Specialised in the diagnostics of infectious and cancer diseases, Uniogen is currently developing, among other things, a test for detecting ovarian cancer. A fast and cost-effective diagnostic test helps detect the difficult-to-diagnose cancer earlier, making it possible to start the right treatment immediately. That, in turn, would improve treatment outcomes.

With its proprietary diagnostic tests, Uniogen aims to have a significant impact on the daily lives of both healthcare professionals and patients: tests enabling early detection will improve treatment outcomes and help allocate scarce resources correctly. The company is currently doing its most interesting development work with a test that reveals ovarian cancer. The test detects cancer in a blood sample.

“Cancer-specific sugar components of commonly known markers are measured in a blood sample. The test is based on long-term research conducted at the University of Turku which led to the discovery that the glycosylation of markers changes in cancer patients, and by measuring this, it is possible to better distinguish cancer patients from healthy patients or patients with benign gynaecological problems. We have succeeded in developing a globally unique and easy test for measuring these modified sugar components. We are currently working with international partners to find clinical evidence of the functionality of the assay through a more extensive patient study, and later on the test will be commercialised,” says Leena Kokko, Business Director, Oncology.

A pioneer in its field, Uniogen was born in early 2022 when three strong expert companies joined forces. The final phase of the transaction was closed at the turn of the year 2023, as the subsidiaries merged into a single Uniogen company. Now the company is able to offer globally unique total solutions to the market: as a result of the corporate merger, new products will be developed that can detect both cancers and infections faster than before.

“Each company had extensive experience, a strong field of specialisation and established customer base. We clearly see the benefits of the merger in the results of our development work. We are able to invest in business and product development much more than we would as independent companies, and in the future, we will make significant investments in the development of new innovative products based on our core competences in particular,” says Ilari Antila, CEO.

Management team supplemented by Commercial Director and CFO

Uniogen strengthened its Management Team by appointing Tapani Elovirta (M.Sc.) as Commercial Director and Miro Marttila (M.Sc. (Econ.), M.Sc. (Tech.)) as CFO.

Elovirta, who started in his new position in November, leads the company’s commercial team whose task is to ensure the growth of Uniogen’s business and the commercialisation of the company’s new product and technology portfolio on the global market.

“We now have a new, stronger commercial team that brings together the commercial expertise of three different companies. Our goal is to expand into new markets, both in terms of distribution partnerships and commercialisation of new products. My experience in export sales of diagnostics helps unleash the impressive commercial potential that Uniogen has,” says Elovirta.

Marttila, the new CFO who will start in his new position on March 6, helps strengthen the company’s executive management for future growth.

“Uniogen is at a very interesting development stage, and the company’s potential is staggering. I will bring with me a strong financial understanding combined with experience in the healthcare and diagnostics sector to this ambitious company. I am looking forward to working with the technically and commercially talented Uniogen staff,” says Marttila.

For further information, please contact:

Ilari Antila, CEO, tel. +358 (0)45 174 1474

 

Commercial Director Tapani Elovirta (M.Sc.) has strong experience in the field of life sciences and export sales. He joined Uniogen from Fapon Biotech Inc., where he served as Senior Sales Manager for Europe. Prior to that, he worked for a long time in Actim Oy and Medix Biochemica Oy Ab. He has nearly two decades of experience in selling in vitro diagnostics.

CFO Miro Marttila (M.Sc. (Econ.), M.Sc. (Tech.)), will transfer to Uniogen from the position of CFO of Karo Healthcare’s Finnish and Baltic country companies. Previously, he has held Controller, Finance Manager and CFO positions at Outotec Oyj, PerkinElmer and a transport business wholesaler owned by a private equity investor.

Uniogen is a global pioneer in diagnostics solutions and instrumentation for life sciences. The company is specialised in the diagnostics of infectious and cancer diseases, and it develops diagnostic tests, point-of-care testing systems and laboratory instruments. A Finnish company, Uniogen currently employs 105 experts.

uniogen.com