Industry Collaboration: Pretzel Therapeutics and SciLifeLab Cryo-EM platform to advance mitochondrial drug discovery
Pretzel Therapeutics, a biotech company pioneering treatments within mitochondrial biology, uses SciLifeLab to accelerate its drug discovery pipeline. With headquarters in Boston and a strong research presence in Gothenburg, Pretzel Therapeutics collaborates closely with the Cryo-EM platform at SciLifeLab to tackle rare and complex diseases of mitochondrial origin.
“Our focus is on developing new medicines for mitochondrial diseases, including neurodegenerative conditions and metabolic disorders- These are challenging targets, and therefore, in depth understanding of protein structures at high resolution is crucial. As a small biotech, we simply can’t host all the necessary infrastructure ourselves, so access to SciLifeLab is key.”says Thomas Keating, PhD, Senior Vice President and Head of Research at Pretzel Therapeutics
Pretzel’s lead program targets the POLG gene, which is linked to severe degenerative diseases. Their first candidate has now entered phase I clinical trials. Access to SciLifeLab’s Cryo-EM facility has enabled the company to visualize how drug candidates bind to critical disease-related proteins, helping them refine their designs before entering development stages.
The collaboration builds on strong academic ties. Several of Pretzel’s co-founders, including researchers from the University of Gothenburg and Karolinska Institutet, had previously worked with SciLifeLab as part of their academic research. Since formalizing the collaboration in 2021, the partnership has evolved into more than a technical exchange.
“Our interaction with the Cryo-EM platform, led by Marta Carroni, is collaborative in nature. We don’t just send samples and receive data – we engage in scientific dialogue, troubleshoot experimental design, and benefit from the team’s deep structural biology expertise. It’s almost like a consulting relationship under full confidentiality”, says Dr. Keating.
Beyond cryo-EM, Pretzel is also exploring additional technologies within the SciLifeLab ecosystem, including mass photometry. The company has also identified other local infrastructures such as the high-field protein NMR facility in Gothenburg as a potential future resource in their development.
“SciLifeLab’s Cryo-EM platform offers a unique bridge between cutting-edge science and industrial application. Collaborations like the one with Pretzel Therapeutics show how national infrastructure can support biotech innovation in Sweden and globally” says Marta Carroni, Director of the Cell and Molecular Imaging Platform at SciLifeLab.
Looking ahead, Pretzel sees continued engagement with SciLifeLab as key to advancing its pipeline.
“This model works and gives us the agility of a biotech company with access to the scientific power of a national research hub,” says Thomas Keating.
Contact
Thomas Keating, PhD, Senior Vice President and Head of Research at Pretzel Therapeutics
info@pretzeltx.com
Marta Carroni, Director of the Cell and Molecular Imaging Platform at SciLifeLab
marta.carroni@scilifelab.se
