How can life be made easier for people with epilepsy?
That was the question posed by Christer Sjögren, one of SWIPP’s two founders. Our story begins before 2017. After a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry, holding senior positions in several different companies, Christer decides to look for a new challenge. This turns out to be creating the best possible product for treating convulsive epilepsy seizures. The idea of the buccal film with midazolam is born, and soon thereafter he submits a patent application.
Bengt Westrin, the co-founder of SWIPP, has successfully developed and patented a medical oral film for another company. Christer Sjögren and Bengt Westrin are former colleagues, and decide to collaborate and pool their expertise. Bengt has extensive experience of pharmaceutical development and understands the necessary stages and conditions of a project.
In October 2017, SWIPP is founded. The company’s focus is the buccal midazolam film project, but it won’t be long before new ideas take shape.
Current events
Our history
Jan 2024
SWIPP engages Staatz Business Development and Strategy (Munich) as a transaction advisor, with the task of establishing partnerships with one or more pharmaceutical companies.
Dec 2023
SWIPP’s fifth patent application is filed with the European Patent Office (EPO).
May 2023
Preparing a pre-IND meeting with the FDA about SWIPP’s Project 2, including the results from SWIPP-011.
February 2023
SWIPP’s third and fourth patent applications were submitted to the European Patent Office (EPO).
August 2022
SWIPP’s second patent application is filed as a PCT version.
April 2022
The results of market research conducted by Drive Research (US) are released. Forty epilepsy specialists in the USA, the UK, Germany and France were asked about SWIPP’s buccal film (Project 1).
The responses showed unequivocally that they appreciated the product and that they would prescribe it if it were available.
April 2022
The results of the first study within Project 2 is released: SWIPP-011. These results are also very positive and confirm that the product concept in Project 2 works.
January 2022
The results of the SWIPP-012 study are released, ahead of schedule.
These results are also deemed to be very positive. The path to product approval in Europe can now be mapped out.
November 2021
Intensive preparations continue for SWIPP-012, and of SWIPP-011 which will be the first study within Project 2. Clinical trial applications submitted to the State Institute for Drug Control (SUKL) in the Czech Republic are approved, import and export licenses are granted for the trial product, and a new GMP batch is manufactured. All deadlines are met!
August 2021
SWIPP’s second patent application is submitted to the European Patent Office (EPO).
May 2021
A second Scientific Advice Meeting with the Swedish MPA was held, to discuss the results of SWIPP-010, the design of the next study (SWIPP-012), and other aspects of the company’s first project.
March 2021
The results of the SWIPP-010 study are released on the buccal midazolam film. These are deemed to be very positive by the Board and the management.
December 2020
The first GMP batch of the buccal midazolam film is successfully manufactured – at the first attempt. This batch is then used in the first clinical study: SWIPP-010.
August 2019
SWIPP’s first patent application is approved in Europe (EPO).
May 2019
Advisory meeting with the Swedish Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV) regarding future pricing for SWIPP’s product.
February 2019
Scientific Advice Meeting was held with the Swedish MPA.
October 2018
Cooperation begins with the GMP manufacturer AdhexPharma in France. AdhexPharma also decides to invest in SWIPP.
September 2018
Cooperation begins with Quinta-Analytica in Prague, a CRO specialized on Phase I studies and bioequivalence studies.
June 2018
Conducting 20 in-depth interviews with neurologists, parents and other caretakers in the epilepsy field. The product concept is well received.
April 2018
Regulatory advice received from the Swedish Medical Products Agency (MPA/Läkemedelsverket) and from the MHRA in the UK.
December 2017
Three seed investors with strong experience from entrepreneurial health care and biotech industries, who share SWIPP’s vision get on board: Lars Hedbys, Lars Persson, and Johan & Annette Säfholm.