Get to know the winners

Inositec AG won the Swiss Technology Award in the category “Start-up”. Inositec develops small molecules for the treatment of vascular calcification and intestinal infections, which are both areas of unmet medical needs. The jury recognized the leading-edge research which led to this new technology platform and praised the persistence with which setbacks were turned into right business decisions.

Mattias Ivarsson, CEO and Co-founder of Inositec, remembers that it was important to stay creative, and open to exploring new possibilities rather than sticking to what initially may have seemed to be the most promising way forward for the family of molecules which he originally developed during his PhD at ETH Zurich.

This family of molecules is based on inositol hexaphosphate (IP6), a natural facilitator of diverse cellular functions, and they are real life-savers. The first set of IP6 analogs were developed as therapeutics against Clostridium difficile infections. The key was not to attack the bacteria directly, but the secreted toxins, which are the main virulence factors. Without the toxins the disease symptoms will not develop and, thus, patients do not have to suffer.

Mattias Ivarsson was a Pioneer Fellow of ETH Zurich. During this time he learned that it was critical to get out and talk to the ideal potential customers, investors and partners at an early stage, so as to make sure that Inositec was developing a product of interest, rather than backing the wrong horse. Soon enough the even larger potential of the small life-saving molecules became apparent. The company is currently pursuing the further development of its lead compounds with a focus on the treatment of vascular calcification and has generated pre-clinical proof-of-concept. Inositec seeks partners for sharing certain assets such as research resources and drug candidates.