorders. Vernalis provides fragment and structure-based drug design expertise; partners share costs until predefined milestone, with option to extend. Contera responsible for development and commercialization.
- Bukwang PharmaceuticalcoreBukwang acquired 100% of Contera Pharma in 2014. Ongoing co-development of JM-010 for Parkinson's disease dyskinesia with Bukwang holding rights in Asian markets. Bukwang is majority parent company with ownership through OCI Holdings.
- BDD PharmacoreCollaboration for development of novel tablet formulation of CP-012 using BDD's OralogiK™ technology. BDD provides timed release drug delivery technology, GMP manufacturing, and clinical trial capabilities for pharmacoscintigraphic studies.
- Korean Branch Office (closed)minorKorean office opened in Seoul in 2020 to strengthen activities. Closed in October 2024 with all activities consolidated in Denmark headquarters. Former address: 7 Sangdo-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Contera Pharma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Stoke Therapeutics: Clinical-stage RNA medicine company developing antisense oligonucleotides for severe genetic diseases of the CNS, including TANGO-based ASOs for diseases such as Dravet syndrome — directly comparable to Contera's CP-101/CP-102 ASO programs in MLD and Canavan disease.
- Wave Life Sciences: Clinical-stage company developing stereopure oligonucleotide therapeutics with a primary focus on CNS and neuromuscular diseases including Huntington's disease, ALS and Duchenne muscular dystrophy — directly comparable modality and therapeutic area to Contera.
- PepGen: Clinical-stage company developing conjugated peptide-delivered ASOs and oligonucleotides for neuromuscular and CNS diseases including Duchenne muscular dystrophy and DM1 — a direct peer in CNS/rare disease oligonucleotide drug development.
- Denali Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's and ALS using diverse modalities (small molecules, biologics, ASOs) — closely aligned to Contera's CNS pipeline and multi-modality approach.
Broad incumbents
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals: The pioneer in antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) drug discovery with multiple approved and clinical-stage ASOs across neurological, cardiovascular and rare diseases — a broad incumbent whose ASO platform directly parallels Contera's OligoDisc and ASO-based CP-101/102 programs.
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals: Market leader in RNA interference (siRNA) therapeutics with multiple approved and clinical-stage programs including CNS-pipeline candidates. Contera's OligoDisc siRNA design capability and CNS focus directly overlap with Alnylam's expansion into neurological siRNA.
Emerging players
- QurAlis: Emerging clinical-stage biotech focused on ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases using precision medicine approaches including RNA-targeting and splicing modulation — a focused peer to Contera's CP-108 ALS program and SpliceMatrix platform.
- BridgeBio Pharma: Genetic disease-focused company developing therapeutics for rare diseases including neurological disorders, with active CNS pipeline assets — a comparable rare/neurological disease biotech in scale and business model.
- Design Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing DNA-based treatments for serious genetic disorders including Friedreich's ataxia, using a precision medicine approach to DNA-targeted therapeutics — comparable emerging-stage platform in rare neurology with similar modality innovation.
Others
- H. Lundbeck A/S: Danish global CNS pharmaceutical company and Contera's October 2025 strategic research partner; the source of multiple Contera executives and a benchmark for CNS-focused pharma partnerships, with deep overlap in target disease areas.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Contera Pharma social profiles
Digital presenceContera Pharma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Contera Pharma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Contera Pharma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Contera 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 Contera Pharma
What does Contera Pharma do?
Contera Pharma is a clinical-stage biotech developing RNA-based therapeutics (small molecules, antisense oligonucleotides, and siRNAs) for serious neurological disorders. Using proprietary platforms (AttackPoint Discovery, OligoDisc, SpliceMatrix), the company identifies and advances drug candidates targeting Parkinson's disease motor complications, Canavan disease, metachromatic leukodystrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, familial cerebral cavernous malformations, and ALS through clinical stages and then out-licenses or co-develops with pharmaceutical partners.
Is Contera Pharma a public or private company?
Contera Pharma is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Contera Pharma founded?
Contera Pharma was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Contera Pharma based?
Contera Pharma is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, in the Europe region.
How does Contera Pharma make money?
One revenue line is on record: licensing and milestone payments.
Who are Contera Pharma's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Stoke Therapeutics, Wave Life Sciences, PepGen and Denali Therapeutics. Broad incumbents are Ionis Pharmaceuticals and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. Emerging players are QurAlis, BridgeBio Pharma and Design Therapeutics. H. Lundbeck A/S is listed as an others.
Does Contera Pharma have an API?
No public API is recorded for Contera Pharma.
What industry is Contera Pharma in?
Contera Pharma's product category is Biopharmaceuticals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIACAC, Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of HLAAADAB, siRNA Therapeutics (gene silencing). Its NAICS code is 325412 and its SIC code is 2834.