Actinova

Actinova was a Cambridge-based biotechnology company that specialized in developing therapeutics and vaccines derived from bacterial surface proteins. The company's research focused on Gram-positive bacteria, specifically the Streptococcus genus, to create treatments for inflammatory and infectious diseases. Its lead product, ACE-1, was a recombinant protein that reached Phase 2 clinical trials for the prevention of post-operative adhesions. Actinova also developed a vaccine candidate targeting the M protein of Streptococcus pyogenes and held significant intellectual property regarding Protein G technology. In 2002, the company was acquired by CeNeS Pharmaceuticals for approximately £20 million in shares, and its assets were later integrated into Paion AG.