Global Shaper 2007/08: BioVersys, Fighting antibiotic resistance with novel drugs
29.11.2017
This summer we asked you to vote for your favorite of our supported startups from the past 10 years: those that you felt had the power to change the world. We announced our Global Shapers at our 10 year anniversary event on 29th November and will update you with them on our website throughout December.
Corinne-Sporrer1.jpg) BioVersys
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FIGHT ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE WITH NOVEL DRUGS
Today, the infectious disease tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of death globally. It is caused by a bacteria, called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is present – mostly in a latent form – in nearly one third of the world’s population. One of its threatening particularities is that it has become antibiotic- resistant due to its ability to adapt and the overuse of antibiotics.
For years now, scientists have searched for new ways to fight tuberculosis. In fact, it was believed to be on the decline for some decades. But World Health Organization (WHO) reports show there are 10 million new cases of active TB every year with about 1.4m people dying annually from the disease. The neglected illness has now once again become a global threat.
SMALL MOLECULES TO FIGHT SUPERBUGS
Spun out of ETH Zurich in 2008, BioVersys closed the first financing round and moved to its own facilities in 2011. The Basel-based pharmaceutical company has the technological expertise and solid IP to address unmet medical need for new treatments of life-threatening bacterial infections. Its research and development has led to an award-winning technology, called TRIC, whereby small molecules modulate the behavior of bacteria to deprive them of their resistance mechanisms, their strategies to hide from antibiotics and attack mechanisms causing human disease. In addition to tuberculosis, BioVersys’ pipeline also targets deadly, resistant, hospital acquired infections (nosocomial diseases) caused by Staphylococci, Acinetobacter or Enterobacteriaceae. “Our long term objective is to develop drugs against superbugs. We want to offer a long term and sustainable relief from the burden for humankind that is caused by highly resistant bacteria”, explains CEO Marc Gitzinger.
Despite being the second-most common cause of death from infectious diseases (behind HIV), the global market size for TB is “only” $350m as the disease mostly affects the poorest regions of the world. It might look like a tiny market by Pharma standards, but BioVersys’ team of 11 is convinced of the importance of making a difference for these pa¬tients. The other infections that BioVersys addresses thanks to its technology, fit the standard market potential for pharma products designed for high income countries.
ON ITS WAY FROM LAB TO PATIENT
In 2014, BioVersys started a project in collaboration with Lille University and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to develop a preclinical candidate for the treatment of tuberculosis. The project has proven successful as BioVersys will start clinical development in 2019. The startup has attracted CHF 20mtotal investment from Swiss and international investors since its creation. Over recent years, the company has also proven its capacity to become a global company by establishing collaborations with many inter-national partners. BioVersys’ products address a truly global market spanning from high income countries all the way to the poorest.
BioVersys has also counted on the support of Venture Kick from the very beginning to get the magic out of the lab and into the next phase: “BioVersys would probably not exist without Venture Kick. It was the first money we received and without this we would not have been able to get off the ground. In addition to the money, the coaching and the contacts gained through the program really kick-started our company”.
See what people are saying on Twitter using the hashtags #10YVentureKick for our anniversary and #VentureKickGS for our Global Shapers
Today, the infectious disease tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of death globally. It is caused by a bacteria, called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is present – mostly in a latent form – in nearly one third of the world’s population. One of its threatening particularities is that it has become antibiotic- resistant due to its ability to adapt and the overuse of antibiotics.
For years now, scientists have searched for new ways to fight tuberculosis. In fact, it was believed to be on the decline for some decades. But World Health Organization (WHO) reports show there are 10 million new cases of active TB every year with about 1.4m people dying annually from the disease. The neglected illness has now once again become a global threat.
SMALL MOLECULES TO FIGHT SUPERBUGS
Spun out of ETH Zurich in 2008, BioVersys closed the first financing round and moved to its own facilities in 2011. The Basel-based pharmaceutical company has the technological expertise and solid IP to address unmet medical need for new treatments of life-threatening bacterial infections. Its research and development has led to an award-winning technology, called TRIC, whereby small molecules modulate the behavior of bacteria to deprive them of their resistance mechanisms, their strategies to hide from antibiotics and attack mechanisms causing human disease. In addition to tuberculosis, BioVersys’ pipeline also targets deadly, resistant, hospital acquired infections (nosocomial diseases) caused by Staphylococci, Acinetobacter or Enterobacteriaceae. “Our long term objective is to develop drugs against superbugs. We want to offer a long term and sustainable relief from the burden for humankind that is caused by highly resistant bacteria”, explains CEO Marc Gitzinger.
Despite being the second-most common cause of death from infectious diseases (behind HIV), the global market size for TB is “only” $350m as the disease mostly affects the poorest regions of the world. It might look like a tiny market by Pharma standards, but BioVersys’ team of 11 is convinced of the importance of making a difference for these pa¬tients. The other infections that BioVersys addresses thanks to its technology, fit the standard market potential for pharma products designed for high income countries.
ON ITS WAY FROM LAB TO PATIENT
In 2014, BioVersys started a project in collaboration with Lille University and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to develop a preclinical candidate for the treatment of tuberculosis. The project has proven successful as BioVersys will start clinical development in 2019. The startup has attracted CHF 20mtotal investment from Swiss and international investors since its creation. Over recent years, the company has also proven its capacity to become a global company by establishing collaborations with many inter-national partners. BioVersys’ products address a truly global market spanning from high income countries all the way to the poorest.
BioVersys has also counted on the support of Venture Kick from the very beginning to get the magic out of the lab and into the next phase: “BioVersys would probably not exist without Venture Kick. It was the first money we received and without this we would not have been able to get off the ground. In addition to the money, the coaching and the contacts gained through the program really kick-started our company”.
See what people are saying on Twitter using the hashtags #10YVentureKick for our anniversary and #VentureKickGS for our Global Shapers