ESG

Nykode has published its inaugural ESG report covering 2022: ESG Report 2022

We are committed to building a sustainable and socially responsible biotech. We believe that our actions should benefit our stakeholders and society as a whole. Being socially responsible is fundamental to the way we do business.

Nykode Therapeutics’ commitment to CSR is anchored in our company’s purpose, values and vision. We are dedicated to building a sustainable organization that meets environment, social and governance (ESG) criteria that are relevant to our business operations.

Employees

The primary focus of Nykode Therapeutics’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts is its employees. The Company has no formal policy on CSR but adheres to a set of guidelines in its Code of Conduct regarding employee health and safety, and conduct towards healthcare professionals, vendors and competitors. The COVID-19 pandemic required the Company to reorganize working arrangements, with most staff transitioning to working from home. The context of working from home has increased the focus on the wellbeing of employees, and the Company will maintain this focus by promoting an overall healthy working environment. For Nykode Therapeutics AS, there were no accidents or work-related injuries during the reporting period. The sick-leave rate of absence was 2.9% in 2021.

Environment and Climate

Nykode may use hazardous materials in its laboratories and has put in place routines to handle such materials in a way that minimizes the impact on the environment. However, as the Company operates from rented facilities where services for the proper handling and disposal of hazardous materials are readily available and conducts its business in a highly regulated industry, Nykode’s potential impact on the environment and climate is viewed as minimal. In other words, the Company does not pollute the environment. As a result, no specific environment and climate policies have been adopted to date. The Company is working to implement an ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) governance and reporting system.

Business Ethics

Nykode, in collaboration with its partners, conducts preclinical experiments in animals as well as clinical trials. The animal experiments are approved by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet). Nykode only uses R&D vendors and laboratories that are approved and have documented high standards and expertise in animal research. The clinical trials are performed in accordance with the ethical and scientific principles governing clinical research on human subjects, as set out in the Declaration of Helsinki and the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines on Good Clinical Practice. Nykode collabo[1]rates with international, competent service providers that specialize in these types of studies and consults with leading experts on trial design to optimize trial conduct.

The Company has a continuous focus and monitoring of its internal routines and the Company’s compliance with relevant legislation. These include its handling of personal data and ensuring these are in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Nykode is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct and will not tolerate the use of bribery or corruption to achieve its business objectives. The Company has established anti-corrup[1]tion policies according to which all employees must decline any expensive gifts, money, trips or other such offerings from business contacts. The Company is working to apply these guidelines with its suppliers. No incidents of bribery or whistleblowing were reported in 2022.