Anison Therapeutics and Therapeutica Borealis merge to form ATB Antivirals
Turku, Finland – 12 June, 2025. Two Turku based biotech companies, Anison Therapeutics Ltd and Therapeutica Borealis Ltd, have decided to merge to form a larger legal entity ATB Antivirals Ltd. All the assets of the two companies will be transferred to the new company.
ATB Antivirals develops new therapies for major viral diseases affecting billions of people globally that do not treat only symptoms but prevent cure the disease. The first lead drug product is a topical cream containing a new active pharmaceutical ingredient for the treatment of genital warts caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Genital warts are a common sexually transmitted health problem with more than a billion patients worldwide. Currently, there is no cure for the disease and the new topical cream will be the first curative therapy for HPV infection. Moreover, the new drug can be used for treatment of HPV associated precancers such as precancers of the cervix, which may develop into cervical cancer, one of the most common cancers of women.
The second lead drug product of ATB Antivirals is a topical nasal spray that blocks the entry of viruses into cells and their propagation inside the cell when applied to nasal cavities. This is a protective therapy for respiratory infections and their complications caused by common enveloped flu viruses, such as influenza and coronaviruses. Globally, billions of people suffer from upper respiratory tract infections every year many of which could potentially be prevented by the new drug. The nasal spray contains a combination of three repurposed active pharmaceutical ingredients, and it is protected by patents.
ATB Antivirals aims to improve the health and life quality of billions of people. We believe that the products of ATB Antivirals have significant commercial potential once on the market. Just the antiviral nasal spray could bring huge economical savings when people do not need to stay away from work during a flu season”, says Dr. Lasse Leino, the Chairman of the Board of Anison Therapeutics.
Neither of the new antiviral products competes with vaccination which is currently the best available therapy for viral infections. In contrast, the antiviral nasal spray complements e.g. annual influenza vaccinations which typically offer only a limited protection. In addition, HPV vaccines do not protect those who have already been infected with HPV”, says Professor Kalervo Väänänen, co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Therapeutica Borealis.
Dr. Preethy Paul, current CEO and co-founder of Anison Therapeutics, will start as the CEO of ATB Antivirals. Additionally, the operative team of Anison Therapeutics will move to the new company.