11.11.2020

Anison found its SPARK in San Francisco

The SPARK project Anison at Åbo Akademi University took part with a pitch at BIO SPARK Showcase at BIO Investor Forum 2020 in San Francisco in the middle of October. Anison was one of ten research groups within the SPARK project all over the world to get the opportunity to present their project for investors and industry.

The pitch was held by Preethy Paul, project researcher in Cell Biology at Åbo Akademi University. The project is led by John Eriksson, professor of Cell Biology at ÅAU and director of Turku Bioscience Centre.

“The pitch went well, and we are very pleased with the event. We got help and suggestions in assessing the various regulatory hurdles for the product, market entry and various alternative solutions concerning the production”, says Eriksson.

“We are very grateful to SPARK for giving us this opportunity to present the project to a wide international audience that can help the team in finding partners or investors.”

Anison is a research project in Cell Biology at Åbo Akademi University, that is developing a natural medication for human papillomavirus (HPV) associated warts. The compound comes from an ancient medicinal plant, the Malabar catmint, Anisomeles malabarica.

“Our project has identified a compound from the plant, which gives a complete elimination of HPV through a molecular mechanism that has received a broad international patent. We are hopeful that these molecules can be used to treat other diseases associated with HPV as well”, says Eriksson.

SPARK is a collaboration between academia, hospitals and industry, which aims to educate and mentor medicine and life science researchers, clinicians and students in the creation and development of therapeutic and diagnostic solutions. SPARK is now seeking new projects for a two-year programme, starting in January 2021. Åbo Akademi University has been a member of SPARK since 2018.