Epitherapeutics

Sometimes, the most impactful companies have the quietest stories. In 2008, a Danish company called EpiTherapeutics was founded. The company was born from research out of the University of Copenhagen, led by Professor Kristian Helin and his team at the Biotech Research & Innovation Centre (BRIC). Their focus was a complex but promising field: epigenetics, specifically how targeting certain enzymes could regulate gene expression to fight cancer. The company didn't seek the spotlight. Instead, it focused on the science, developing a library of small-molecule inhibitors designed to target these cancer-related enzymes. The potential of this new therapeutic class attracted significant investors, including Novo Seeds, SEED Capital, and Merck Serono's venture arm, MS Ventures. These backers saw the value in translating deep academic research into tangible drug candidates. By 2015, EpiTherapeutics had reached a critical juncture. Its preclinical programs were advanced enough to catch the eye of a major player. In May of that year, the big news broke: the biopharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences announced it was acquiring EpiTherapeutics for $65 million in cash. For Gilead, the acquisition was a strategic entry into the promising field of epigenetics, adding a new dimension to its research portfolio. For EpiTherapeutics and its founders, it was the ultimate validation of their work—a successful transition from a university spin-out to a valuable acquisition, ensuring their discoveries had a clear path toward clinical development.