BioVersys Wins up to $8.92 Million from CARB-X to Develop Anti-Microbial Resistance Drugs

29.10.2019 09:01, Guillaume Tinsel

CARB-X awards TOP 100 Swiss Startup BioVersys as much as $8.92 million to support the development of first-in-class anti-virulence small molecule drugs that disarm bacteria, opening the door for a paradigm shift in AMR therapy. We interviewed CEO Marc Gitzinger.

BioVersys will receive $3.94 million in non-dilutive funding from CARB-X, with $4.98 million more possible based on project milestones. This funding will enable Basel-based BioVersys to accelerate development of new drugs designed to disarm bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus of its virulence determinants and toxins that cause serious skin infections spreading to muscles, and lungs. Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) a global non-profit partnership led by Boston University, is dedicated to accelerating the early development of antibacterial R&D to address the rising global threat of drug-resistant bacteria.

BioVersys CEO Marc Gitzinger shares his entrepreneurial path and vision in our interview.



You won Venture Kick in 2008. How did it help lay the foundation for your growth and today's achievement?
Winning Venture Kick happened so early in BioVersys' history, 2.5 years before we actually went out to investors for the first time, so one can really say that Venture Kick started this company. The involved coaching, prize money and contacts gained through Venture Kick made everything else possible.

You participated in Venture Leaders China in 2016 and just won last week your seat for a new roadshow, at WTOIP Swiss chapter final. How did your relation with China evolved? What are your objectives with this new tour in China and what is the importance of China in the development of BioVersys?
It will not be a surprise to anyone that China is an important market, also for pharma, these days. BioVersys develops novel antibiotics for severe bacterial infections that suffer from antibiotic resistance. While resistance to our current antibiotics is a global problem, in Asia and China the numbers are even more frightening than in other parts of the world. Thus, we are actively looking for partners and investors from China to help us bring our novel drug candidates as early as possible to patients in need. Venture Leaders China offered us a first glance at China and helped us establish first valuable contacts. We are happy to receive the chance via the WTOIP Swiss chapter to expand our exposure further.

You also ranked at the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award from 2011 to 2013. What effects did that have on the evolution of Bioversys?
The TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award is a fantastic and ever-growing event. It is such a great platform to gain visibility for young companies. The visibility aspect and being acknowledged alongside so many fantastic companies and founders and teams is actually very helpful, as it grabs the attention of investors. We are still to this day very proud that BioVersys ranked 2nd in 2013!