In the heart of Sweden’s thriving life sciences ecosystem, a young biotechnology company is redefining how the world understands and engineers therapeutic antibodies. Founded by researchers from the prestigious Karolinska Institutet, AAX Biotech is on a mission to transform antibody-based medicine—turning scientific breakthroughs into next-generation therapies for some of the world’s most challenging diseases. Science-driven, globally ambitious, and intensely collaborative, the company represents a new wave of Stockholm-based innovation.
A New Vision for Antibody Discovery
The name AAX Biotech carries two layers of meaning: it draws from the founders’ scientific aliases, Mats AA Persson and Daniel X Johansson, and stands for Advanced Antibody Explorers—a fitting expression of their mission to push the boundaries of antibody discovery and engineering. Their vision was clear—to create technologies that could accelerate the next generation of antibody therapeutics, unlocking breakthroughs in therapies for cancer, autoimmune disorders, and other life threatening diseases.
This vision took form in two proprietary platforms:
- Seqitope®, a high resolution epitope mapping technology capable of revealing binding sites at the amino acid level across multiple antibodies simultaneously.
- Opti-mAb®, a platform that stabilizes antibody fragments and optimizes them for precision medicine formats such as bispecifics and CAR-T therapies that have revolutionized the treatment of cancer.
“These technologies were born out of necessity,” says Daniel X Johansson,CSO and co-founder. “In our own research, we kept hitting the same wall—existing tools couldn’t give us the resolution or stability we needed. So we built new ones. Today, Seqitope®and Opti-mAb®are enabling pharmaceutical companies to design and optimize antibodies with unprecedented precision – ultimately helping bring new treatments to patients faster.”
These innovations address some of the most persistent challenges in drug development: specificity and developability.
Anchored in Stockholm’s Innovation Landscape
Stockholm has a reputation as an innovation hub for life sciences, and AAX Biotech exemplifies this ecosystem’s strengths. Situated within reach of academic research, incubator programs and biotech accelerators, the company has leveraged its proximity to Karolinska Institutet and the wider Nordic life science network to gain momentum rapidly.
AAX Biotech is deeply embedded in Sweden’s innovation network, with support spanning multiple incubators. Through Karolinska Institutet Innovations’ DRIVE program, the company has benefited from expert mentorship and industry connections at the heart of Stockholm’s life science cluster. In 2024, AAX Biotech also received the prestigious AbbVie Scandinavia Golden Ticket, which granted access to the SmiLe incubator in Lund—providing hands-on mentorship and a global network that has fueled the company’s early growth.
“The strength of Stockholm’s ecosystem lies in how seamlessly science, entrepreneurship, and industry connect,” notes Maria Lisa Knudsen, CEO of AAX Biotech. “Our partnerships don’t just accelerate development—they shape where the company is headed, enabling us to bring the next wave of precision antibody therapeutics closer to patients.”
Leadership and Growth
In 2023, Maria Lisa Knudsen joined as CEO, bringing deep expertise in immunology research combined with a track record in biotech business development. Her arrival signaled a new phase of expansion. “I am honored to lead an exciting company with unique technologies that have the potential to significantly accelerate the development of next generation antibody drugs,” Knudsen shared upon her appointment.
Since then, the company has secured additional funding—approximately SEK 7 million in 2024—to automate its Seqitope®platform, scale operations, and strengthen its research and commercial teams. Strategic hires, including experts in antibody engineering, automation and business development, have positioned AAX Biotech to accelerate commercialization.
Collaborations with Global Impact
Beyond internal research, AAX Biotech has forged multiple collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotech companies worldwide, applying its platforms to advance precision medicine initiatives. These partnerships span therapeutic areas from oncology and neuro degeneration to autoimmunity and cardiovascular disease, demonstrating the broad applicability of Seqitope®and Opti-mAb®in the development of next generation biologics.
“By providing high resolution insights into antibody behavior, we enable our partners to accelerate and de-risk their development pipelines,” notes CEO Maria Lisa Knudsen.
The Road Ahead
As AAX Biotech scales its technologies and expands its collaborations, it stands at the forefront of Stockholm’s contribution to global biotechnology. Its blend of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy, and cutting edge innovation reflects a broader transformation underway in the region: a shift from foundational research to world class therapeutic development. In the years ahead, AAX Biotech is positioned to help usher in a new era of precision antibody therapeutics—accelerating breakthroughs for patients worldwide and solidifying Stockholm’s role as a crucible for medical innovation.
