Cortalix

Cortalix is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing a new class of radiopharmaceuticals and diagnostics. The company was founded in July 2023 by Herman Steen, who serves as CEO. Dr. Steen is a serial entrepreneur with a PhD in pharmacology and extensive experience in clinical research and commercializing biotech innovations. In early 2023, Cortalix acquired the patents, know-how, and key assets from BiOrion, a company previously led by Dr. Steen, which provided the foundation for its current clinical programs.

The company's core technology revolves around its proprietary platform for discovering and engineering single-domain antibodies, also known as VHH nanobodies. These nanobodies are smaller, more stable, and more flexible than traditional antibodies, allowing for more effective targeting of disease markers. Cortalix utilizes a dual-platform approach, combining animal-free synthetic libraries for rapid screening with immune libraries from llamas to achieve high-affinity binders for complex targets. This technology is applied to create imaging diagnostics (immunoPET) and targeted radiotherapeutics for fibrotic diseases and cancers. The pipeline targets fibrogenesis-related membrane receptors like PDGFRB, PDGFRA, FAP, and EGFR, which are present in conditions such as pulmonary, cardiac, and liver fibrosis, as well as solid tumors with a fibrotic stroma like colon and pancreatic cancer. Cortalix's lead candidate, CTX001, is a VHH nanobody targeting PDGFRB for PET imaging of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and metastatic colon cancer.

Cortalix operates a three-pillar business model. Firstly, it develops its own pipeline of clinical candidates which are available for licensing. Secondly, the company seeks partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, and CROs to co-develop nanobody therapeutics for new targets. Thirdly, it offers its discovery, engineering, and conjugation platform as a fee-for-service business. In March 2025, Cortalix secured €1 million in a seed funding round from Future Tech Ventures and a Rabobank Innovation Loan to accelerate the development and commercialization of its technology. The company is based in Groningen, Netherlands, and collaborates closely with the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) on innovative projects, including the development of new CAR-T cell therapies.

Keywords: radiopharmaceuticals, nanobody discovery, single-domain antibodies, theranostics, PET imaging, fibrotic diseases, targeted radiotherapy, VHH nanobodies, biopharmaceutical, immuno-oncology, Herman Steen, molecular imaging, fibrosis diagnosis, CAR-T immunotherapy, PDGFRB targeting, Groningen biotech, clinical-stage, antibody engineering, drug discovery services, fibrogenesis