The story behind Lipum

Lipum AB was founded based on discoveries made by scientists at Umeå University. The history of this innovation date back to the 1970s, when Prof. Olle Hernell and his research group studied breast milk and identified an enzyme that facilitates  the digestion of milk fat in breastfed infants, which they named Bile Salt-Stimulated Lipase (BSSL).

Subsequent studies revealed that BSSL is also present in the bloodstream, suggesting that BSSL has biological functions beyond lipid digestion.  Further research demonstrated that BSSL plays a role in inflammatory processes and is present in human platelets, from which it is released upon activation, for example at sites of inflammation.

This novel and unexpected finding shifted the focus of the research toward understanding the role of BSSLin inflammation. Continued scientific progress highlighted the medical potential of these discoveries, ultimately leading Prof. Hernell, Assoc. Prof. Susanne Lindquist, and Prof. Lennart Lundberg to found Lipum in 2010.

Prof. Olle Hernell tells the story about the discovery which led to the company Lipum.