What UPyTher does

UPyTher B.V. is a preclinical-stage pharmaceutical company headquartered on the TU/e campus in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, developing long-acting intraperitoneal therapeutics for peritoneal carcinomatosis arising from colorectal, gastric, and ovarian cancers. The company is built around a proprietary supramolecular UPy-chemistry hydrogel platform licensed from academic research at TU/e: an injectable liquid formulation that distributes throughout the peritoneal cavity and converts in-body into a soft, elastic, self-healing drug depot providing sustained local drug release over days. Its lead product candidate UPT-211 is in nonclinical toxicity studies to enable a first-in-human trial in 2026, while a second candidate UPT-122 has proof-of-concept established in rodent models for ovarian cancer; the platform is also being extended to local intraperitoneal immunotherapy.

The company employs between 1 and 10 staff and operates as an enterprise-focused preclinical biotech, with go-to-market plans centered on future specialty hospital and oncology treatment centers via enterprise field sales once regulatory approval is secured. Revenue will be generated through product sales (specialty pharmaceuticals), with pricing to be determined post-approval. To date, UPyTher has funded operations via a June 2024 seed round (undisclosed amount) and non-dilutive grants, including an EUR 2.8 million OPZuid award for the INJECTOGELS collaboration with SupraPolix BV to scale up injectable gel production. The company has built an academic and regional partnership network spanning TU/e, SupraPolix, Maastricht University, Universiteit Gent, and the Smart BioMaterials Consortium, and added experienced biotech advisor Helmuth van Es to its Board of Advisors in July 2024.

Name

UPyTher

Legal name

UPyTher B.V.

Website

https://upyther.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

UPyTher B.V. is a preclinical Dutch pharmaceutical company developing a proprietary supramolecular UPy-chemistry hydrogel platform for intraperitoneal drug delivery, targeting peritoneal carcinomatosis from colorectal, gastric, and ovarian cancers with lead candidate UPT-211.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Peritoneal Oncology Therapeutics

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Oncology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Specialty Injectable & Infusion Therapies (Cross-therapeutic) (HLAIACAO)

Keywords

• Intraperitoneal drug delivery
• Hydrogel drug formulations
• Peritoneal oncology therapeutics
• Supramolecular hydrogel platform
• Controlled release injectables

Headquarters

HQ city

Eindhoven

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Specialty Pharmaceutical Products: UPyTher is developing a pipeline of specialty-products for peritoneal oncology based on its proprietary hydrogel-drug formulation platform. The company is in preclinical development stage with products UPT-211 (colorectal cancer) and UPT-122 (ovarian cancer) in development. Revenue will be generated through product sales upon regulatory approval.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

UPyTher develops a proprietary supramolecular UPy-chemistry based injectable hydrogel platform for intraperitoneal drug delivery in peritoneal oncology. The company's pipeline includes UPT-211 for colorectal cancer peritoneal carcinomatosis and UPT-122 for ovarian cancer, both leveraging the hydrogel platform to provide sustained local drug release in the peritoneal cavity. Products are administered as liquids that convert to soft elastic gels in vivo, forming drug depots for controlled release over days.

Product overview

UPyTher is a private pharmaceutical company developing a proprietary supramolecular hydrogel-drug formulation platform for intraperitoneal oncology applications. The core platform technology (UPy-chemistry) enables injectable hydrogels that form drug depots in the peritoneal cavity for sustained local release of therapeutics. The product portfolio includes lead candidate UPT-211 for colorectal cancer peritoneal carcinomatosis and UPT-122 for ovarian cancer, both leveraging the same hydrogel platform for intraperitoneal administration. The company is also evaluating immunomodulatory drugs for intraperitoneal immunotherapy under the peritoneal immuno-oncology program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• UPT-211 Lead product candidate for treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis from colorectal cancer, based on UPyTher's proprietary intraperitoneal hydrogel-drug formulation platform. Currently undergoing nonclinical toxicity studies to support a first-in-human clinical trial planned for 2026.
• UPT-122 Product candidate for treatment of ovarian cancer, leveraging the same intraperitoneal hydrogel-drug formulation platform. Proof of concept has been established in rodent models and it is currently in early nonclinical development.
• Proprietary Hydrogel-Drug Formulation Platform Injectable supramolecular hydrogel technology platform designed for intraperitoneal administration. The liquid formulation distributes evenly in the abdomen and forms a soft, elastic drug depot for sustained local release of therapeutics over days, addressing the limitations of intravenous-derived products for peritoneal disease.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.3 million new cases of peritoneal carcinomatosis worldwide each year represent addressable market
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 November 2024Collaboration with the Dankers biomaterials research group at TU/e to identify and develop hydrogels for local immunotherapy of peritoneal cancers. Project was financially supported by the Stimuleringsfonds of the Metropoolregio Eindhoven. Developed formulations showed vastly superior safety and effectiveness in preclinical animal models.
• SupraPolix BVcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 April 2024Collaboration on INJECTOGELS project to scale-up production processes of injectable gels and confirm safe use as drug delivery platform for intraperitoneal therapy. Total project budget of EUR 2.8 million funded by OPZuid (European funding and Province of North Brabant).
• Maastricht UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner in the Smart BioMaterials Consortium ecosystem, contributing to peritoneal oncology research and development.
• Universiteit GentsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner contributing to supramolecular hydrogel research for intraperitoneal drug delivery applications.
• Smart BioMaterials ConsortiumsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium supporting development of biomedical materials and providing infrastructure for UPyTher's product development.
• InnoSersupportingTechnology or IntegrationContract research organization providing nonclinical development services and laboratory testing capabilities.
• SpecipigsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSpecialized preclinical research services provider for pharmaceutical development testing.
• Tech Transfer Team (TTT)supportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology transfer organization supporting commercialization of academic innovations in the MedTech sector.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Camurus: Swedish specialty pharma company developing long-acting injectable drug delivery formulations (FluidCrystal technology) for chronic disease and oncology-supportive care. Directly comparable to UPyTher in its focus on sustained-release injectable platforms that improve dosing convenience and local drug exposure.
• SupraPolix: Dutch polymer technology company developing UPy-based supramolecular materials for biomedical applications including injectable hydrogels. While also a UPyTher partner in the INJECTOGELS project, SupraPolix operates in the same supramolecular polymer drug delivery space and represents the closest technology peer.
• Serina Therapeutics: Clinical-stage company developing polymer-based drug delivery (POZ polymer technology) for small molecules and biologics, including CNS and oncology indications. Comparable to UPyTher in its use of proprietary polymer chemistry to enable sustained-release injectable therapeutics.
• Heron Therapeutics: U.S. specialty pharma company focused on long-acting injectable and biochronomer polymer-based therapeutics for postoperative pain, CINV, and oncology supportive care. Comparable to UPyTher in its specialty pharma focus on long-acting injectable technology for clinical and oncology-adjacent applications.
• DelSiTech: Finland-based developer of silica-based (SilicaMatrix) long-acting injectable drug delivery technology for parenteral administration. Comparable to UPyTher as a specialist in long-acting injectable depot formulations designed to improve drug exposure and patient compliance.
• Celsion: U.S. oncology drug delivery company developing ThermoDox, a heat-activated liposomal doxorubicin for locoregional/intraperitoneal delivery in solid tumors. Comparable to UPyTher in its focus on intraperitoneal and locoregional drug delivery for oncology, although Celsion's technology is liposome-based rather than hydrogel-based.
• Oakwood Laboratories: U.S.-based CDMO and developer specializing in long-acting injectable (LAI) formulations using biodegradable polymer microspheres. Comparable to UPyTher as a long-acting injectable specialist with deep expertise in sustained-release parenteral drug delivery.
• PharmaMar: Spanish specialty oncology company with marketed intraperitoneal-relevant products including Yondelis (trabectedin) for soft tissue sarcoma and a pipeline of marine-derived anticancer agents. Comparable to UPyTher as a specialty oncology company developing therapeutics for indications where intraperitoneal delivery is clinically relevant.

Emerging players

• Lyndra Therapeutics: Clinical-stage company developing ultra-long-acting oral drug delivery systems designed to simplify dosing regimens. Comparable to UPyTher as a long-acting drug delivery platform company pursuing extended drug exposure, although delivery route (oral vs. intraperitoneal) and stage differ.

Broad incumbents

• Boston Scientific (BTG interventional oncology): Following its acquisition of BTG, Boston Scientific operates a significant interventional oncology franchise that includes locoregional therapies for liver and other cancers, overlapping with UPyTher's regional cancer delivery space. Included as a broad incumbent whose interventional oncology portfolio represents both competitive context and potential partnership interest.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/upyther

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 UPyTher