Tandem Therapeutics: The Venture Leader Biotech focusing on precision targeting the extracellular matrix barrier in fibrotic cancers

19.05.2023 10:00, Rita Longobardi

Meet Mamta Chabria, CEO of Tandem Therapeutics. The biotech startup is focused on precision targeting the extracellular matrix barrier in fibrotic cancers and organ fibrosis. Using evolutionarily optimized peptide drug conjugates, the aim is to destabilize the matrix to create breakthrough therapies for patients burdened with fibrotic diseases. In June, Mamta will be joining nine other biotech innovators on a business development and investor roadshow in Boston.

Name: Mamta Chabria
Location: Zürich
Nationality: Indian
Graduated from: ETH Zurich, Ph.D, 2010
Job title: CEO
Number of employees: 1
Money raised: CHF 1.1 million
First touchpoint with Venturelab: Venture Kick 2022
 

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"Our approach to precision target the fibrotic matrix proteins to modulate and destabilize the barrier would offer a much-needed solution to patients with hard-to-treat fibrotic cancers."

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Whom does your product or solution help, and how? 
Fibrosis, the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins in tissues, is a hallmark of many solid tumors, including breast, lung, pancreatic, and liver cancer. This is a significant issue, as excessive matrix proteins have been linked to immune suppression, resistance to treatment, and unfavourable patient outcomes. Our approach to precision target the fibrotic matrix proteins to modulate and destabilize the barrier would offer a much-needed solution to patients with hard-to-treat fibrotic cancers.

What market are you addressing and what is the potential of your startup in that market?  
Our platform has been validated in multiple fibrotic diseases and has demonstrated pan-cancer targeting. The market opportunity for targeted matrix modulatory drugs in immunooncology treatments for fibrotic cancers is significant. The global immunooncology market is valued at USD 80.4 B (2023) and CAGR of 15.4% and this is just focused on blood cancers. The unique challenges posed by fibrotic cancers results in poor response in solid tumors. Tandem Therapeutics has the potential to become a major player in the cancer immunotherapy bringing an innovative precision targeted approach to extracellular matrix space.

How did you come up with the idea for your startup? 
The startup idea is based on the work done during my PhD at Laboratory of Applied Mechanobiology, ETH Zürich, where we uncovered how bacterial adhesion proteins interact with host extracellular matrix to initiate infection. Our discovery that mechanical forces acting on matrix proteins can alter this interaction was the first experimental proof of physical forces regulating protein function. Prof. Viola Vogel’s lab was instrumental in mapping the matrix phenotype in healthy and diseases tissues using this technology. This became the foundation of our current work to translate biophysical extracellular matrix alterations into novel targeted approach to address fibrotic diseases.

How do you think the Venture Leaders roadshow will help you achieve your vision? 
The Venture Leaders roadshow is a perfect platform for showcasing Swiss innovation and development to the key US market. Tandem Tx is currently raising a seed round and it is critical to have visibility with the investor community across Europe and US. The input we gather from US investors and KOLs would be instrumental in positioning for future rounds. We are thrilled about the opportunity to grow our network in an important market and learn from our peers.

What excites you most about your work right now?
I am very excited for the next phase of our work where we build on our strong foundational data showing proof of mechanism in several disease models and early proof-of-concept in fibrotic tumors. In the next phase, we aim to achieve efficacy proof-of-concept of matrix modulation and plan to start an exciting partnership with a US-based clinic.

Mamta Chabria Presenting Tandem Therapeutics' solution at Swiss Biotech Day 2023

What are your team’s key achievements to date?
Our key achievements have been on several fronts. On the development side, I am very proud of our strong validation of our mechanism of action in multiple fibrotic indications. This was topped with functional proof-of-concept in the fibrotic breast cancer disease model. On the collaboration side, we have been very successful in developing key clinical partnerships that help us validate our approach and bring us closer to understanding patient needs.
 

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"As a founder, your role is of a chief risk minimizer. So very early on you need to start assessing risks but must counter them with the opportunities to be able to move forward."

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What is the most challenging aspect of being a founder??
Staying true to your vision even though the path to get there is constantly changing. One has to quickly develop the ability to zoom in on everyday tasks and zoom out to see if we are keeping true to the direction that was set forth.

What is the most rewarding aspect of being a founder?
To see nascent ideas come to fruition. In my opinion, it is an amazing opportunity to learn about yourself, your limits, your blind spots, and how you need to evolve both personally and professionally to navigate the speed with which stuff comes at you.

What is something you wish you had known about being a founder?
I knew that it is a rather lonely marathon, but what I wish I knew was you got to be ruthless about making time for yourself. Keep your personal support system strong, you have to lean on them frequently. 

What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?
As a founder, your role is of a chief risk minimizer. So very early on you need to start assessing risks but must counter them with the opportunities to be able to move forward. As an academic scientist, it took me a while to think this way.  

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received and from whom?
There are many, but the one that stays with me comes from my mother. When she saw me stuck on problems that seemed insurmountable, she would say ‘One step at a time’ and break up the issue into smaller parts and tackle them. It really helps me get through the starting hurdle.
 

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ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Venture Leaders Biotech 2023 were chosen from over 70 applications by a jury of investors and technology experts. The roadshow in Boston, the vibrant life science hub, provides a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to accelerate their startups' expansion in the US while expanding their professional network and profiting from workshops with investors and industry leaders. This year's Venture Leaders Biotech program is organized by Venturelab in partnership with Swissnex Boston and supported by Debiopharm, Novartis, EY - Ernst & Young, VISCHER, EPFL, ETH Zurich, Hansjörg Wyss, and the Swiss Biotech Association.