Panosome GmBH is honored to have received the BioVaria Rising Startup Award this 2026. The antibody discovery company was one of only 10 startups selected for the live Pitch Competition, held last April 28 in Munich, Germany, as the final stage of BioVaria’s Startup Pitch & Partner program.
The program was organized by independent tech transfer company Ascenion and Max Planck Innovation, culminating in a showcase event featuring an international community of researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and companies. Panosome competed in the “Rising” category, which covers post-seed life science and biotech startups seeking subsequent funding in the near future.
On-site for Panosome were CEO Nina Papavasiliou, PhD, and Katharina Urban, PhD, MBA, Business Development & Investor Relations Manager, who worked effectively in tandem to deliver a pitch on the company’s proprietary VAST technology. VAST, which stands for VSG-Immunogen Array by Sortase Tagging, transforms the naturally immunogenic surface of African trypanosomes into a dense antigen display, powering the generation of high-affinity antibodies against traditionally intractable targets.
“Our platform expands the addressable target space beyond the limits of current antibody discovery technologies. This opens new opportunities in disease areas where drug discovery has historically stalled,” said Papavasiliou.
The duo also highlighted Panosome’s lead oncology program: generating highly specific antibodies to target sugar epitopes on the MUC-1 glycoprotein, linked to poor clinical outcomes in ovarian, pancreatic, breast, lung, and other solid cancers.
After a jury of leading venture capitalists and investors evaluated the pitches for the commercial promise of their innovations, Panosome received the Rising Startup Award, which also included a monetary prize of EUR 2,000. “This recognition is a proud moment for our entire team and a testament to the strength of our technology and vision,” said Urban.
Prior to the event, Panosome’s application had been assessed in terms of innovation and value, business potential, and development strategy, with only the top-rated startups qualifying for BioVaria’s live competition.
In addition, Panosome exhibited throughout the BioVaria weekend. The team engaged in deep-dive discussions with investors, fellow startups, and other industry players on the VAST platform’s capabilities and partnership opportunities. They also participated in one-on-one investor speed dating sessions and a networking after-party that brought together a vibrant and inspiring biotech community.
About Panosome:
Based in Heidelberg, Germany, Panosome is a biotech startup with a novel, proprietary platform to generate high-affinity antibodies against previously inaccessible targets. This VAST platform transforms the naturally immunogenic surface of African trypanosomes into an effective disease-fighting strategy, opening new opportunities for clinical impact in therapeutic areas often missed by conventional antibody discovery technologies.
Media Contact:
Katharina Urban, PhD, MBA
Business Development and Investor Relations Manager