RetinAI Medical GmbH

Presentation Time and Location
on 25th, during Rising European Stars Session (from 16.15 to 17.15)
Company Website
http://retin.ai
Company Profile

RetinAI Medical is a Swiss company that supports eye care professionals and patients throughout the medical examination process using Artificial Intelligence (AI). Our vision is to foster the transition from reactive medicine to preventive medicine for high-impact diseases such as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) and Glaucoma. 

Our solutions rely on the latest advances in medical image analysis, ophthalmology and machine learning. We have a unique team of scientists working to fully realize the capabilities of AI, and to integrate this technology into the next generation of medical devices.

Company Type
Other Sector
Information and Technology
Keywords

ophthalmology, machine learning, artificial intelligence, healthcare, diagnosis, support, information and technology

Year Founded
2016
Carlos Ciller
Carlos Ciller
CEO 
Conference attendance
Biography

CEO and Co-Founder of RetinAI and PhD in machine learning and medical imaging in ophthalmology. 

RiboStruct

Presentation Time and Location
on 27th, during Rising Biotech Stars Session (from 14.00 to 16.00)
Company Profile

RiboStruct is developing the first generic treatment for genetic diseases.

RiboStruct leverages the long-term work of Marat Yusupov and Gulnara Yusupova on the crystallographic study of the eukaryotic ribosome to develop new drugs, in particular "readthrough compounds" targeting the human ribosome for the treatment of monogenic genetic diseases when they are caused by nonsense mutations (10-15% of cases).
Distinctively from gene therapies, where a specific program is needed for each disease, RiboStruct develops a pharmacological "protein repair therapy" approach, with the goal to cure multiple diseases with the same molecule by acting on a common mechanism. More than 7000 genetic diseases have been described so far, affecting altogether 300 million people worlwide.

Company Type
Keywords

Genetic diseases

Nonsense mutations

Premature stop codons

Readthrough

Human ribosome

Structure-based drug design

Year Founded
2015
Management Team

Dr Renaud Jean-Paul, President & CEO-CSO

Financial Summary

RiboStruct is trying to achieve a first round of funding.

Pipeline Product 1: Name/Stage
Non-aminoglycoside readthrough compounds / preclinical stage
Product 1: Description

Aminoglycosides are known to help the ribosome overcome premature stop codons to restore the synthesis of full-length proteins but their high toxicity prevents their use on the long term as needed for the treatment of monogenic diseases caused by nonsense mutations.

RiboStruct is developing non-aminoglycoside readthrough compounds using a fragment- and structure-based drug design approach relying on an exclusive know-how on the crystallographic structure determination of the whole eukaryotic ribosome in complex with ligands and on the strong biophysical capabilities of its strategic partner NovAliX (http://www.novalix-pharma.com/).

Jean-Paul Renaud
Jean-Paul Renaud
President & CEO-CSO 
Conference attendance
Biography

Jean-Paul Renaud created RiboStruct as a spinoff company from IGBMC (Illkirch, France) end of 2015.

He was previously cofounder and CSO Science & Technology at NovAliX (2010-2014), creator and President & CEO-CSO at AliX (2002-2008), and CNRS Research Director at IGBMC (2000-2002).

Jean-Paul holds an Engineering Diploma from ENSCP (1982) and a PhD in Organic Chemistry from UPMC (1986).

Awards :

2017   Laureate, 19th French National Innovative Startup Competition (i-LAB 2017) (for RiboStruct)
2006   Laureate, Réseau Entreprendre Alsace (for AliX)
2002   Laureate, 4th French National Innovative Startup Competition (i-LAB 2002) (for AliX)
1986   Eugène Schueller Prize

Scailyte AG

Presentation Time and Location
on 25th, during Rising European Stars Session (from 16.15 to 17.15)
Company Profile

Scailyte AG is an innovative Swiss-based company developing artificial intelligence (AI) technology for clinical research and diagnostics. We are offering a unique solution for the discovery of novel biomarkers for ultra-sensitive and early diagnosis of complex diseases such as cancer.

Company Type
Keywords

artificial intelligence, diagnostics, single-cell, medtech, biomarker, big data

Dr. Peter Nestorov
Founder & CEO 
Conference attendance
Biography

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peternestorov/
2014: PhD Genetics
2008: MSc Biochemistry

Techsomed

Presentation Time and Location
on 25th, during Rising Israeli Stars Session (from 15.40 to 16.15}
Company Website
http://www.techsomed.com/
Company Profile

TechsoMed is an Israeli based medical device company, developing BioTrace™, a real-time, monitoring and control system for thermal ablation procedures. The technology is applicable to multiple fields such as Oncology (tumor ablation), Cardiac (arrhythmia) and Pain management. Our breakthrough technology (based on two granted patents) is the only one which can give physicians real time monitoring and control for ablation procedures, and it can do all that by interfacing with standard ultrasound devices. The control and security we can give physicians will make our system a must-have for major ablation treatments.

Company Type
Pipeline Product 1: Name/Stage
BioTrace - IO
Product 1: Description
BioTrace™  - Transforming the way Thermal ablations are done  BioTrace – IO  World’s first real time monitoring and control system for thermal ablation procedures such as solid tumors. Interfacing with standard ultrasound devices that can be found in almost every clinic / hospital around the world.  Does not change the way the ablation procedure is done, allowing for fast regulatory approval.  Closed loop treatments with continuous feedback to measure therapy outcomes and to achieve the desired results. successfully advanced through proof of concept , working prototype and clinical trials – 37 successful humans cases. 
Yossi Abu
Yossi Abu
LinkedIn logo TechsoMed CEO 
Conference attendance

Telomium, SAS

Presentation Time and Location
on 27th, during Rising Biotech Stars Session (from 14.00 to 16.00)
Company Profile
Telomium is a biotechnology company developing a therapeutic product for cancer immunotherapy based on telomerase. Telomerase is the enzyme that controls the potential of cellular proliferation, and which is reactivated in 90% of human cancers (Nobel Prize 2009). So far, a major limitation in the development of an effective telomerase immunotherapy has been the technical impossibility to produce significant amount of telomerase protein, but recently a breakthrough system now allows its large-scale production (PMID: 25958399). Telomium implements this new technology which furthermore supports the preparation of a cancer vaccine of a completely new class in the pharmacopoeia: a ribonucleoprotein vaccine, which has the special ability to reproduce the mechanisms operating in autoimmunity that breaks immune tolerance. This self-adjuvanted and self-vectored telomerase ribonucleoprotein vaccine is prepared from a patented, safe, competitive and scalable yeast-based technology. By inducing a full activation of the immune system against cells producing telomerase (=the cancer cells in an adult body), our product has the ability to induce an autoimmune reaction targeted against any form of cancer, without causing significant side effects. Given the almost universal presence of telomerase in human cancers our product has the potential to extend the efficiency of immune checkpoint-inhibitors from the current minority to a majority of patients.
Company Type
Keywords

cancer, immunotherapy, vaccine, telomerase

Year Founded
2016
Pipeline Product 1: Name/Stage
Cancer Vaccine based on Telomerase (preclinical research)
Dr. Guillaume Kellermann
Dr. Guillaume Kellermann
Founder & CEO 
Conference attendance

The Bactaviva Project Sweden

Bactaviva offers novel services for prevention of disturbed gut flora through safe and convenient personalized fecal microbiota transplantation with capsules, and cutting edge microbiota analysis.

The Problem

Medical procedures that compromise the immune defense carries a risk for opportunistic pathogens in the GI tract. With personalized fecal microbiota transplantation, using healthy autologus fecal microbiota, right after the completed medical procedure, this risk is markedly reduced.

The most pronounced medical need is recurrent Clostridium difficile infections (CDI). After broadspectrum antibiotics treatment about 25% get recurrent disease. Hospitalization is common with annual costs in acute-care facilities in the U.S. of 4.8 BUSD, and a mortality from recurrent CDI of 29,000 /year.

Fecal microbiota transplantation, FMT, has shown excellent treatment effects, but is expensive, cumbersome and inconvenient, not regulated by authorities and has a risk for transmission of infections and antibiotic resistant bacteria from donors.

 

Our solution

The Bactaviva personalized FMT allows immediate implementation to prevent and treat microbiota dysbiosis cuased by antibiotics, traveller’s infections and to prevent resistant strains to establish. It is safe, cost-effective and very convenient for patients and health providers. The Bactaviva library of healthy 16S rRNA and DNA microbiomes will be a unique source of information.

Development stage

A process for collection, analysis, storage and encapsulation has been established. A patent application was filed in January 2017.

 

With a grant from EIT Health a controlled clinical intervention study is planned for the next 6 months in volunteers comparing safety, and also microbiota recovery, after an antibiotics regimen.

We look for

Industrial investor(s) who can invest 2.5 + 2.5 M€ to establish laboratories, launch the services and actively contribute to internationalization.

Added values to sales will be the company’s market presence, KOL network and unique microbiome library; a good base for development and partnering.

Presentation Time and Location
on 27th, during Rising Biotech Stars Session (from 14.00 to 16.00)
Hans-Peter Ekre
Project leader (CEO) and co-founder 
Conference attendance

The Erler Laboratory

Presentation Time and Location
on 27th, during Rising Biotech Stars Session (from 14.00 to 16.00)
Company Website
https://erlerlab.com/
Company Profile

1 in 3 people will develop cancer during their lifetime, and over 90% of cancer patient deaths are caused when the cancer spreads though the body, a process called metastasis. We have identified an excellent anti-metastatic target for therapy development. Extensive pre-clinical models have shown therapeutic efficacy of targeting an enzyme called Lysyl oxidase (LOX). In addition, LOX expression is clinically correlated with metastasis and poor survival in cancer patients. Moreover, LOX is implicated in fibrosis and initial pre-clinical studies suggest LOX may also be an effective therapeutic target for limiting fibrosis. We are currently developing new antibodies against LOX that we are testing pre-clinically with the intention to move into clinical trials in human patients. Our work thus has great potential to develop new effective therapies of commercial value, and offers a real potential to impact on patient well being and survival.

Janine Erler
Professor in cancer biology 
Conference attendance
Pier Amendola
Postdoc 
Conference attendance
Tian Xia
PhD fellow 
Conference attendance
Biography

Tian holds a MSc degree in Biochemistry from University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Currently he is a PhD fellow at Prof. Janine Erler's lab at Biotech Research & Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Denmark. The research in the Erler lab is mainly focused on metastasis and the tumour microenvironment, network and interdisciplinary systems medicine, as well as precision cancer medicine. The ultimate goal of their research is to offer the best possible therapy to cancer patients.

TOLREMO therapeutics AG

Presentation Time and Location
on 27th, during Rising Biotech Stars Session (from 14.00 to 16.00)
Company Website
www.tolremo.com
Company Profile

TOLREMO is an ETH Spin-off founded in March 2017. The company engages in the discovery and development of small molecule drugs that target novel drug resistance pathways in cancer therapy. Despite medical advances, resistance to cancer therapies continues to limit the long-term survival of many cancer patients. The company’s innovative therapeutic approach specifically eradicates those cancer cells that ultimately cause drug resistance. Its science-based drug discovery and development pipeline is fueled by a unique screening platform for which a patent has been filed. TOLREMO’s vision is to use its personalized anti-drug resistance therapies to meaningfully prolong the lives of cancer patients.

Company Type
Keywords

- cancer drug resistance

- technology platform

- melanoma

- lung cancer

- pancreatic cancer

Year Founded
2017
Financial Summary

Seed Round closed in September 2017: CHF 2.4M

Dr. Stefanie Flückiger-Mangual
Dr. Stefanie Flückiger-Mangual
Co-Founder and CEO 
Conference attendance
Biography

Stefanie Flückiger-Mangual, Chief Executive Officer, is one of TOLREMO’s scientific founders and expert in the field of drug resistance in cancer therapy. She is a biomedical scientist and biochemist by training (University of Fribourg and ETH Zurich) and holds a Ph.D. in Molecular and Translational Biomedicine from ETH Zurich. She led the team of scientist who discovered novel molecular mechanisms that can be exploited to prevent the development of resistance to cancer therapies.

Emmanuel Savioz
CFO 
Conference attendance

Torreya Partners (Europe), LLC

Company Website
www.torreya.com
Company Profile

Torreya Partners is a leading corporate finance advisory boutique serving companies in the life sciences industry.

Founded by Tim Opler and Mark Simon, Torreya has grown to have more than 50 professionals and a global presence in life sciences advisory. We have successfully completed more than 150 assignments since we started in August 2007.

Torreya has its primary offices in London, New York and Mumbai.

Our work has taken place in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical technology, diagnostics, nutritionals, pharma services and closely related sectors. Our partners are senior industry bankers and executives, with deep experience, knowledge, and networks.

We are a partner of choice for companies seeking discreet, unconflicted and knowledgeable advice on M&A, corporate finance, licensing and asset sale transactions. In some cases, Torreya Partners acts as a pure advisor on a retained basis to its clients.

Company Type
Sector
Other Sector
Advisory
Year Founded
2007
Stephanie Léouzon
Stephanie Léouzon
Principal and Head of Torreya Partners Europe 
Conference attendance
Biography

Stephanie Léouzon is Partner and Head of Europe for Torreya Partners, a life sciences boutique advisory firm which she joined in 2012. Previously she worked in healthcare investment banking in the US and Europe from 1989 to 2010, most recently at Credit Suisse in London as a Managing Director and Senior Advisor.

She has advised life sciences clients on more than 25 strategic transactions, valued at over 

$65 billion, and has been involved in over 45 financing transactions to provide over $10 billion to healthcare clients.

Stephanie earned an MBA degree from the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia in 1989 and a BA degree, cum laude, from Mount Holyoke College in 1985.

Virility Medical

Presentation Time and Location
on 25th, during Rising Israeli Stars Session (from 15.40 to 16.15}
Company Website
www.virilitymedical.com
Company Profile

Virility Medical is a clinical stage venture, engaged in the development and commercialization of treatment for premature ejaculation by method of neuromodulation. Virility’s product is an intimate perineal skin patch. The patch carries an electronic module that delivers transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation to the adjacent nerves and muscles. Thus, the muscles are electrically inhibited and, the premature initiation of the ejaculation phase is delayed for the duration of stimulation, after which the patch is disposed of.

Company Type
Keywords

Sex Medicine

Neuromodulation

Premature Ejaculation

Electrical Stimulation

Year Founded
2016
Pipeline Product 1: Name/Stage
vPatch
Mr Tal Gollan
CEO 
Conference attendance