TILT BIOTHERAPEUTICS OY

Their core work

TILT Biotherapeutics is a Finnish biotech SME developing oncolytic virus-based cancer immunotherapies. Their core work focuses on engineering viruses that selectively target and destroy cancer cells while stimulating the patient's immune response. They also engage in upstream biopharmaceutical manufacturing and bioprocess development for advanced therapy products including gene and cell therapies. The company bridges the gap between academic virology research and clinical-stage immuno-oncology drug development.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

TILT's early H2020 involvement (2015) centered on fundamental oncolytic virology and RNA interference mechanisms through the VIRION training network. By 2018-2019, they shifted toward translational and manufacturing challenges — coordinating UNLEASHAD to bring cancer immunotherapy closer to clinical application, and joining STACCATO to strengthen biopharmaceutical production capabilities. This trajectory shows a clear move from upstream science toward industrialization and scale-up of virus-based therapies.

TILT is moving from research-stage virology toward manufacturing-ready cancer immunotherapy products, making them increasingly relevant for partners in biologics scale-up and clinical translation.

How they like to work

TILT operates as both a project leader and a specialist partner. They coordinated their largest project (UNLEASHAD, €1.77M) while participating as a domain expert in two Marie Skłodowska-Curie training networks. With 23 unique partners across 8 countries from just 3 projects, they engage in broad European consortia rather than small closed teams — typical of an SME actively building its collaborative network in its growth phase.

TILT has built a network of 23 partners across 8 countries through just 3 projects, indicating engagement in sizable international consortia. Their partnerships span academic training networks (MSCA) and innovation-driven collaborations, giving them connections across both research institutions and industry.

What sets them apart

TILT occupies a rare niche as an SME with deep expertise in oncolytic viruses — a field dominated by large pharma and academic labs. Their combination of virus engineering know-how with growing biomanufacturing capability positions them as a one-stop partner for translating lab-stage immuno-oncology concepts into producible therapies. For consortium builders, they bring both the science (virology, immunology) and the industry perspective (manufacturing, scale-up) that EU projects increasingly demand.

Highlights from their portfolio

• UNLEASHAD
  TILT's only coordinated project and by far its largest (€1.77M), focused on unlocking the curative potential of cancer immunotherapy — signals the company's core commercial ambition.
• STACCATO
  Industrial doctorate program linking TILT to biopharmaceutical manufacturing expertise, covering gene therapy, cell therapy, and advanced analytics — a strategic investment in production capabilities.
• VIRION
  Early participation in a pan-European oncology training network combining viruses, immune stimulation, and RNA interference — established TILT's scientific credentials in the field.