Interview with venture case winner Polyneuron Pharmaceuticals: "More efficient and safer medicine for antibody-mediated autoimmune disorders"
15.10.2014
(15.10.2014) Polyneuron Pharmaceuticals is still at an early stage of development but the results of their drug discovery research are already very promising. The spin-off from the University of Basel has developed the “Antibody-catch” platform for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Co-founder Ruben Herrendorff tells us why their first drug candidate has the potential to pave the way for a paradigm shift in the treatment of such illnesses, before bringing his startup to the Venture Kick final.
 Polyneuron's co-founder Ruben Herrendorff (middle) found his idea in the Lab.
|
 |
Hello Ruben. Tell us how the idea of Polyneuron Pharmaceuticals was born
The idea came up in 2011 when I was a Master student in the laboratory of Prof. Beat Ernst. I was working on potential therapeutic molecules for the treatment of an autoimmune disorder of the nervous system (called anti-MAG neuropathy). At the end of this work, we had an interesting molecule but more investigation needed to be carried out. After a few additional months of hard work, I jumped for joy in the lab: We had a very strong molecule that had the potential to treat this autoimmune disorder. My professor and I knew that it was an important discovery. In fact, the same approach of designing therapeutic molecules can be applied to other autoimmune disorders of the nervous system and eventually also to many other autoimmune diseases. This is what we mean by platform.
Polyneuron was basically born then…
Yes. We have a promising new therapeutic approach for autoimmune diseases and a potent first drug candidate.
You just made it to the second round of Venture Kick. What are your achieved milestones and the coming ones?
We are in an early stage of development. We already have an in-vitro proof of concept showing that our drug blocks the disease-causing antibodies in patient’s blood. From an earlier project of Prof. Beat Ernst with a comparable compound, we also have promising in vivo data. In a next step, our first drug candidate will undergo pre-clinical studies. We are preparing for that and also for seed financing. We’ll incorporate our company at the end of this year.
How is your drug positioned with regards to your competitors?
Our drug targets the disease-causing antibodies in anti-MAG neuropathy in a very selective way. Antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases are caused by harmful antibodies that attack the body’s own tissues. Generally, patients are treated with so called immunosuppressive drugs, but those treatments are a heavy burden for them. They are responsible for many side effects that can sometimes be life-threatening. Compounds derived from our “Antibody-catch” platform specifically interact with the harmful antibodies without suppressing the immune system: They have the potential to selectively “catch” disease-causing antibodies and suppress their production in patients. Our first drug candidate has the potential for a major breakthrough in the development of targeted immunotherapies.
What is your vision?
Our vision is to enter the market with more efficient and safer medicine for antibody-mediated autoimmune disorders within ten years’ time.
In your opinion, how did you convince the jury on stage 2?
I think that our concept is promising. We are a great team, including renowned experts with many years of experience in drug development. Besides, we have established a partnership with a diagnostics company active in the field of autoimmune disorders. We also raised the interest of a Basel-based pharmaceutical company for a potential strategic partnership.
What about patenting?
We have patented our first drug candidate and are currently negotiating with the University of Basel for a license.
Tell us about your team.
We are currently 5 people in our team. I am part of the founding team with two Uni Basel professors, Prof. Beat Ernst, a chemist and drug discovery expert, and Prof. Andreas J. Steck, a neurologist who contributes to Polyneuron Pharmaceuticals on the clinical side. My 2 other partners, Pascal and Dominik, have studied Pharmaceutical Sciences like me. We are currently performing our PhD studies in various fields of Life Sciences. Two of us are going to finish this year.
Why did you apply for Venture Kick and what are the benefits of such a program for your startup?
Venture Kick was strongly recommended to us in the venture challenge course. Applying for Venture Kick was an important step for us. We like the opportunity to challenge our idea, business model and plans with the coaches and the experts whom we meet at the program. The feedback received so far is very valuable. It is very useful for improving the way we present our young company.
Still in your opinion, what will be the key elements with which you will be able to convince the jury on stage 3 of Venture Kick?
We would like to show the jury that we have achieved significant progress in several business aspects. This is in team building, product development, strategic partnership and seed capital acquisition.
The idea came up in 2011 when I was a Master student in the laboratory of Prof. Beat Ernst. I was working on potential therapeutic molecules for the treatment of an autoimmune disorder of the nervous system (called anti-MAG neuropathy). At the end of this work, we had an interesting molecule but more investigation needed to be carried out. After a few additional months of hard work, I jumped for joy in the lab: We had a very strong molecule that had the potential to treat this autoimmune disorder. My professor and I knew that it was an important discovery. In fact, the same approach of designing therapeutic molecules can be applied to other autoimmune disorders of the nervous system and eventually also to many other autoimmune diseases. This is what we mean by platform.
Polyneuron was basically born then…
Yes. We have a promising new therapeutic approach for autoimmune diseases and a potent first drug candidate.
You just made it to the second round of Venture Kick. What are your achieved milestones and the coming ones?
We are in an early stage of development. We already have an in-vitro proof of concept showing that our drug blocks the disease-causing antibodies in patient’s blood. From an earlier project of Prof. Beat Ernst with a comparable compound, we also have promising in vivo data. In a next step, our first drug candidate will undergo pre-clinical studies. We are preparing for that and also for seed financing. We’ll incorporate our company at the end of this year.
How is your drug positioned with regards to your competitors?
Our drug targets the disease-causing antibodies in anti-MAG neuropathy in a very selective way. Antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases are caused by harmful antibodies that attack the body’s own tissues. Generally, patients are treated with so called immunosuppressive drugs, but those treatments are a heavy burden for them. They are responsible for many side effects that can sometimes be life-threatening. Compounds derived from our “Antibody-catch” platform specifically interact with the harmful antibodies without suppressing the immune system: They have the potential to selectively “catch” disease-causing antibodies and suppress their production in patients. Our first drug candidate has the potential for a major breakthrough in the development of targeted immunotherapies.
What is your vision?
Our vision is to enter the market with more efficient and safer medicine for antibody-mediated autoimmune disorders within ten years’ time.
In your opinion, how did you convince the jury on stage 2?
I think that our concept is promising. We are a great team, including renowned experts with many years of experience in drug development. Besides, we have established a partnership with a diagnostics company active in the field of autoimmune disorders. We also raised the interest of a Basel-based pharmaceutical company for a potential strategic partnership.
What about patenting?
We have patented our first drug candidate and are currently negotiating with the University of Basel for a license.
Tell us about your team.
We are currently 5 people in our team. I am part of the founding team with two Uni Basel professors, Prof. Beat Ernst, a chemist and drug discovery expert, and Prof. Andreas J. Steck, a neurologist who contributes to Polyneuron Pharmaceuticals on the clinical side. My 2 other partners, Pascal and Dominik, have studied Pharmaceutical Sciences like me. We are currently performing our PhD studies in various fields of Life Sciences. Two of us are going to finish this year.
Why did you apply for Venture Kick and what are the benefits of such a program for your startup?
Venture Kick was strongly recommended to us in the venture challenge course. Applying for Venture Kick was an important step for us. We like the opportunity to challenge our idea, business model and plans with the coaches and the experts whom we meet at the program. The feedback received so far is very valuable. It is very useful for improving the way we present our young company.
Still in your opinion, what will be the key elements with which you will be able to convince the jury on stage 3 of Venture Kick?
We would like to show the jury that we have achieved significant progress in several business aspects. This is in team building, product development, strategic partnership and seed capital acquisition.