AnaCardio was founded based on research from the Karolinska Institutet showing improved contractility of the heart muscle through a unique and differentiated mechanism.

The Swedish company’s lead program AC01, a first-in-class calcium sensitizing inotrope, is an oral ghrelin mimetic small-molecule, which was in-licensed from Helsinn and is being developed as a contractile agent in heart failure patients. The company has raised over USD 35 million to date as of Q1 2025.