QureTech Bio was founded by leading researchers from Umeå University, Sweden and Washington University, St Louis, USA with the aim to develop new antibiotics. Here’s the story behind.
In 1997, Fredrik Almqvist earned his PhD in organic chemistry from Lund University and secured a postdoctoral position at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, US. As a synthetic chemist, Fredrik aimed to design molecules for potential pharmaceutical applications. This led him to collaborate with one of the leading experts in the field, Professor Garland Marshall. The project also included collaboration with molecular microbiologist Scott Hultgren. Professor Hultgren and his research group have been extensively studying the microbiology of urinary tract infections, focusing on understanding disease-causing bacteria and exploring innovative methods to combat these pathogens. During his tenure in the US, Fredrik engaged in scientific discussions with Scott Hultgren’s research team, fostering both a close friendship and a long-term scientific collaboration.
Fredrik returned to Sweden with a promising method for molecular design and began building his research group at Umeå University. The core objective was to investigate the mechanisms of pathogenic bacteria and devise strategies to neutralize them. In parallel, Fredrik and Scott continued their research collaboration on an E. coli project.
Following several pivotal research discoveries, such as developing antivirulence agents against bacteria causing common infections like Chlamydia and Listeria, the researchers recognized the need to protect their findings. In 2010, Fredrik Almqvist and Scott Hulgren, along with Umeå University colleagues Professor Sven Bergström and Professor Jörgen Johansson, founded QureTech Bio AB. The company was formed to patent existing and future breakthrough discoveries and to enable commercial development of new antimicrobials.
Soon after its inception, discoveries by Professor Christina Stallings at Washington University in St. Louis opened new avenues for QureTech Bio. As an expert on tuberculosis, she and Fredrik identified novel compounds, Mycobacterial Tolerance Inhibitors, from Almqvist’s research group that could potentially enhance tuberculosis treatment.
Both Almqvist and Hultgren continue to actively contribute to the company, and are members of the Board of Directors.
