Sweden contributes integrated biologics development pipeline to HENIPROTECT

Representatives from the Swedish HENIPROTECT partners: Esmeralda Woestenenk, SciLifeLabs DDD platform, Laura Okmane, Testa Center, Luisa Lundin, NorthX Biologics, Marica Merkel Johansson, NorthX Biologics, Niklas Berndt Thalén, SciLifeLab DDD.

Sweden will play a key role in the EU-funded HENIPROTECT project, which aims to develop what could become the world's first inhaled antibody treatment against Nipah virus. Through the BRIDGE Sweden platform, the Drug Discovery and Development (DDD) platform at SciLifeLab and Testa Center provide an integrated development pathway spanning cell line development, process development and scale-up.
In HENIPROTECT, this pathway is extended through NorthX Biologics, adding GMP manufacturing capabilities.
The initiative brings together 18 partners from eight countries and will help strengthen preparedness for future viral outbreaks and pandemics.

Launched in September 2026, HENIPROTECT is a six-year initiative funded by the European Union with the aim of developing an inhalable neutralising antibody therapy against Nipah virus and related henipaviruses, including Hendra virus.

The project will also establish GMP manufacturing capabilities, develop tools to address future viral variants and contribute to preparedness for future outbreaks and pandemics.

Nipah virus and the related Hendra virus are highly pathogenic viruses with mortality rates of up to 75 percent. Both have been identified by the World Health Organization as priority pathogens due to their epidemic and pandemic potential. Currently, no approved preventive treatments or therapies are available.

INSERM, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, coordinates the project, which involves academic institutions, research organisations and industry partners from across Europe.

BRIDGE Sweden capability attracted international interest
A key reason for Sweden's participation is the development pipeline established through BRIDGE Sweden, a national initiative funded by Vinnova and Swelife. The platform connects the SciLifeLabs DDD platform and Testa Center, creating a coordinated pathway from early development through process development and scale-up. Through HENIPROTECT, this pathway is extended to GMP manufacturing through NorthX Biologics.

“The consortium saw strong value in the fact that DDD, Testa Center and NorthX Biologics have collaborated extensively in the past and know each other well. Through BRIDGE Sweden, we can offer an integrated development pathway that connects expertise and infrastructure across multiple stages of biologics development. We are now leveraging the government funding invested by Sweden and demonstrating that we offer a unique, end-to-end capability that attracts international partners,” says Alexandra Patriksson, Project Manager for BRIDGE Sweden and CEO at Testa Center.

SciLifeLab supports early development
SciLifeLab’s DDD platform in Stockholm will contribute during the project's early development phase, including antibody humanisation, expression testing and development of production-ready cell lines. Niklas Berndt Thalén, who established the new cell line development capability at DDD through BRIDGE Sweden, will play a central role in these activities.

While the DDD platform typically focuses on drug discovery, in HENIPROTECT the drug candidate has already been identified. Thanks to the new cell line development capability established through BRIDGE Sweden, DDD can now also contribute to this stage of the process.

“At the Therapeutic Protein Engineering unit within DDD, we are pleased to build on the cell line development platform that Niklas has established through BRIDGE Sweden. HENIPROTECT demonstrates how DDD's drug development platform and SciLifeLab can help accelerate the development of new therapies, while further strengthening our collaboration with Testa Center and NorthX Biologics. It is also exciting to work with partners across the EU in such a large and comprehensive project,” says Esmeralda Woestenenk, Head of Unit, Therapeutic Protein Engineering, DDD.

Scale-up at Testa Center, clinical phase at NorthX Biologics
Following cell line development at SciLifeLab, the project will move to Testa Center in Uppsala, where antibody production is scaled up, and manufacturing processes are optimized for large-scale production.

The project will then transfer manufacturing processes to NorthX Biologics in Matfors for GMP production ahead of planned clinical studies. The company will be responsible for production and quality assurance of the drug substance required for regulatory submission and clinical initiation, a central component of the so-called BRIDGE 2.0-phase.

“A strong Swedish partnership across the value chain, from cell line development to GMP manufacturing, not only adds significant value to this project but also helps strengthen Sweden's position within biologics manufacturing,” says Janet Hoogstraate, CEO of NorthX Biologics.

ABOUT HENIPROTECT
Project: HENIPROTECT – Inhalable antibody therapy targeting henipaviruses
Timeline: 2026–2031.
Total budget: EUR 16.3 million
Coordinator: INSERM, France
Partners: 18 organizations from 8 countries
Swedish participants: SciLifeLab (DDD platform), Testa Center, NorthX Biologics
Swedish funding package: Approximately EUR 4 million
Target viruses: Nipah (NiV) and Hendra (HeV), WHO-prioritised henipaviruses associated with high mortality rates.
Objectives:
• Demonstrate safety in humans
• Establish GMP manufacturing capabilities and an EU-based development and manufacturing value chain.
• Enable rapid deployment during outbreaks
• Develop tools to adapt antibodies to viral mutations
BRIDGE Sweden: A national platform integrating cell line development, process development and GMP manufacturing into a cohesive biologics development pipeline.

EU Funding Statement 
Funded by the European Union (Grant Agreement 101286662). Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Note: Umeå Biotech Incubator (UBI) is a partner in BRIDGE Sweden and contributes to the initiative's communication and dissemination activities.