FimmCyte obtains CHF 150’000 to tackle Endometriosis

One in 10 women suffers from endometriosis – a painful, debilitating, chronic, and recurrent disease. The physical health burden of endometriosis can cause infertility and necessitate a hysterectomy for up to 20% of affected women. However, only one new treatment was approved for the disease in the past decade. Endometriosis' impact reverberates through the healthcare system, economy, and society as millions of women suffer and the direct and indirect costs continue to mount.

To address this unmet medical need, FimmCyte has engineered a first-in-class, immune system-based treatment for women with late-stage endometriosis. Its OoSite platform ensures its endometriosis treatments are active where it matters and inactive where it is not needed to minimise side effects. Early studies have already delivered positive results.

FimmCyte originated at the University Hospital Zürich and the University of Zürich. Its team is composed of Valentina Vongrad, Mohaned Shilaih, Prof. Brigitte Leeners, and Maureen Cronin, who bring a combined 70 years of experience in women’s health, immunology, clinical development, and the biotech and pharmaceutical industries.

The startup will use the CHF 150,000 Venture Kick award to advance their lead candidate through preclinical regulatory requirements to pave the way for the first-in-human trial within the next few years and give women back control of their bodies. The startup is currently finalizing its pre-clinical package to prepare for a financing round to support CTA/IND-enabling studies and an initial human clinical study to address this growing market, which is estimated at USD 14 billion per year.

“Venture Kick provided us with great exposure, a network of expert jurors that are ready to help, and a financial boost— all of which are much needed in the early stages of a startup,” said Vongrad.

(Press release/RAN)