Chairman on Lipum’s progress, vision, and challenges
Ingemar Kihlström has been a member of Lipum’s board since 2021 and currently serves as its Chairman. BioStock reached out to Ingemar to gain insight into Lipum’s opportunities and how he can contribute to a successful transition from phase I to phase II for the drug candidate SOL-116:
– With over 40 years of experience in drug development, including securing financing for similar companies, I have numerous opportunities to contribute to Lipum’s positive development, says Ingemar in an interview with BioStock.
Lipum is developing a novel treatment for chronic inflammatory diseases based on the discovery of Bile Salt-Stimulated Lipase (BSSL) – a protein that plays a central role in the inflammatory process. The company’s drug candidate, SOL-116, blocks BSSL, potentially providinga both safe and effective anti-inflammatory treatment.
Lipum has completed a phase I clinical trial with SOL-116, where the results demonstrated a good safety profile and favourable pharmacokinetics in both healthy subjects and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Read more here.
The company is now preparing for a phase II study to evaluate the efficacy of SOL-116 and establish proof of concept in RA patients. The first patients are expected to be enrolled in the first half of 2026. Before the phase II study can commence, both financing and regulatory approval of a clinical trial application are required.
Board led by Ingemar Kihlström
The company’s management and board both play a crucial role in shaping Lipum’s strategic direction toward its goal of launching a new treatment for chronic inflammatory diseases.
Lipum’s board consists of Chairman Ingemar Kihlström and board members Olle Hernell (co-founder), Kristian Sandberg, Åsa Hansdotter, Åsa Magnusson, and Carl-Johan Spak.
Ingemar Kihlström has been a board member since 2021 and was appointed Chairman in 2024. He has extensive experience in board assignments and a long career in the pharmaceutical industry, having held roles in research, development, and business development at Astra and Pharmacia.
Ingemar has also worked as an independent life science consultant through his own company and has been active in the financial sector, serving as a pharmaceutical analyst at Swedbank, Aros Securities, and ABG Sundal Collier.
In addition to his board position at Lipum, he holds several other board roles, including chairman of Miris.
Interview with the Chairman
BioStock reached out to Ingemar for a deeper insight into his past experiences and his perspective on Lipum’s journey so far and what lies ahead.
Since joining Lipum’s board in 2021, the company has made significant progress. Which milestones do you consider particularly important?
– This question has a twofold answer. The first part includes all the milestones since spring 2021 that have resulted in a well-executed phase I study with strong results. The second part is our increased understanding of the mechanism of action. Over the past year, we have made significant progress in detailing our hypothesis on how the drug works.
What inspired you to join Lipum’s board three years ago?
– During my time at Pharmacia, I learned a great deal about autoimmune diseases. The company had a product on the market for rheumatoid arthritis and was also developing R&D projects in autoimmunity. After Pharmacia, I served on the board of another company developing a drug candidate for rheumatoid arthritis treatment.
– By joining Lipum’s board, I saw an opportunity to continue contributing to the field of rheumatoid arthritis and to participate in the development of a new drug.
How do you leverage your previous experience to help Lipum achieve its goals?
– With over 40 years of experience in drug development, including securing financing for similar companies, I have numerous opportunities to contribute to Lipum’s positive development.
What is your view on the company’s long-term strategy and vision?
– My strategic assessment of the company’s future is that, following successful completion of phase II, we will enter a strategic partnership to optimise the developmentour product candidate.
What are the biggest challenges the company faces going forward?
– The main challenge for the company is securing financing and successfully completing phase II. If we succeed and achieve positive results, it will open significant opportunities. However, like other biotech companies, phase II is a critical and decisive stage for our future.
– Details regarding financing and planning for phase II will be shared in the coming months.
Finally, what would you say are Lipum’s greatest strengths as a company?
– Lipum’s greatest asset is that the company and its employees are completely aligned and dedicated in their daily work. They share a strong determination to create the best possible opportunities for the company to succeed.
The content of BioStock’s news and analyses is independent but the work of BioStock is to a certain degree financed by life science companies. The above article concerns a company from which BioStock has received financing.
