Xeltis Appoints Nobel Prize Winner Prof. Jean-Marie Lehn to Its Advisory Board

Prof. Lehn is recognized as a pioneer in supramolecular chemistry, a term he first coined. Using proprietary technology based on his Nobel-Prize winning science, Xeltis produces biodegradable matrices designed to stimulate and guide the body’s natural healing response without the need for stem cells, growth factors or animal-based tissue. The company’s feasibility study is focused on the implantation of a conduit designed to address a specific heart defect in children. Xeltis’ first product will ultimately be a full replacement valve for this population.

“I am very gratified to see the science we developed many years ago applied to the field of medicine, especially among a vulnerable patient population with no current long-lasting treatment alternatives,” said Prof. Lehn. “If the concept is proven in clinical studies, Xeltis may make it possible for these children to be treated with only one surgery in their lifetimes.”

Prof. Lehn is currently active on a number of scientific advisory boards, including those of Xeltis, Novartis Venture Fund and Reliance Industries Ltd. He is the director of the Supramolecular Chemistry Laboratory at the Institute of Supramolecular Science and Engineering in Strasburg, France, and until recently headed the chemistry laboratory at the Collège de France. Prof. Lehn has also served as a visiting professor at a number of prestigious institutions, including Harvard University, E.T.H. in Zürich and the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Barcelona and Frankfurt. His work has been published in hundreds of articles in peer-reviewed chemistry literature. He is a member of several National Academies of Sciences including those of France, the United States and Russia as well as the recipient of countless prizes and distinctions.

“Prof. Lehn is an extraordinary scientist who has made our work today possible,” said Laurent Grandidier, chief executive officer, Xeltis. “We welcome his unique perspectives and his passion as we begin to investigate our technology’s use in the clinical environment.”

About Xeltis
Founded in Zurich in 2006, Xeltis is a privately held medical device company dedicated to transforming standards of care in heart valve replacement and vascular surgery. Using proprietary technology based on Nobel-prize winning science, Xeltis produces biodegradable matrices designed to stimulate and guide the body’s natural healing response without the need for stem cells, growth factors or animal-based tissue.