Three life sciences startups win CHF 150,000 each

Medtech and biotech start-ups in Switzerland can build on top-class research. The three spin-offs awarded by Venture Kick show how this research can result in ambitious and promising start-ups. The three winners include:

ARTIRIA Medical, Lausanne: tool for navigating inside brain arteria

The best way to treat a stroke-victim's brain is through their vascular system. Doctors perform such procedures 410,000 times a year. Current tools don’t give surgeons enough control over the procedure, so surgery is slow, expensive, and risks complications. ARTIRIA Medical, building on neuroengineering research by EPFL graduates Guillaume Petit-Pierre and Marc Boers, is developing a device to help surgeons navigate inside brain arteries quickly and safely. This unprecedented accuracy and effectiveness should improve patients’ lives.

Petit-Pierre started developing the product during his PhD at the LMIS4 laboratory in 2016, prototyping began with clinicians and patients two years later, and preclinical testing started this year. The startup has raised 850,000 francs in non-dilutive funds and built strong relationships with key opinion leaders in Switzerland and abroad, particularly in Boston, thanks to ARTIRIA winning a seat on Venture Leaders Life Sciences 2018. “This intense travel to Boston enabled us to meet the best neuro-endovascular surgeons active in the field,” said Guillaume Petit-Pierre.

The team, joined by R&D engineer Colin Darbellay, is preparing to win new customers and raise a seed round to fund market entry planned for 2021. “We will mainly invest Venture Kick money in one key element: finalizing and validating our regulatory strategy in anticipation of our U.S and EU market entry,” said Petit-Pierre. In addition, the team will improve their product design and focus on certification and validation tests prior to industrialization. The founders are also exploring other market segments, including cardiology and peripheral interventions, for which their product may represent a breakthrough innovation.

Frater, Naters VS: preventing hypothermia

Hospital patients, especially those rescued after exposure in high mountains or cold water, are at risk of hypothermia. Stabilizing their temperature is critical for medical staff, both inside and outside the usual hospital environment. Andreas Frasnelli, a University of St. Gallen graduate and medical doctor, who heads the Department of Emergency Medicine in Visp, Switzerland, used eight years’ experience of helicopter rescue missions to develop patented coatings that heat infusion lines without the need for batteries. Interest from veterinary doctors has led Frasnelli and co-founder Hannes Spögler to broaden market development to include applications for large and small animals.

"The Kickers Camp was great – because it was that hard. You get very direct feedback, which breaks your tunnel-vision. It's the most important thing. The feedback comes with potential solutions, ways to solve every issue and get the business running faster. In the end I really enjoyed it! It switches your mindset from scientific – trying to explain things – to business: showing solutions to problems."

Synendos Therapeutics, Bern: novel drugs for anxiety and stress

An estimated four percent of the world’s population suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Current treatments aren't very efficient and have limited safety. Synendos hopes to commercialize new drugs to treat PTSD, as well as other mood and anxiety disorders such as depression. The spin-off from the University of Bern’s Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine has a cutting-edge understanding of the transport mechanism of endocannabinoids across cell membranes, and is developing inhibitor drugs to restore the brain’s normal activities more precisely and with fewer side effects than current treatments.

 "We've reached another world in our thinking about Synendos since the start of the year!” said Synendos co-founder Andrea Chicca. “The Kickers Camp was extremely useful in understanding the key elements to pitch to non-pharma stakeholders and investors. It helped build a vision for corporate development to take account of different strategies and scenarios. Decisions taken now, will impact our options two or three years from now. The camp helped us refine and add detail to those plans." Venture Kick's support allowed Synendos to attend partnering events and meet potential investors in Switzerland and Europe.