Meet Avrion Therapeutics CEO Maximilien Murone and discover how he develops precision gene therapies for neurological disorders

21.09.2021 16:05, Isabelle Mitchell

Gene therapy can help preserve neuronal function through replacement, addition, silencing, or editing of genetic information. Basel-based Avrion Therapeutics develops gene therapy solutions based on novel vectors to deliver therapeutic gene sequences to discrete cell types in the central nervous system (CNS). This cell-type-specific targeting within the CNS maximizes the therapeutic efficacy of the treatment and reduces the risks of unwanted side effects in non-targeted organs. To learn more about Avrion’s expectations for the Venture Leaders Biotech experience, we talked to the company CEO Maximilien Murone. We discovered the story behind the company name and the book, pantry staples, and pets accompanying Maximilien on his entrepreneurial path.

Switzerland boasts one of the world’s most renowned and innovative biotech industries. To do justice to this powerful position, Swiss biotech startups now have their own Venture Leaders program: During their roadshow, the Venture Leaders Biotech will meet international investors and industry leaders and access industry-specific expertise and networks to grow their companies. For the next few weeks, we shine the spotlight on the 10 Venture Leaders Biotech 2021 and introduce you to the inaugural graduates of the program. To learn more about the startups, we asked each entrepreneur to complete a short profile and choose at least six questions from a questionnaire about their personal and professional life.

Name: Maximilien Murone
Location: Basel
Nationality: Swiss
Graduated from: University of Lausanne with a PhD in 1997
Your job title: CEO of Avrion Therapeutics
Number of employees: 2
Money raised: CHF 1 million Seed A, CHF 1.2 million Innosuisse (non-dilutive) (as of 06/2021)
First touchpoint with Venturelab: In 2021, at the EPFL Startup Champions Seed Night

“Avrion Therapeutics develops precision gene therapies for genetically defined neurological disorders.”
 
How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup? 
Avrion Therapeutics (Avrion Tx) is a precision gene therapy startup based on more than a decade of research at EPFL, in the laboratories of Dr. Bernard Schneider and Prof. Brian McCabe. The field of gene therapy has finally reached the stage of maturity over the past few years, with innovative products reaching the market. At the same time, it has become clear that new technologies—which can increase the selectivity of the approach—and a reduction of possible side effects are needed. The value proposition of Avrion Tx is to develop cell-type-specific gene therapies to target specific disorders of the central nervous system, maximizing the therapeutic efficacy and reducing the risks of unwanted side effects.
 
What do you expect from the Venture Leaders roadshow, and how will it help you achieve your vision? 
Avrion Tx is currently preparing its Series A round, planned for Q4 2021/Q1 2022. Therefore, we expect the Venture Leaders roadshow to create visibility at this key stage of the company (transition from Seed stage to Series A), secure future financing rounds, and open possible partnering deals. Thanks to the Venture Leaders roadshow, we expect to target venture capital investors interested in Series A/B rounds and focus on late pre-clinical stage gene therapy companies. We also hope to connect with pharma and biotech companies interested in partnering with one of Avrion Tx’s programs or launching a new program based on our proprietary gene therapy platform.

What is one thing not many people know about you?
I am passionate about dogs, especially working dogs. I am fascinated by how you can establish a way to communicate with them, sometimes better than with people. I also enjoy training with them in different activities and consider them the best anti-hypertension treatment you can think of.

What is your favorite book?
My favorite book so far is Sapiens A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari. I found it very inspirational and eye-opening. The book illustrates through historical facts how our society has evolved and what kind of biases we unconsciously created over the centuries.

What is always in your fridge?
I always have a good choice of veggies and fruits in my fridge, especially pomegranates. I try to eat at least five servings of veggies and fruits per day.  

How did you come up with the name of your startup?
The name Avrion comes from the ancient Greek word of tomorrow, as we see ourselves as developers of therapies of tomorrow, addressing disorders for which there is currently no meaningful treatment. What also contributed to this choice was that several team members are of Greek origin or have Greek ancestors in their families

How and where do you clear your mind?
I do sports: It releases endorphins and allows me to see things from a different angle. When my body is tired of exercising, I think better and have more ideas.

What is the best advice you have ever received?
One of the best pieces of advice came from Prof. Jeffrey Petty from the HEC Lausanne Executive MBA program. In his class on entrepreneurship, he taught us that there is a delicate choice to make as an entrepreneur between being “rich” (=well founded but no longer in control of your own company) OR “king” (=still in control of your company).

Last but now least, could you show us your workspace? 

For more information and updates on Avrion Therapeutics and the Venture Leaders Biotech, follow the Venture Leaders Biotech 2021 team with #VLeadersBiotech on social media or subscribe to our newsletter. 

Venture Leaders Biotech 2021 is co-organized by Venturelab and Swissnex and supported by EPF Lausanne, ETH Zurich, VISCHER, and the Canton of Zurich.