We are Yumab

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Our Profil

Our mission is to support researchers, industrial clients, and partners worldwide in translating their biomedical research into the next generation of immunotherapies. Our team is committed to bridging the gap between target innovation and biotherapeutic lead compounds optimized for preclinical and clinical development by leveraging state-of-the-art and next-generation technology platforms, success-oriented solutions, and tailored contract research programs.

Our History

1990 | 30 Years of Groundbreaking Research in Recombinant Antibody Technologies

The founding team of YUMAB, including Prof. Stefan Dübel, conducted pioneering research at the Universities of Heidelberg and Braunschweig in the field of recombinant antibody technologies. Their fundamental discoveries have had a profound impact on biotherapeutic research and drug development.

2012 I Foundation of YUMAB GmbH

YUMAB was established as a biotechnology spin-off by four leading experts and pioneers in antibody technology from the University of Braunschweig, Germany. The company was founded to provide broad access to recombinant antibody technologies and enable researchers, clients, and partners worldwide to advance the development of innovative biotherapeutics. No. of employees: 1

2013 | First Conference Participation at Biotechnica (Hannover) and BIO Europe (Vienna)

First appearance on the conference stage at major trade shows, attracting significant attention and shaping the future direction and strategy of YUMAB’s business model. No. of employees: 2

2015 | Break-even

YUMAB reached break-even and welcomed its first international clients, demonstrating the commercial success of its technologies and business strategy. No. of employees: 6

2016 | IHK Technology Transfer Award

YUMAB was honored with the IHK Technology Transfer Award for successfully translating recombinant antibody technologies from academia into industrial applications. No. of employees: 13

2017 I Innovation Award Lower Saxony and Foundation of YUMAB Inc.

For the development of human antibodies, YUMAB and TU Braunschweig received the Innovation Network Lower Saxony Award (1st place). Foundation of YUMAB’s US subsidiary in Atlanta, Georgia, to strengthen the company’s presence and better serve the US market. No. of employees: 19

2017 | Foundation of YUMAB Inc.

Foundation of YUMAB’s US subsidiary in Atlanta, Georgia, to strengthen the company’s presence and better serve the US market. No. of employees: 19

2018 | Inauguration of Our New Headquarter

YUMAB inaugurated its new headquarters at the Life Science Campus Braunschweig-South, a leading research hub alongside the Helmholtz Centre, DSMZ, and Fraunhofer. The opening ceremony brought together representatives from science, politics, industry, and the media. No. of employees: 19

2020 | Spin-Off CORAT Therapeutics GmbH

YUMAB spin-off CORAT Therapeutics was established to develop a novel, fully human neutralizing antibody against COVID-19. Featuring a unique Fc safety design for hospitalized patients, the fast-track program progressed from target identification to the clinic in less than 11 months. No. of employees: 22

2022 I YUMAB 10 Years Anniversary Event and New Logo & Corporate Design

Celebration of our 10th anniversary. Our new logo – 2022 and beyond No. of employees: 30

2023 |Co-foundation of Valerius Biopharma GmbH

Co-founding of a biotechnology spin-off developing innovative biotherapeutics for the treatment of metastatic diseases. No. of employess: 27

2025 | Establishment of Companion Animal Health Antibody Platforms

Development of fully feline and canine antibody libraries and co-founding of Kedi Bioscience B.V. (Leiden, Netherlands) to advance the development of innovative feline biotherapeutics. No. of employees: 29

2026 | Shaping the Future of Antibody Innovation

YUMAB continues to expand its antibody technology platform through strategic collaborations with academic innovators and industrial partners. Beyond antibody discovery, we actively support the creation and growth of biotherapeutic spin-off companies across multiple fields. With new innovations and co-investment initiatives on the horizon, YUMAB is committed to driving the next generation of biotherapeutic breakthroughs. No. of employees: 32

Our Leadership & Management Team

Our leadership and management team combines deep scientific expertise with proven business leadership to drive excellence across contract research, client services, and corporate operations.

Scientific & Advisory Board

YUMAB’s Scientific and Advisory Board brings together well-recognized experts whose experience and insight guide the company’s strategic and scientific direction and innovation.

Dr. Yemi Onakunle

CMC Expert

Yemi Onakunle is an experienced biotechnology executive and expert in the chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) of innovative biotherapeutics. He previously served as Chief Business Officer at Selexis in Geneva, Switzerland, a leading cell line development company. He is an active co-founder, Chief Executive Officer, and board member of several biotechnology companies, including Mabswitch and VLP Biotech. In addition, he has served as a scientific and business advisor to organizations such as, Medincell (Montpellier, France), PacificGMP and ServareGMP (San Diego, California). Earlier in his career, he held business development roles at Fujifilm Diosynth (formerly Merck), Bachem, Lonza, and Cancer Research Horizons (formerly Cancer Research Technology) Dr. Onakunle holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Imperial College London and a PhD in Microbiology from University of Kent at Canterbury.

Prof. Dr. Matthias Peipp

Immunotherapy & ADC

Matthias Peipp is a molecular biologist and immunologist, Head of the Antibody-Based Immunotherapy Research Division at Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (Kiel, Germany). Matthias is a recognized Key Opinion Leader in the field of bispecific antibodies and immunotherapy, with over 150 publications. His work is focused on modulating antibody effector functions and strategies to improve recruitment and activation of various immune cell populations (T and NK cells, macrophages). He is one of the collaborators and a Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of BIOMUNEX Pharmaceuticals for immunotherapeutic approaches using bispecific antibodies. Our Scientific Advisory Board is completed by the top Key Opinion Leaders, who are specialists of MAIT cell biology, that was gathered around the unique MAIT engager approach.

Prof. Dr. Stefan Dübel

Antibody Discovery & Technology

Prof. Dr. Stefan Dübel is one of the inventors of antibody phage display and has over 35 years of experience with antibody engineering. He wrote basic textbooks on recombinant antibodies and is editor of the reference “Handbook of Therapeutic Antibodies”. Stefan is retired Professor of Biotechnology at Braunschweig University, and advisor to several biotechnology companies and governmental institutions worldwide. His passion is to learn from nature’s repertoire of molecules and mechanisms to treat cancer and infectious diseases, with a special focus to make these treatments as human as possible – by keeping the involved molecules as human as possible. Following completion of his PhD in molecular Biology at the University of Heidelberg, he developed Antibody Phage Display at the German Cancer Research Center, and continously provided innovative new technologies for the field. Several antibodies developed in his academic lab reached clinical use.

Prof. Dr. Michael Hust

Infectious Diseases

Michael received his PhD from the Leibniz Universität in Hannover in 2002. Since the end of 2002 he has been working as group leader at the University of Braunschweig. In 2014 he was appointed professor for biotechnology and in 2022, he became head of the Department of Medical Biotechnology. Michael published around 200 articles and filed several patents in the field of antibody engineering, phage display and vaccines. He is editor of the book “Phage Display” and co-author of the German text book “Rekombinante Antikörper”. He is working on antibodies for diagnostics and therapy with a focus on infectious diseases (Marburg virus, WEEV, Listeria monocytogenes, Ebola, West-Nile virus and others) and toxins (botulinum, diphtheria and others), but also in the field of CAR-T/CAR-Treg cell and therapies. Another field of his work is the identification of pathogen biomarkers. He is co-founder of four biotech companies.

Prof. Dr. Roland Kontermann

Antibody Engineering & Oncology

Roland Kontermann received his PhD in molecular biology from the University of Heidelberg. From 1993-1996 he was a postdoctoral research fellow in Sir Gregory Winter’s laboratory at the MRC Centre for Protein Engineering in Cambridge (UK) where he started his work in the field of recombinant antibodies and phage display technology. From 1996-2000 he was a group leader at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Tumor Research (IMT) at the University of Marburg, where he also obtained his habilitation in molecular biology. Between 2001 and 2004 he was head of biotechnology and later head of research of a co-founded Biotech company working in the field of targeted drug delivery systems. In 2004 he became appointed Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology (University of Stuttgart). Current research interests focus on the development of recombinant antibodies and bispecific and bifunctional antibody fusion proteins with improved biological and pharmacokinetic properties for cancer therapy and other indications.