metaLead: The Venture Leader Biotech striving to eradicate toxic metal poisoning

02.05.2023 07:00, Morgane Ghilardi

Meet Michal Shoshan, co-founder and CEO of metaLead. metaLead is revolutionizing the way medicine treats toxic metals, starting with the most dangerous one: lead. The startup's novel drug candidates bind and expel only poisonous lead while leaving the essential metals in our bodies intact, leading to more efficacious and safer treatment. In June, Michal is joining nine other biotech innovators on a business development and investor roadshow in Boston.

Name: Michal Shoshan
Location: Zurich
Nationality: Israeli 
Education: Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ph.D. in chemistry, 2015 
Job title: Co-founder and CEO 
Number of employees: 5 
First touchpoint with Venturelab: Innosuisse Start-up Training, Business Creation Biotech, 2022
 

---

---

Whom does your product or solution help, and how?
Lead is a toxic substance harmful to the human body, particularly the nervous system. Even at low levels, it has long-term health consequences. Despite prohibiting most exposure routes in developed countries, lead remains a prevalent issue worldwide. Shockingly, every third child globally, including 16% of children in the US, suffers from lead poisoning. However, over 90% of diagnosed patients have no access to effective treatment options to remove the toxic metal from their bodies.

At metaLead, we are dedicated to solving this pressing problem. Our mission is to offer a safe and effective treatment for children and adults suffering from lead poisoning, enabling them to live healthy and productive lives. Our goal is to empower these individuals to reach their full physical, mental, and cognitive potential, free from the harmful effects of lead.

What market are you addressing, and what is the potential of your startup in that market?
Our primary focus at metaLead is to serve the US market, with a particular emphasis on protecting children, who are the most vulnerable to the harmful effects of lead poisoning. In the US alone, approximately 2.1 million children are diagnosed with lead poisoning each year.

Recognizing the global impact of this issue, we aspire to expand our reach to other countries where lead poisoning is prevalent, such as China and India. Our ultimate objective is to make our treatment accessible worldwide to eradicate the devastating effects of lead poisoning.

How did you come up with the idea for your startup?
As a Ph.D. candidate in medicinal inorganic chemistry, I became fascinated with the role of metals in human health. Specifically, I specialized in designing short peptides as selective metal binders for medicinal and biological applications.

When I established my research group at the University of Zurich, I was eager to apply my skills to a new and impactful challenge. I discovered that although the dangers of toxic metals have been known for centuries, there are still no modern and effective solutions available to combat their harmful effects. I founded my research group with the goal of developing innovative solutions to this pressing problem, where we created the technology that forms the foundation of metaLead's portfolio. 

How do you think the Venture Leaders roadshow will help you achieve your vision?
As our primary market is the USA, participating in this program would have an immediate and substantial impact on metaLead's development. The roadshow presents an invaluable opportunity to refine our message to US investors and establish valuable connections that could potentially lead to significant investments.

Moreover, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the USA's regulatory processes would enable us to enhance our developmental pipeline and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

What excites you most about your work right now?
Working on a project I envisioned and turning it into a meaningful product is an exhilarating experience that brings me great joy. In addition, I am eager to delve into the realm of practical drug development and expand my skill set in entrepreneurship. It is always a pleasure to meet new people who are generous in sharing their knowledge and experience, which further enriches my growth and development.

How did you go about building your team?
I am fortunate to have worked with a group of doctoral students who share my passion for medicinal inorganic chemistry and its potential to solve real-world problems. After graduating, they agreed to join metaLead, and together we embark on a journey to turn our vision into a valuable product.

I am also thrilled to have Emilie as my co-founder. Her complementary skill set in drug development, coupled with our shared values and principles, has been invaluable to our mission.

What are your team's key achievements to date?
Our design principles have been validated, and we have identified several key candidates, all of which have exhibited excellent results in vitro and outperformed current standards of care. More importantly, we thoroughly examined a proof-of-concept candidate in animal models, assessing its efficacy, safety, and stability.

The results were highly promising, as the candidate demonstrated precise selectivity towards lead and superior performance compared to existing treatment modalities. These findings represent a significant step forward in our mission, and we are excited to continue our efforts to bring this innovative solution to those in need.
 

---

---

How did you come up with the name of your startup?
metaLead, pronounced as "metal-lid", is a compound word that represents our mission to develop innovative medications against poisonous metals. It is comprised of two components: "metal" and "lead". While "lead" can refer to the toxic metal, it also reflects our aspiration to lead the way in this crucial area of research.

Who do you look to for guidance and mentorship?
I am fortunate to have established connections with numerous successful serial entrepreneurs and industry experts in the biotech sector. Their guidance has been instrumental in helping my team and me navigate various aspects of creating a business.

I've also sought advice and support from co-founders of other Swiss startups that have already progressed to more advanced stages. Their experiences have proven invaluable in helping us avoid common pitfalls and chart a successful course forward. Lastly, I am grateful for the ongoing support of our advisors and key opinion leaders, whose expertise and insights are essential to our success.

What is the most rewarding aspect of being a founder?
As a scientist transitioning from academia to the venture world, I find the most rewarding aspect to be the opportunity to advance the development of an innovative solution that was created in my research group and has the potential to improve people's health and quality of life. Although bringing a new therapy to market is long and arduous, we are excited to be at the forefront of this endeavor. Knowing that our product has the potential to help patients and make a positive impact on society is a powerful motivator that drives us to work tirelessly towards our goal. 

What did you want to do with your life at age 12?
I used to dream of becoming a vet, but my plans were foiled by my weak stomach and a tendency to faint at the sight of blood. This made volunteering at the community vet's clinic a bit of a challenge. After a few too many incidents involving me hitting the floor, I realized that maybe veterinary medicine was not the best fit for me. So, I decided to pivot to a career in science.

What is always in your fridge and why?
As a proud vegan, I always keep Planted Chicken in my fridge. Not only because it is delicious and nutritious but also because it's great to support a product from a successful Swiss startup. I appreciate Planted's commitment to sustainability, animal welfare, and health, as well as its use of innovative technology to create plant-based meat alternatives. It's fantastic to see companies like this thriving, providing consumers with more ethical and environmentally conscious options.

 

---

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.
 

---