Prokarium recently completed dosing in a clinical study evaluating its drug candidate ZH9 in patients suffering from non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. The current standard of care is associated with a very high risk of recurrence, and the need for improved treatment options is therefore significant. The ongoing clinical study is continuously generating new data, and once a critical mass is reached, this will form the basis for a potential partnership or a larger funding round.

“We have chosen to increase our ownership stake in Prokarium in order to, together with other long-term investors, ensure that the company can continue advancing its leading microbial immunotherapy at a high pace. With a new CEO in place, encouraging yet unpublished data, and the capital injection from the funding round, the company is well positioned to potentially replace the current standard of care for bladder cancer in the future, thereby improving patient outcomes. If the company achieves clinical proof-of-concept in this indication, the platform may also be used to develop treatments for other types of cancer,” says Ted Fjällman, CEO of Flerie and Chairman of the Board at Prokarium.

Flerie, together with several of Prokarium’s other long-term shareholders, took the opportunity to subscribe for shares above their pro rata share. This has strengthened this group’s position relative to shareholders who primarily invested in Prokarium’s vaccine development program, which was discontinued in 2021. In order to achieve this desired restructuring of the shareholder base, the funding was conducted at a lower valuation than in the previous financing round. As a result, Flerie—according to its valuation methodology—is now lowering the booked net asset value for the portfolio company. At the same time, Flerie is increasing its share of Prokarium’s future value creation, as ownership after completion of the transaction rises from 42% to 50%.