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§ Private Profile · Vandtårnsvej 77. DK-2860 Søborg Denmark
Clinical-stage biotechnology company developing lipidated IL-22 therapeutics for metabolic diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and IBD.
Cytoki Pharma is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Værløse, Denmark, that develops lipidated IL-22 therapeutics to treat metabolic diseases and conditions involving epithelial injury. The company's lead drug candidate, CK-0045, is currently undergoing Phase 1 clinical trials targeting obesity and type 2 diabetes, utilizing a therapeutic program originally secured through an exclusive license from Novo Nordisk. Beyond metabolic disorders, the organization is also exploring clinical applications for inflammatory bowel disease by targeting patients with specific tissue damage. Operating with a team of approximately 10 employees, the enterprise has raised $45 million in Series A financing to further advance its clinical pipeline. This initial capital was provided by a syndicate of institutional investors that includes Lundbeckfonden BioCapital, Ysios Capital, Seventure Partners, and +ND Capital. Cytoki Pharma was officially founded in 2019 by Rasmus Jorgensen.
Cytoki Pharma has raised $45.0M across 1 funding round.
Cytoki Pharma has raised $45.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Cytoki Pharma has raised $45.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $45.0M Series A in May 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2021 | $45M Series A | Christian E. Elling | NanoDimension, Seventure Partners, Ysios Capital, Dani Bach | Announced |
Cytoki Pharma is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing lipidated IL-22 analogues to treat metabolic diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes, as well as conditions involving epithelial injury such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).[1][2][3] Its lead product, CK-0045, a long-acting IL-22 variant licensed from Novo Nordisk, has shown positive Phase 1 results for safety, tolerability, and cardiometabolic benefits, advancing to Phase 2 trials in 2024 for obesity and type 2 diabetes patients.[2][3][4] The company serves patients with unmet needs in cardiometabolic and inflammatory disorders, addressing limitations of current therapies by promoting healthy weight loss, glucose control, and epithelial repair through IL-22's unique biology.[1][2][4]
Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Søborg, Denmark, Cytoki is led by pharma veterans and backed by investors like Lundbeckfonden BioCapital and Ysios Capital, with a growing preclinical pipeline including oral IL-22 for ulcerative colitis.[1][2][4]
Cytoki Pharma was founded in 2019 by Rasmus Jorgensen, PhD, its current CEO, who brought expertise in IL-22 biology and drug discovery.[1][2] The company emerged from an exclusive license of IL-22 therapeutic variants from Novo Nordisk, enabling development of optimized, lipidated analogues like CK-0045 for metabolic and epithelial injury indications.[2] Early focus centered on harnessing endogenous IL-22 to tackle obesity, type 2 diabetes, and IBD, building on preclinical data showing weight reduction, glucose improvement, and anti-inflammatory effects.[2][4][5]
Pivotal moments include positive Phase 1 data in 2024 (NCT05712876) demonstrating CK-0045's potential beyond weight loss, such as cardiometabolic risk reduction, fueling Phase 2 entry.[2] Preclinical publications in 2025 further validated lipidated IL-22 for IBD models, reinforcing the platform's breadth.[4] Leadership, including CSO Martijn van de Bunt and CDO Anne Louise Kjølbye, comprises industry experts in clinical development, with a board from top VC firms.[1]
Cytoki rides the obesity and cardiometabolic boom, where IL-22 offers differentiation from GLP-1s by enabling healthier weight loss and broader effects like glucose control and tissue protection.[2][4] Timing aligns with post-2024 demand for combo therapies and oral options amid GLP-1 limitations (e.g., muscle loss, GI side effects).[2] Market forces favor it: rising IBD prevalence, metabolic syndrome epidemic, and VC interest in novel biologics, as seen in 2025 funding rounds.[4][6]
It influences biotech by validating IL-22 as a paradigm for epithelial-metabolic links, potentially expanding to combo regimens and inspiring platform plays in regenerative medicine.[1][2]
Cytoki's Phase 2 data for CK-0045 in obesity/type 2 diabetes, expected post-2024, will be pivotal; success could position it for partnerships or Phase 3 by 2026-2027, given 29% PTSR benchmark.[2][3] Preclinical oral IL-22 for IBD advances toward clinic, diversifying beyond metabolism amid GLP-1 evolution toward combos.[4] Trends like multi-agonist therapies and gut-axis drugs will shape it, amplifying IL-22's role in durable outcomes. As a nimble Danish biotech, Cytoki could redefine metabolic care, tying back to its mission of IL-22-driven breakthroughs for unmet needs.[1][2]
Cytoki Pharma has raised $45.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Cytoki Pharma's investors include Christian E. Elling, NanoDimension, Seventure Partners, Ysios Capital, Dani Bach.