About Us
It Started with Effortless Immunohistochemistry
Kromnigon is a biotech company that originated from new technologies for multicolor fluorescence microscopy and multiplex immunohistochemistry (IHC). The company was founded in 2015 by Per Fogelstrand and Ulf Yrlid. It started as a joint research project at Gothenburg University, Sweden, which focused on the involvement of leukocytes in endothelial repair. The task posed significant histological challenges, and from these frustrations, new ideas emerged on how to convert multiplex IHC from craftsmanship into reliable methods that anyone in the lab can perform. Today, we have several IHC kits available on the market for multiplex immunostaining, along with exclusive bandpass filter sets that equip fluorescence microscopes with 7 color channels.
Our IHC kits are based on StreptaClick®, a streptavidin molecule optimized for pre-mixing with biotinylated antibodies before use in experiments. We are continuing to develop StreptaClick®-products for instant antibody labeling with a wide range of signalling molecules and for custom click chemistry applications. Our redesigned StreptaClick® Precision molecule is a cis-divalent streptavidin that carries a pre-determined number of azide groups for precise click chemistry, while still binding monovalently to biotinylated antibodies with conserved affinity.
In 2021, Kromnigon secured funding for expansion and is now operating from premises located at AstraZeneca BioVentureHub in Gothenburg.
Our team
Per Fogelstrand, PhD
CEO & Founder
Per co-founded Kromnigon in 2015 and as CEO, he has been directing the company towards expansion. His emphasis is on product development, strategic planning, raising capital, and establishing a high-performing team. Per has a background in chemistry and biology, and a PhD in Vascular Surgery. Per has extensive experience of histological techniques and was the PI of a cardiovascular research group for many years at the University of Gothenburg. The core technologies in Kromnigon were initially developed in parallel with a cardiovascular project looking at endothelial repair in mouse arteries (PLoS One. 2015 Mar 4;10(3), J Leukoc Biol, 2019, 105(1)).
Ulf Yrlid, Professor
Scientific Advisor & Founder
Ulf co-founded Kromnigon in 2015 and as Scientific advisor provides expert consultation on scientific and technological matters. He contributes to the strategic plans and with his deep knowledge in immune cell infiltrates in tissues and cell surface receptor-ligand interactions he guides the product development. Ulf is a Professor in Mucosal Immunology and Microbiology at the University of Gothenburg where his research group focuses on ways to improve immune responses against colorectal cancers and enterotoxins. He has more than sixty scientific publications.
Johan Vänelid, PhLic
Director of Sales
Johan has a commercial background working closely with academic-, clinical- and industrial laboratories setting up assays to measure DNA, RNA and proteins with a multitude of read-out technologies. His experience ranges from technical sales at Roche Diagnostics to business development and channel sales at scaleup Telesis Bio, to product management at local distributors, and founding a startup. He has also conducted relevant academic research in molecular – and immunoassay tools development, including developing multiplex proximity ligation assays at Uppsala University and the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm. His scientific and commercial background is perfect for leading Kromnigon’s commercial activities.
Anandi Rajan, PhD
R&D Manager
Anandi is an ambitious microbiologist with a strong background in molecular and infection biology. Throughout her Ph.D. and postdoctoral research, her primary focus has been on investigating pathogen-host interactions by identifying surface host receptors targeted by viral capsid proteins or bacterial adhesins. The ultimate goal of this research was to pinpoint potential drug candidates capable of obstructing the initial stage of infection, particularly the binding or attachment process. She possesses a comprehensive skill set encompassing molecular biology, cell biology, assay development, analytical chromatography, protein expression, purification, and characterization techniques, which she will utilise in driving Kromnigon’s research and development initiatives.
Location
Kromnigon is located within the premises of AstraZeneca R&D (Gothenburg, Sweden)
Our Partners
Gobia enterprises is a family-owned investment company with decades of experience in building companies and developing ideas from research into product offerings and worldwide sales. Gobia enterprises has extensive knowledge about life science industry, and an extensive international network.
Västkustens Affärsänglar was founded in 2011 by entrepreneurs and business leaders to invest in start-ups ready to take the next step in development and growth.
Almi Invest is owned by the Swedish government. It is a venture capital company that invests in start ups throughout Sweden via eight regional venture capital companies.
Västra Götalandsregionen (VGR) works to create a vivid and sustainable industry. The goal is job creation by entrepreneurship and corporate growth. VGR works toward this goal by helping companies with seed capital and free consulting.
