Category: Press Releases

Visiopharm Announces Akoya Biosciences as an Authorized Reseller of Oncotopix® Discovery and Biotopix™

Visiopharm A/S announced today a partnership with Akoya Biosciences, the technology leader in multiplexed immunofluorescence including the Phenoptics™ portfolio with the Vectra® and Vectra Polaris® systems. As part of this agreement, Akoya becomes an authorized reseller of Visiopharm’s suite of image analysis software, including Phenomap™ and the teach-by-example Artificial Intelligence (AI) modules.

“Visiopharm is very pleased to have Akoya Biosciences join our partner and authorized reseller community. Our complementary technologies enable scientists and pathologists to better interrogate the disease biology through biomarker discovery and automated cell phenotyping within tissue samples. Our joint customers will benefit from two companies who are committed to driving innovation and providing solutions that deliver efficiency, standardization, and the reproducibility required to support large scale translational studies from discovery through clinical research” said Amanda Lowe, Senior Vice President of Visiopharm.

Akoya recently announced the acquisition of the Phenoptics portfolio from PerkinElmer, Inc., to complement the CODEX® platform for ultra-high multiplex capabilities. The enables analysis of multiplexed image data from the Mantra®, Vectra and Vectra Polaris platforms with future development for the CODEX technology.

“Akoya’s focus is to provide customers with end-to-end solutions for high parameter tissue analysis that includes multispectral imaging instruments, reagents, and powerful software.” said Terry Lo, President at Akoya Biosciences. “We are excited to be able to add software like Visiopharm’s Phenomap to our current portfolio and offer Akoya customers the best and broadest solutions in the field of multiplexed immunofluorescence and tissue analysis.”

The partnership with Akoya will cover both North America and Europe and support our joint vision of providing customers with a full suite of powerful image analysis solutions for high-dimensional, multiplex tissue assays.

Visiopharm will present Phenomap, AI, and our infinitely configurable suite of image analysis software at Pathology Vision’s (booth #214) in San Diego on November 5^th and 6^th and at Society of Immunotherapy in Cancer (booth #223) on November 8^th – 11^th in Washington DC.

Fluidigm Announces Co-Marketing Agreement with Visiopharm to Expand and Simplify Imaging Mass Cytometry Data Analysis

Visiopharm Multiplex software presented at the Fluidigm Imaging Mass Cytometry User Group Meeting, expanding the suite of Hyperion Imaging System data analysis tools for translational and clinical research 

Fluidigm Corporation (NASDAQ:FLDM) and Visiopharm A/S today announced a co-marketing relationship to automate image analysis for Imaging Mass Cytometry™ (IMC™). Under the terms of this agreement, Fluidigm and Visiopharm will cooperatively promote Visiopharm® image analysis software in conjunction with the Fluidigm® Hyperion™ Imaging System, MCD™ Viewer software and related Maxpar® antibodies and kits.

Developed using proven Fluidigm CyTOF® technology, the Hyperion Imaging System surpasses the inherent limitations of fluorescence detection by using highly pure metal tags that are separated by mass instead of by wavelength. Setting a new standard in highly multiplexed protein detection, the system enables researchers to simultaneously detect up to 37 markers from a single tissue section by IMC. Providing comprehensive analysis of cellular phenotypes and their interrelationships within the spatial context of the tissue microenvironment, IMC is aiding researchers around the world to uncover meaningful new insights in health and disease.

“We are committed to maximizing the full potential of mass cytometry to deeply interrogate tissue and tumor samples,” said Chris Linthwaite, President and CEO of Fluidigm. “Today we are excited to announce our agreement with Visiopharm, a leader in quantitative digital pathology software solutions. Together with Visiopharm, we are proud to bring new software capabilities to our growing IMC community.”

On September 11, Visiopharm will present its Multiplex software at the Fluidigm Imaging Mass Cytometry User Group Meeting in Seattle. Developed as an expansion of the Oncotopix® Discovery platform, Multiplex enables researchers to perform automated analysis of images generated by the Hyperion Imaging System. Offered as a licensed software solution from Visiopharm, Multiplex provides automated cell segmentation and phenotyping of cell classes in addition to powerful visualization of cell populations with phenotypic charting and t-SNE clustering.

“The collaboration between Fluidigm and Visiopharm will provide scientists novel tools to understand the biology of cancer, including the phenotyping of cells within the tumor microenvironment,” said Michael Grunkin, CEO of Visiopharm. “Our complementary technologies provide an entirely new research approach to drive drug-diagnostic co-development on a tissue-based platform, with the potential to also provide a new framework for precision medicine in cancer.”

“Collaborating to provide high-value automated data analysis solutions for the Hyperion Imaging System is essential to our strategy to empower routine use of this powerful technology,” continued Linthwaite. “By introducing automation to the MCD™ Viewer analysis pipeline, Multiplex further expands the capabilities of the Hyperion Imaging System to advance our understanding of human disease and improve the future of care.”

Visiopharm Becomes a Technology Leader in Deep Learning and AI Image Analysis for Digital Pathology

Visiopharm Launches AI Powered by Deep Learning: Letting Pathologists Harness the Power of AI

The Oncotopix^®/Biotopix™ AI image analysis platform is powered by the latest technological breakthroughs in AI and Deep Learning, providing the most comprehensive solution for image analysis available for Digital Pathology today.

With near infinite configurability, the Visiopharm AI software platform addresses even the most complex and challenging image analysis applications. This allows scientists and researchers to grow and evolve with their research without constantly hitting the walls of software limitations.

The intuitive “teach-by-example” implementation, makes it possible for pathologists to easily become proficient and generate highly accurate and reproducible results even if they have no skills in programming or advanced IT.

“Visiopharm really has become a leader in these types of deep learning methods which is really impressive” 

– Robert Dunstan, Senior Research Fellow, AbbVie

The deep learning technology in the Visiopharm AI image analysisplatform is specifically developed towards histopathology, so pathologists and scientists are able to apply, train and create high-quality deep learning algorithms to obtain breakthrough results in own field of work.

“Our AI platform was designed for offering the latest breakthrough advances in AI/Deep Learning Technology for Whole Slide Image Analysis in a way that enables immediate productivity with very little training, also for scientists with no IT-background; while still offering full configurability for experts,” said Michael Grunkin, CEO of Visiopharm. “This makes Oncotopix/Biotopix AI the ideal platform for tissue-based research: Scientists can grow with their research without experiencing limitations and barriers. We are excited to see how easy it is for our users to efficiently tackle applications that they weren’t able to address with other tools”.

“With these state-of-the-art deep learning algorithms optimized for tissue pathology, we see the second paradigm shift in AI for image analysis. We simply push the boundaries of what is possible in cancer research and drug development,” adds Jeppe Thagaard, deep learning research engineer, Visiopharm.

With the new AI image analysis platform, pathologists and scientists get the power of state-of-the-art deep learning to solve difficult problems – without having to write a single line of code. 

Watch Visiopharm’s AI webinar

Take a look and watch Visiopharm’s deep learning experts demonstrate the “how to” with explanations and demo cases relevant for nuclei quantification in IHC images, accurate tumor separation in H&E, and advanced context-aware region mapping in fx brain images. 

Watch the webinar here.

Visiopharm AI Image Analysis solution 

The Oncotopix^® and Biotopix™ AI image analysis modules are available and fully integrated with the Visiopharm current image analysis software platform. Visit visiopharm.com/ai-deeplearning for details. 

ATP, the Danish Growth Fund and the C. L. David Foundation and Collection are among the new investors. The increased capital commitment is an essential part of the company’s growth strategy within the field of tissue diagnostics- and research software for cancer.

Visiopharm A/S, is developing software for tissue based cancer diagnostics, based on image analysis that integrates precision- and high-throughput pathology in diagnostic workflows. ATP is investing DKK 45 million, the Danish Growth Fund is putting in DKK 20 million and the C. L. David Foundation is financing with DKK 15 million. In addition, the existing investor Northcap Venture Partners has invested a further DKK 15 million. The remaining investment is supplied by smaller shareholders/owners. In addition to the investors, the owners moving forward will thus be comprised of the founders, Michael Grunkin and Johan Doré Hansen, as well as a number of smaller shareholders. The investment is the basis for further international growth.

Strong concept with growth potential

Visiopharm was founded by Michael Grunkin and Johan Doré Hansen in 2001 and currently has approx. 55 employees, with headquarters north of Copenhagen and subsidiaries in Sweden, United Kingdom, and in the United States. Visiopharm is primarily selling its core software products for cancer tissue diagnostics and research, but also third-party hardware such as digital slide scanners. Customers are primarily hospitals and major pharmaceutical companies.

“We have a healthy business with great potential for further growth, which we now have the opportunity to further develop with very strong Danish investors backing us. With our financial advisor, Vator Securities, we have spent the past year exploring the best possible way forward to ensure continued growth of Visiopharm. The solution we have found is very robust and will provide us with the best possible foundation for creating new international growth and establish the company’s solution as the preferred option for cancer- diagnostics and research.” says CEO of Visiopharm, Michael Grunkin.

Aiming for international growth

With the new capital, the company can now accelerate both product and market development, which are important steps in the plans for also accelerating its international growth.

“Today, the international top-tier pharmaceutical companies are using our research software platform for various aspects of their drug development activities. The majority of Danish pathology labs are currently implementing and using our diagnostic software platform for breast cancer, with rapid adoption in Sweden, Norway, Finland and in the UK. For people who depend on tissue data for important diagnostic-, business-, or research decision it is a very powerful value proposition that we can significantly improve both accuracy and throughput with our software.” says CEO of Visiopharm, Michael Grunkin.

From ATP the capital commitment is based on both Visiopharm’s ability to run a business and the positive outsight for developing the company even further.

“We see Visiopharm as a very interesting Danish high-tech company that already for years has demonstrated a solid commercial development. Furthermore, Visiopharm has an attractive investment profile based on the growth opportunities in relation to both products and markets.” says Claus Berner Møller, VP for Danish Shares in ATP.

The Danish Growth Fund also has high expectations for Visiopharm’s future development.

“We have invested in a company with a strong team, a solid long-term strategy and a product with a huge international potential. Visiopharm’s excellent growth opportunities, exciting technology and strong anchoring in Danish life sciences situate the company in the target group for the Growth Fund’s investments. The possibility of a later IPO in Denmark and thus an even stronger Danish anchoring further adds to our support for the company.” says Rolf Kjærgaard, Chief Investment Officer, Danish Growth Fund.

For further information, please contact:
Charlotte Bøggild, Marketing Director at Visiopharm: +45 51 55 50 10, chb@visiopharm.com
Peter Bruun, Head of Communication and CSR, Danish Growth Fund: +45 40 81 35 46, pbr@vf.dk
Robert Neimanas, ATP Media Relations: + 45 93 94 02 05, rne@atp.dk

Investorer skyder knap 100 mio. kr. i danske Visiopharm

ATP, Vækstfonden og C. L. Davids Fond og Samling er blandt de nye investorer, der skal sikre den fortsatte udvikling af Visiopharms software til brug for kræftdiagnostik. Det øgede kapitaltilsagn er et afgørende led i virksomhedens plan om en senere børsnotering i Danmark.

Visiopharm A/S, som udvikler software til billedanalyse af celler til brug i kræftdiagnostik, har sikret sig en større kapitalindsprøjtning til den videre vækst. ATP investerer således 45 mio. kr., Vækstfonden 20 mio. kr. og C. L. Davids Fond 15 mio. kr. Herudover har den eksisterende investor, Northcap Venture Partners, investeret yderligere 15 mio. kr., hvor det resterende beløb indskydes af mindre aktionærer. Foruden de nævnte investorer vil ejerkredsen således fremover bestå af stifterne Michael Grunkin og Johan Doré Hansen samt en række mindre aktionærer.

Stærkt koncept med vækstpotentiale

Visiopharm blev grundlagt af Michael Grunkin og Johan Doré Hansen i 2001 og har i dag ca. 50 ansatte. Omsætningen på ca. 60 mio. kr. kommer fra salg af software, som i dag er kerneproduktet, og fra videresalg af hardware såsom scannere. Kunderne er primært hospitaler og større medicinalselskaber.

”Vi har en sund forretning med et stort potentiale for vækst, som vi nu får mulighed for at videreudvikle med meget stærke, danske investorer i ryggen. Vi har med vores finansielle rådgiver, Vator Securities, brugt det seneste år på at rejse kapital, og den løsning vi har fundet er meget stærk. Det vil give os det bedst mulige fundament til at skabe ny international vækst og etablere selskabets løsning som den foretrukne til kræftdiagnostik. Det kan også bane vejen for en børsnotering, som er vores mål for de kommende år,” siger CEO i Visiopharm, Michael Grunkin.

I ATP peger man på, at investeringen er udtryk for, at man gerne investerer i mindre danske virksomheder, når de rette forudsætninger er til stede.

”Vi betragter Visiopharm som en højteknologisk dansk virksomhed, der gennem en årrække har dokumenteret en sund forretningsmæssig vækst. Investeringen er et godt eksempel på, at vi i ATP også har fokus på investeringer i mindre danske virksomheder, der har et attraktivt vækstpotentiale som fundament for en senere børsnotering i Danmark,” siger Claus Berner Møller, underdirektør for Danske Aktier i ATP.

Går efter notering på den danske børs

Med den nye kapital sætter virksomheden nu ekstra fart på både produkt- og markedsudvikling, som er vigtige skridt i planerne om en senere børsnotering af selskabet.

”Vi har tidligere i processen overvejet en børsnotering i Sverige, men på baggrund af de nye danske investorers engagement og perspektivet for et videre samarbejde får vi nu muligheden for at modne og vækste selskabet hen mod en børsnotering i Danmark,” siger CEO i Visiopharm, Michael Grunkin.

Også i Vækstfonden er der store forventninger til Visiopharms kommende udvikling.

”Vi har investeret i et selskab med et stærkt team, en solid langsigtet strategi og et produkt med et meget stort internationalt potentiale. Visiopharms gode vækstmuligheder, spændende teknologi og solide forankring i dansk life science gør, at virksomheden oplagt er i målgruppen for Vækstfondens investeringer. Muligheden for en senere børsnotering i Danmark og dermed en endnu stærkere dansk forankring lægger yderligere til vores opbakning til virksomheden,” siger Rolf Kjærgaard, investeringsdirektør i Vækstfonden.

For yderligere information, kontakt:

Charlotte Bøggild, marketingdirektør hos Visiopharm: +45 51 55 50 10‬, chb@visiopharm.com
Nathali Selmeczi Leth, seniorkommunikationsrådgiver i Vækstfonden: + 45 28 60 01 13, nsl@vf.dk
Robert Neimanas, presserådgiver hos ATP: +45 93 94 02 05, rne@atp.dk

Om Visiopharm
Visiopharm A/S har hjemme i DTU Science Park i Hørsholm. Visiopharms software kan hurtigt og præcist analysere et billede af en vævsprøve i forbindelse med diagnosticering af kræft og udpege de områder, som lægerne bør se nærmere på. Hidtil har den proces været manuel og meget tidskrævende. Aktuelt har Visiopharm en godkendt applikation til brystkræft, men har en pipeline af applikationer til andre kræftformer. Fremtiden byder desuden på udbygning af den AI (artificial intelligence), som allerede er en del af softwaren.

Visiopharm er markedsleder inden for digital patologi-software, der øger graden af automatisering indenfor vævsbaseret cancerdiagnostik, fungerer som beslutningsstøtte for patologer, og derigennem forbedrer nøjagtigheden i den diagnostiske fortolkning. Selskabets software anvendes i dag inden for cancerdiagnostik, udvikling af cancerlægemidler samt udviklingen af nye cancer biomarkører.

De fleste af de danske patologiafdelinger anvender allerede selskabets løsninger inden for diagnostik af brystcancer, og en lang række hospitaler i Norden, UK og andre steder i Europa er ved at indføre teknologien i rutinediagnostikken. De biofarmaceutiske virksomheder, kontraktforskningsorganisationer (CRO) og universitetshospitaler anvender Oncotopix®-platformen til vævsbaseret forskning og diagnostik.

I løbet af de seneste år har Visiopharm udviklet sig til en international virksomhed med over 900 installationer, der hver har adskillige licenser. Visiopharm-software er blevet omtalt i mere end 1.200 videnskabelige publikationer siden 2010.

Et voksende netværk af autoriserede forhandlere og integrationspartnere er med til at støtte udviklingen af Visiopharm-løsninger på flere kontinenter, herunder Nordamerika, Europa og Asien. Vores hovedkontor ligger i Medicon Valley i Danmark, DTU Science Park in Hørsholm, og vi har et afdelingskontor i Storbritannien samt et nordamerikansk kontor i Broomfield, Colorado. Se mere på Visiopharm APP Center (www.visiopharm.com/appcenter), verdens største og hastigst voksende bibliotek med APP’er (Application Protocol Packages) til diagnosticering og forskning. Eller gå direkte ind på www.visiopharm.com.

Om Vækstfonden
Vækstfonden er statens finansieringsfond. Fonden medvirker til at skabe flere nye vækstvirksomheder ved at stille kapital og kompetencer til rådighed. I samarbejde med private investorer og pengeinstitutter har Vækstfonden siden 1992 medfinansieret vækst i over 7.300 virksomheder for et samlet tilsagn på mere end 22,5 mia. kr. Virksomhederne havde i 2017 tilsammen en omsætning på over 98 mia. kr. og mere end 63.500 medarbejdere. Aktuelt medvirker Vækstfondens investeringer til at skabe ca. 10.700 nye jobs om året.
www.vf.dk

Om ATP
ATP blev stiftet i 1964 i henhold ATP-loven med det formål at sikre en større grundpension for størstedelen af den danske befolkning som et supplement til folkepensionen. ATP er et obligatorisk opsparingssystem med mere end fem millioner medlemmer. ATP forvalter aktiver for mere end DKK 700 milliarder, som er investeret i for eksempel obligationer, aktier, fast ejendom og infrastruktur. I de seneste år har ATP lavet signifikante investeringer i vital infrastruktur, herunder bl.a. i Københavns Lufthavn, Ørsted og TDC. ATP opnåede i 2017 et positivt afkast på DKK 29,7 milliarder i investeringsporteføljen. ATP er ligeledes den største administrationsleverandør i de nordiske lande og forvalter to tredjedele af velfærdsydelser udbetalt i Danmark. ATP-koncernen har cirka 3.000 medarbejder og er en af Europas største pensionsudbydere.
www.atp.dk

Om Vator Securities
Vator Securities yder en bred vifte af finansielle rådgivningsservices til førende noterede såvel som unoterede vækstvirksomheder med et særligt fokus på life science, medtech og diagnostik. Vator Securities differentierer sig fra det øvrige marked ved både at kunne rejse kapital fra såvel traditionelle institutionelle investorer og fra sit eget globale netværk af family offices og velhavende privatinvestorer. Vator Securities blev grundlagt i 2010 i Stockholm. Selskabet er et equity partnership.
www.vatorsecurities.se

OracleBio, a global leader in high precision, quantitative digital image analysis services, is pleased to announce an expansion of its software capabilities to include Visiopharm Oncotopix®. Produced by Denmark-based Visiopharm, Oncotopix® software is an advanced platform for computer assisted quantification of immunohistochemistry (IHC) and In-Situ Hybridization (ISH) staining. Oncotopix offers a portfolio of software modules designed for application within cancer diagnostics and for scientists within cancer research and drug development.

Lorcan Sherry, Chief Scientific Officer of OracleBio commented:

‘It is important that OracleBio continues to develop and deliver highly innovative histology image analysis services to support our Client’s pre-clinical and clinical R&D. Visiopharm Oncotopix is highly interactive and infinitely programmable, allowing OracleBio to custom configure image analysis requirements and define new algorithms to meet Clients’ specific requirements.’

Whilst Visiopharm offers a range of different solutions for digital pathology, the Oncotopix platform in particular will strengthen OracleBio’s Immuno-Oncology service offering. The software provides key features that support oncology research, such as virtual multiplexing, and is a powerful tool for advanced co-localisation studies and tumor detection.

Lars Pedersen, Director of Sales at Visiopharm, commented:

“Visiopharm is proud to include OracleBio in our growing base of pre-clinical and clinical CRO clients. The Oncotopix® solution that OracleBio has chosen is designed to match the increasing demand for high quality tissue-based biomarker analysis, shorter turn-around times and flexibility, and we are proud to fuel OracleBio in their ambitions to deliver innovative expert histopathology results with our proprietary solution for in vitro diagnostic applications.”

Along with OracleBio’s current analysis platform capabilities the addition of Visiopharm Oncotopix will further enhance the company’s service capabilities and puts OracleBio in the unique position of being a multi-image analysis platform service provider.