Next week, Enzymatica will be taking over our Instagram account, so we sat down with Ulf Blom (EVP Marketing) and Louise Forssell (Executive Assistant) to find out more about who they are and what they do.
“We are a life science company that develops and sells medical devices against infectious diseases, like the common cold. Our products are based on a barrier technology, which includes marine enzymes. Our first product is ColdZyme Mouth Spray that can prevent cold, and can shorten the disease period”, says Ulf. “What makes our product different is that it works on the virus itself and thereby acting on the cause of the disease”.
“ColdZyme has been launched in ten markets, for instance in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Spain and Greece. The launch in Sweden was the best product launch since the 1970s”, says Ulf. “The strategy is to continue to grow by strengthening our position in existing markets and expanding to more geographic markets through established partners.”
“Our headquarter is here at Ideon and we are listed on the Nasdaq First North”, says Louise.
Can you tell us more about the history of the company and what inspired you to start it?
“The story of our product starts in the 1970s in Iceland. Researchers there were looking into why the hands of workers in a fish cleaning facility, that cleans tons of fresh-caught cod, were so healthy and soft. They found out that the reason was a cold-adapted enzyme that was present in cod and when in contact with the warm human skin and mucus membranes becomes super active. The Icelandic company Zymetech then got a patent for that enzyme”, explains Ulf.
“In 2007 a team of five people: a lawyer, a board member and executive managers (including Ulf, note from Ideon), saw the opportunity to use this enzyme for treatment and prevention of diseases. We signed an agreement with the Icelandic company to further develop and do research on what could be done with their patented enzyme and Enzymatica was created. For the first four years the five of us worked on this project mostly on the weekends and during our free time. We launched ColdZyme in 2013 and in 2016 we merged with the Icelandic company Zymetech. During the last couple of years the strategy has shifted towards expansion on European and other markets”, says Ulf.
Can you tell us more about the people working at Enzymatica?
“We are sixteen people working here in Sweden and we have nine more colleagues in Iceland, where we make all of our raw enzyme material”, says Louise. “Most of the people working at Enzymatica come from international life science companies, from other Ideon companies or from the University.”
What are the benefits of being a part of Ideon for you?
“The biggest benefit for us is the networking. Everything and everybody is intertwined, as we already mentioned even most of our employees come from other Ideon companies. By being part of Ideon you have the chance to learn and interact with various different companies within different industries and help each other. Also, another great advantage is that Ideon has great and strong connections with the city of Lund, which is a great University city that has many highly qualified young people”, says Ulf.
What are you planning to show us next week?
“Since we work with prevention we get many great pictures and stories from consumers and our representatives and we would like to share some of them with you. We are planning to give some tips regarding the common cold, and of course show you who we are here at Enzymatica”, says Louise.
Follow the Enzymatica takeover of our Instagram account
