Exploring Hotspots Where Biotech Visionaries Craft the Future
Forward-thinking Biotech Startups Proposing Innovative Strategies for Tomorrow - Emerging biotech ventures are pioneering innovative strategies for tomorrow's challenges
Knowledge, audacity, risks, and patience are the ingredients of the progress potion, a dynamic mix used by startups to push boundaries in fields like medicine, manufacturing, services, and environmental protection. For three decades, the Innovation and Founder Center (IZB) has offered companies workspace with offices and labs. Biotechnology, praised as captivating and pushing boundaries by Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder, is right up there alongside the forefront of industries. The Free State has invested a whopping €75 million into the location since its launch. Currently, around 40 companies find their home at the IZB. Here's a sneak peek at five of them:
Bind-X: Tackling Dust Issues in Mining
Dust control is a challenge in mines, especially those in South America and Africa that lack paved roads. Mine trucks cover so much dust that accidents are common due to poor visibility and risks to employee health, as explained by Luitpold Fried, Technical Director of Bind-X. It's also a burden for nearby residential areas. To reduce this, most mines spray water several times a day, and trucks move sluggishly. However, according to Fried, water is not a sustainable solution, and climate change is making water scarcity a growing concern. Bind-X has come up with a clever solution – binders that are applied to roads and open areas to prevent dust from being stirred up. This natural process, called microbial biocementation, turns dust into stone. The binder forms a crust that can cut dust levels in mining by over 70%, says Fried. Rainwater can still seep through, and in areas with moderate rainfall, application might be necessary just once a year. This method is also useful in road construction and weed suppression in agriculture. Bind-X is a growing business generating over 30 employees, with a factory in South Africa, and selling its product in Europe, Africa, South America, and Australia.
Tubulis: Advancing Cancer Research
Founded in 2019, Tubulis is dedicated to tumor therapies, specifically antibody-drug conjugates. Cancer medication can have severe side effects, and drugs often affect not only cancer cells but also healthy cells throughout the body, says CEO Dominik Schumacher. By using antibodies that can specifically recognize cancer cells and attaching chemotherapeutic molecules, Tubulis aims to minimize these side effects. The idea is that the antibody delivers the chemo directly to the tumor, sparing healthy tissue around it. While side effects cannot be completely eliminated with this method, they can be significantly reduced. Tubulis currently has three antibody-drug conjugates in clinical development, in Phase 1 trials, according to Schumacher. The goal is to fully exploit the potential of this therapy to significantly improve the quality of life for countless cancer patients. Tubulis employs around 70 people.
Eisbach Bio: A Novel Approach to Cancer Research
Eisbach Bio takes a different path in its cancer research than Tubulis, but the goal is the same: to develop a drug with minimal side effects. The drug is designed to disrupt tumor growth by targeting its genetic vulnerabilities. Explaining the approach, CEO Adrian Schomburg notes that they investigate what sets tumor cells apart from healthy ones and create a drug that circulates throughout the body but only damages tumor cells. This drug could be particularly useful for tumor types with few treatment options, such as those with severe toxic side effects from existing drugs or tumors that develop resistances. Eisbach Bio's drug is currently in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial, testing its tolerability, efficacy, and safety in patients with conditions like ovarian, prostate, or pancreatic cancer. It is administered as a daily tablet and can be combined with other therapies previously deemed incompatible due to toxic interactions. Eisbach Bio was founded in 2019 and has 12 employees.
Invitris: Fighting Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic resistance, a major global health concern, is a focus area for Invitris, which was founded in 2022. One potential solution for antibiotic resistance is the use of bacteriophages (phages) – viruses that destroy bacteria that no longer respond to antibiotics. However, explains CEO Patrick Großmann, phages often target specific individual bacteria and are used on a case-by-case basis, making the therapy complex. Invitris has developed a technology to synthesize phages, simulating natural processes within a bacterium in a test tube. This process eliminates labor-intensive steps when working with bacteria, like filtering out toxic substances, ensuring better safety for personnel. Synthetic phages can be easily modified to enhance their effectiveness. Invitris focuses on developing and selling this technology for producing phage-based medicines, as well as generating these medicines itself. Additionally, the technology platform can be used to synthesize other therapeutic molecules like antibodies, nanobodies, and membrane proteins.
SciRhom: Revolutionizing Autoimmune Disease Treatment
SciRhom, founded in 2016, is considered a trailblazer in developing therapies for autoimmune diseases based on newly developed antibodies against the body's own protein iRhom2. Its primary focus is on rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases. Current rheumatoid treatments typically achieve around a 50% improvement in symptoms in around 50% of patients, according to CEO Jan Poth. "We are confident, and we've demonstrated in preclinical studies, using animal models, that our approach significantly improves this." Current medications primarily act as inhibitors, blocking individual inflammation drivers in the body to slow disease progression. In the mentioned autoimmune diseases, several inflammation drivers form a complex, interconnected system, requiring multiple defense mechanisms. The active ingredient developed by SciRhom intervenes early in this cascade, allowing for simultaneous invalidation of multiple inflammation drivers. This approach could potentially offer a more effective solution, especially for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases with limited treatment options. Since October 2024, the active ingredient has been in a Phase 1 study in clinical application, with a focus on tolerance and safety. The efficacy investigation will occur during the Phase 2 study.
In the pursuit of advancing medical research, SciRhom utilizes novel antibodies targeting the protein iRhom2 to revolutionize autoimmune disease treatment, with a primary focus on rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases. Community policy regarding new treatment approvals should prioritize being informed about their groundbreaking approach that aims for concurrent invalidation of multiple inflammation drivers in these complex diseases. Simultaneously, employment policy should encourage science-based enterprises, such as Tubulis and Eisbach Bio, to innovate in cancer research by offering tax incentives and grants to support the growth of companies developing drugs with minimal side effects. Such policies align with the health-and-wellness goals of minimizing the burden of diseases on both affected individuals and the broader community.
