Umeå-based pharmaceutical company Vakona has received just over SEK 14 million from five investors to support the development of a new acne treatment.
“This is a significant investment for us, as now we can continue with our product development,” says Gabriella Persson, CEO of Vakona.
An antibiotic-free acne treatment
Vakona is developing a new, antibiotic-free treatment for acne vulgaris, the world’s most common skin disease and a condition affecting more than 80 percent of teenagers and young adults. The company’s work is based on a natural bacterial protein identified by Oleg Alexeyev’s research group at Umeå University.
Designed for use in a skin cream or ointment, Vakona’s product breaks down the biofilm that bacteria can form in hair follicles. By targeting this protective structure rather than the bacteria directly, the treatment has the potential to offer a new and highly effective approach to acne.
Five investors back the next phase
The investment will fund the product’s continued development. Existing investors Stoaf III SciTech, Partnerinvest Norr and Phase2Phase Biopharma are providing additional capital. They are joined by private investor Anders Bergkvist and Execa Allocation, whose owner Jonas Sjögren also joins Vakona’s board.
“This demonstrates that our investors have great confidence in the company and see the enormous potential in our proposed acne product. In addition to capital, the investors also contribute valuable expertise in business development, networking and product development,” says Gabriella Persson.
The new capital enables Vakona to take several important steps in the product’s development journey and move the treatment closer to clinical use.