Meet the Start-ups

Johan Pijnenborg | CEO & Co-Founder | GlycoTherapeutics

Dr. Johan Pijnenborg has been active in the field of chemical glycobiology since 2015 with research in the Boltje and Bertozzi labs. The focus of his research was the development of novel molecules that could modulate glycobiology processes, which he believes is the next frontier in cancer research. He contributes to advancing the field with his research (>10 articles), has 2 patents to his name and co-founded 2 biotech companies, including GlycoTherapeutics, and a nonprofit organization. As CEO of GlycoTherapeutics he is dedicated to translating the academic findings to clinical proof of concept with the ultimate goal to develop new cancer treatments.

GlycoTherapeutics

GlycoTherapeutics is a drug development startup committed to overcome the efficacy limitations of current cancer immunotherapies. Less than 50% of individuals with cancer receiving immunotherapy obtain a durable response, which is partly due to glycobiology processes that suppress the immune system. Based on over a decade of research, GlycoTherapeutics’ proprietary solution targets these processes by disrupting the interaction of glycans (sugars) that are responsible for immune evasion to maximize the potential of immunotherapy. The company was established in 2022 as a spin-off from Radboud University in the Netherlands and has raised >€1 million in non-dilutive funding.