The jury of the Prix Strategis selected five companies, to advance to the final round of the competition. Three of them are Swiss Health Valley projects.

Irmos Technologies AG, which develops solutions to extend the lifespan of infrastructure. Neology SA, which offers a clean alternative to diesel. Virtuosis AI, specialized in intelligent vocal biomarkers. Isospec Analytics SA, whose technology aims to improve the reliability of clinical trials. And Cria Technologies, which brings innovation to cold-chain logistics. ProSeed Ingredients SA, Twiliner AG, and Identic AI GmbH reached the semi-finals but were not selected for the final

As every year, the Prix Strategis will reward the best Swiss start-up with a CHF 40,000 prize, strong media visibility, and the opportunity to present its project before a prestigious jury as well as an audience composed of influential figures from the Swiss entrepreneurial ecosystem. In 2024, HeroSupport won the prize, and in 2025 Heketiss ended

The Prix Strategis award ceremony will take place on 30 April 2026, at the Centre Patronal in Paudex. On this occasion, the jury will announce the winning start-up among the five finalists. As in the previous edition, an Audience Award will also be discerned by Agefi :participants will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite start-up among the finalists. The winners of both the Prix Strategis and the Audience Award will be announced during the ceremony.

Source: Press Release | Award Ceremony: 30 Avril 2026

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Five EPFL-based startups: Alpion CryoSolutions, Eleum,  Feedback Intuitive, MOLECL, and NourishAI are the latest recipients of the EPFL Startup Launchpad Innogrant and Innogrant for biotherapeuthics. Each team has secured CHF 100,000 to accelerate the development of their technology. 

Alpion CryoSolutions

Cryo-electron microscopy has transformed biology by allowing researchers to see proteins in extraordinary detail. However, existing technology only allows these molecules to be seen in a static state. In reality, proteins move, change shape, and have interactions which determine how they function. These dynamics are central to drug discovery, where researchers need to understand how proteins change in order to design effective new medicines. Existing instruments struggle to capture these rapid changes – particularly at the microsecond timescale where many processes occur.

The Alpion team – based in Professor Christoph Bostedt’s LUXS lab – has developed technology which allows researchers to capture protein molecules mid-movement. Their laser-based system briefly melts frozen samples, giving the proteins a fraction of a second to move before rapidly refreezing them. This makes it possible to trap and image short-lived shapes that may otherwise remain invisible, providing a more complete picture of their structure and enabling more accurate three-dimensional reconstructions. Compact and user-friendly, their instrument integrates into standard cryo-EM workflows.

The team will use their Innogrant to transform their prototype into a robust pre-commercial product ready for pilot deployment.

Eleum

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease affecting the large intestine. It causes intestinal ulcers, leading to abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and weight loss that severely impact quality of life. Current treatments mainly work by suppressing the immune system to reduce inflammation — but do not directly heal the intestine lining, which is a key predictor of long-term remission. Research increasingly suggests that certain modifications of the gut microbiome contribute to the disease. For instance, patients with UC tend to have low levels of a particular class of microbial metabolites called secondary bile acids. These molecules produced by gut bacteria have been shown to play a crucial role in repairing the intestine lining.

The Eleum team, based in Professor Kristina Schoonjans’ Laboratory of Metabolic Signalling at EPFL, is developing a new type of treatment called a Live Biotherapeutic Product, or LBP. Unlike probiotics, which are often used for general health, LBPs are designed to prevent, treat, or cure specific diseases by targeting known biological pathways. Eleum’s therapy introduces specific bacteria in the gut that restore the body’s production of secondary bile acids and return the bile acid balance to that of healthy individuals. This has been shown to help the gut heal faster and strengthen the gut barrier by supporting the body’s natural ability to regenerate the intestinal lining. By restoring this key metabolic pathway, this therapeutic approach aims to promote long-term remission for UC patients.

The team will use their Innogrant to prepare their therapy for clinical use – establishing the quality controls required by regulators and optimising the preparation protocol to maximise bacteria engraftment in the gut.

Feedback Intuitive

Sports performance is increasingly data-driven, with athletes and teams relying on metrics to optimise training and competition. Yet, ‘Recovery’ – although critical for injury prevention and long-term development – still remains hard to quantify. Most athletes rely on indirect indicators such as heart rate or sleep scores to judge their readiness. While useful, these metrics do not reveal what’s happening inside the specific muscles that have done the work. As a result, training decisions are often made without a clear picture of muscular recovery.

Feedback Intuitive – a team based in Professor David Atienza’s Embedded Systems Laboratory – is developing a compact wearable that measures oxygen levels directly in targeted muscles during training sessions. By tracking how quickly a muscle re-oxygenates after effort, the system provides a direct measure of local fatigue and recovery. Combined with broader metrics in a single wearable, the team hopes to make muscle-specific recovery measurable in everyday training, not just in specialised labs.

The team will use their Innogrant to create a field-ready MVP and conduct structured athlete pilots, generating the evidence needed for the next stage of development.

MOLECL

Protein modifications play an important role in many biological processes and are closely linked to human health and the performance of biological therapeutics. However, current analytical methods for detecting these modifications are often slow, costly, and lack the ability to precisely identify structural variations at the molecular level. As a result, important molecular information can remain hidden, limiting the effectiveness of biological analysis and contributing to inefficiencies in healthcare and biotechnology.

The MOLECL team is developing a new approach for analyzing protein modifications using nanopore based sensing. By combining solid state nanopores with molecular recognition strategies, the technology enables analysis of individual protein molecules and the structural features associated with their modifications. This single molecule approach provides a new way to detect subtle molecular differences that are difficult to observe with existing bulk measurement techniques.

The team will use their Innogrant to advance from early laboratory proof-of-concept to clinical validation, testing their assay against real patient samples at CHUV.

NourishAI

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurological disease for which there is no cure. ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease or motor neurone disease) attacks the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary movement. Over time, the brain loses its ability to send signals to the muscles and patients become unable to move, speak, swallow, and eventually breathe. ALS can also disrupt the body’s metabolism. Around two thirds of patients have already lost weight by the time they are diagnosed, and even a small drop in body mass index is associated with significantly faster disease progression. Despite this, nutritional care for ALS patients remains generic – based on broad caloric guidance and supplements, with little account for the fact that each patient’s metabolism behaves differently.

The NourishAI team, based in Professor Johan Auwerx’s Laboratory of Integrative Systems Physiology at EPFL, is building a data-driven approach to nutrition in ALS. Their platform combines genetic, metabolic, and clinical data from ALS patient cohorts. They then use machine learning to identify which nutrient pathways are most predictive of disease progression in individual patients. The goal is to move from observation to intervention: offering a personalised nutritional framework based on the patient’s specific metabolic profile. The team is working in collaboration with Swiss neuromuscular centres in St. Gallen, Geneva and Lausanne, and will integrate with the MyFoodRepo platform – developed at EPFL – to enable real-world food logging and biomarker tracking.

The team will use their Innogrant to validate their computational findings against clinical data and develop a working prototype of the NourishAI decision tool for use by clinicians.

Source: EPFL | ©EPFL

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Eli Lilly has handed Vaud-based AC Immune (Switzerland) 10 million Swiss francs ($12.5 million) to expand their Alzheimer’s disease collaboration as a candidate moves closer to the clinic.

The U.S. pharma first tapped up AC Immune in a 2018 deal that included an $81 million upfront fee. That pact, which came with up to 1.7 billion francs ($2.1 billion) in milestone payments attached, was centered on a preclinical small-molecule designed to inhibit tau aggregation in Alzheimer’s patients.

Dr. Andrea Pfeifer, CEO of AC Immune SA, commented: “The progress in this collaboration highlights the important breakthroughs we have made with Morphomer small molecules for intracellular targeting of Tau. We look forward to working with the team at Lilly to drive forward the development of these potentially disruptive small molecule therapeutics for early-stage treatment and long-term prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. Increasingly, the scientific evidence suggests that targeting intracellular Tau can slow or even completely halt the pathology. This collaboration exemplifies our work towards precision prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. We expect to initiate Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies imminently.”

Morphomer Tau candidates were selected for their ability to enter the brain when dosed orally, and for their specific binding to the targeted pathological conformation of the Tau protein. AC Immune has generated strong preclinical data suggesting that Tau Morphomers should be clinically relevant for inhibiting aggregation and seeding across pathological and disease stages.

Under this amendment, AC Immune will receive a CHF10 million upfront payment and a subsequent milestone payment with Phase 1 dosing, in addition to milestones announced in a prior amendment. AC Immune is eligible for further development, regulatory and commercial milestones of over CHF1.7 billion, plus tiered percentage royalty payments in the low double digits, as previously disclosed.

Source: Press Release | ©Canva Library

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Oculis Holding AG, based in canton of Vaud and Zug, has received a significant regulatory boost for its neuroprotective candidate Privosegtor, with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) granting the therapy Priority Medicines (PRIME) designation for the treatment of optic neuritis (ON).

Optic neuritis is a rare and sight-threatening condition that can occur as a relapse of multiple sclerosis or serve as its first clinical manifestation. The disease can lead to lasting vision damage, and treatment options remain limited.

Privosegtor is a novel peptoid small molecule designed to cross both the blood-brain barrier and the retinal barrier, positioning it as a potential first-in-class neuroprotective therapy for optic neuropathies. These disorders currently have no approved neuroprotective treatments, despite their potential to cause permanent visual impairment due to nerve cell damage and death.

The EMA’s decision, reserved for a small number of highly promising therapies each year, follows the U.S. FDA’s Breakthrough Therapy designation, awarded to Privosegtor in January 2026, further strengthening regulatory momentum for the programme. The decision was supported by data from the Phase 2 ACUITY trial, where Privosegtor used in combination with steroids demonstrated meaningful improvement in low-contrast visual acuity (LCVA), along with consistent anatomical and biological benefits compared with placebo plus steroids. According to Oculis, these findings suggest the therapy may significantly improve outcomes for patients with optic neuritis.

Building on these results, Oculis is advancing its PIONEER registrational programme, which includes three global late-stage trials in optic neuritis and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), another rare neuro-ophthalmic disease. The first trial, PIONEER-1, was launched in Q4 2025, and site activation is ongoing.

Commenting on the milestone, Riad Sherif, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Oculis, said the designation highlights Privosegtor’s potential to become a first-in-class treatment for patients facing acute optic neuritis and the risk of irreversible vision loss. The drug could also have wide applicability in treating other neuro-ophthalmic and neurological indications.

In addition to PRIME and Breakthrough Therapy designations, Privosegtor has also received Orphan Drug designation from both the EMA and the FDA for optic neuritis.

Source: Press Release | Oculis

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Ten startups, 4 of them from the Swiss Health Valley, have been selected for the 2026 Venture Leaders Biotech programme, which will take them to Boston from May 31st to June 5th as part of the Swiss National Startup Team. During their roadshow, the entrepreneurs will connect with international investors and industry leaders, acquiring expertise to help scale their ventures internationally. Venture Leaders Biotech is organized by Venturelab and supported by EPF Lausanne, ETH Zurich, University of Basel, Hansjörg Wyss, Kellerhals Carrard, and VISCHER.

Since 2006, Venturelab has been selecting the Swiss National Startup Team. Through its Venture Leaders roadshows, entrepreneurs engage with top experts, investors, and potential customers in leading global tech hubs, including Silicon Valley, Boston, Asia, Barcelona, London, and Munich.

After reviewing over 70 applications, a jury of experts and investors selected ten startups for the 2026 Venture Leaders Biotech roadshow in Boston. The program provides entrepreneurs the chance to accelerate their US expansion, connect with industry leaders, and gain insights through investor pitch sessions and targeted workshops.

The ten selected startups represent an array of fields, such as AI-driven drug design, vaccines, peptide therapeutics, bioreactors, CAR-T therapy, in-vivo gene editing, enzyme delivery, RNA-targeted therapies, proteomics, and organoid automation.

“Getting ready for this roadshow for the 21^st year is a great reflection of the quality of innovation of the new startups involved,” said Jordi Montserrat, Managing Partner of Venturelab. “I’m looking forward to being part of this new edition and assisting the team with their fundraising and international expansion.”

The 10 startups will follow in the footsteps of high-flying former team members such as Araris Biotech (recently announced its acquisition for USD 1.1 billion), Covagen (acquired by Johnson & Johnson), Versantis (acquired by Genfit), AMAL Therapeutics (acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim), NBE-Therapeutics (acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim), Alentis (USD 105 million funding round in 2023), and BioVersys (recent IPO on the SIX Swiss Exchange).

The team will kick-off the programme pitching at the Swiss Biotech Days in Basel on May 4, 2026 (17:45-18:30 in room Singapore). Follow the Venture Leaders Biotech roadshow on social media using the hashtag #VLeadersBiotech or on www.venture-leaders.ch/venture-leaders-biotech from May 31^st to June 5^th, 2026. The Venture Leaders Biotech is organized by Venturelab and supported by EPFL, ETH Zurich, University of Basel, Hansjörg Wyss, Kellerhals Carrard, and VISCHER.

Meet the Venture Leaders Biotech 2026:

Baio Labs │ Vaud │ baiolabs.com 
The biotech startup uses generative AI to design novel small molecule drugs for specific therapeutic targets in seconds, replacing slow, costly traditional screening.

Baxiva │ Zurich │ baxiva.com  
Baxiva develops glycoconjugate vaccines to prevent serious bacterial infections, starting with ExPEC, using scalable nanoparticle conjugation.

Biodelphis Therapeutics │Vaud│ biodelphis.com
The biotech startup creates peptide-based drugs that selectively inhibit disease-causing proteases and target specific cells, avoiding toxicity.

Bioscibex │ Valais │ bioscibex.com
Bioscibex produces single-use bioreactors that simplify antibody manufacturing by combining multiple cell expansion steps into one safe, efficient process.

GlioCART │ Basel │ gliocart.ch
GlioCART develops CAR-T therapies for glioblastoma that directly attack tumors while reprogramming immune cells to enhance the anti-tumor response.

Immitra Bio │ Geneva │ immitrabio.com
The biotech startup builds an in-vivo gene editing platform that allows fast, off-the-shelf treatments without chemotherapy or lengthy ex-vivo processes.

NanoZymeX │ Basel │  nanozymex.com
NanoZymeX delivers therapeutic enzymes into cells using lipid nanoparticles, improving efficacy and reducing immune side effects for rare diseases.

Translation-X │ Basel │ trx-therapeutics.com
The biotech startup Translation-X develops brain-penetrant inhibitors to correct RNA translation dysregulation in autism subtypes, targeting specific molecular pathways.

UNOMR │ Zurich │ unomr.com
UNOMR provides single-molecule protein analysis with nanopore sensors to study modifications like glycosylation for therapy and medical applications.

Visienco │ Lucerne │ visienco.ch
The biotech startup automates organoid sorting and analysis with AI, improving throughput, reproducibility, and scalability for research and clinical use.

Source: Press Release | ©Venture Leaders

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Xsensio SA, a Vaud-based high-tech company pioneering continuous biochemical monitoring in near real time, announced the closing of a Series A funding round with an oversubscription of $7 million. The round was led by San Francisco-based venture capital firm WI Harper, with participation from Privilège Ventures, the European Innovation Council and private investors from the United States, Europe and Asia.

Xsensio’s Lab-on-Skin© wearable biosensing device, is enabling the simultaneous, continuous monitoring of multiple biochemical biomarkers.

This new funding will enable Xsensio to accelerate the development and clinical validation of its Lab-on-Skin© wearable biosensing platform, designed to provide dynamic, multimodal biochemical information to aid clinical decision-making in hospitals and elsewhere.

‘This Series A marks a crucial step in the implementation of continuous biochemical monitoring in real clinical environments,’ said Esmeralda Megally, CEO of Xsensio. ” For the first time, clinicians can access key, continuous biochemical data in real time, information that was previously unavailable at the point of care. This capability has the potential to fundamentally improve the way patients are monitored and treated.”

At the same time, Xsensio announced a long-term collaboration with Texas Instruments, a global leader in semiconductor technology. This collaboration brings unique expertise in CMOS integration, miniaturisation and large-scale manufacturing of biosensing systems, further strengthening Xsensio’s industrial scalability.

‘Our collaboration with Texas Instruments significantly strengthens our path to advanced and scalable semiconductor technology,’ added Adrian Ionescu, Chief Technology Officer at Xsensio. “By combining our biosensing innovation with world-class semiconductor expertise, we are building a platform designed not only to have clinical impact, but also to be deployed reliably and cost-effectively. “

‘We believe Xsensio is defining a new category of wearable biosensing. Given the company’s strong progress and commercial potential, we are delighted to lead this investment round,’ said Wilson Wu, Partner at WI Harper.

‘Continuous biochemical monitoring represents a major shift from intermittent measurements to real-time information, and Xsensio is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation,’ said Jaqueline Ruedin Rüsch, Chair of the Board of Directors.

About Xsensio

Xsensio is a Swiss high-tech company developing the Lab-on-Skin© portable biosensing platform to provide continuous, real-time biochemical information for personalised and preventive healthcare. Emerging from cutting-edge university research, the company collaborates with leading hospitals and industrial partners to bring clinically meaningful biosensing innovations to patients in hospitals and beyond. Xsensio has been recognised by TIME as one of the world’s best companies in the field of health technologies in 2025.

Source: Press Release | ©Xsensio

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KYLYS AESTHETICS SA, a University of Geneva spinoff and Swiss clinical-stage biotech company developing next-generation regenerative aesthetic medical devices, announces the successful completion of patient injections in its first clinical trial.

A total of 55 patients have now been treated as part of this study evaluating the company’s proprietary hyaluronic acid-based injectable technology. This milestone marks a significant step forward in the clinical development of KYLYS AESTHETICS’ Class III medical device. The trial is designed to assess safety, performance, and clinical behavior of the product. All planned patient injections have
been completed in accordance with the approved clinical protocol.

Preliminary observations following the injections are promising, showing outcomes consistent with the company’s expectations in terms of product handling, tissue integration, and aesthetic performance. Full clinical data analysis is currently ongoing and will be completed in line with regulatory and clinical best practices.

KYLYS AESTHETICS’ technology is based on a patented hyaluronic acid platform. The company’s approach aims to go beyond traditional volumizing fillers by focusing on regenerative properties, natural integration into targeted tissues, and clinical performance.

Source: Press release | KYLYS AESTHETICS’ founding team, ©KYLYS AESTHETICS

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NewBiologix S.A., a Swiss Health Valley biotechnology company advancing recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) production through next-generation clonal HEK293 cell line technology, announced publication of peer-reviewed data in Biotechnology Reports (Vol. 49, March 2026).

The paper (1), authored by NewBiologix, covers the generation and characterization of NBX1P01, the company’s proprietary clonal HEK293 cell line optimized for rAAV production. Derived from more than 2,000 single-cell clones, NBX1P01 was selected for enhanced production performance and validated through extensive genomic sequencing to confirm clonality and stability. This clonal cell line underpins rapid, effective, and scalable production of viral vectors central to gene therapy manufacturing.

After comprehensive evaluation, the publication reports the following key findings:

● Full-to-empty capsid ratio: In head-to-head studies using identical protocols, NBX1P01 demonstrated a two-fold higher full-to-empty rAAV capsid ratio compared to a leading commercial HEK293 cell line. Full capsid content is a critical product quality attribute in rAAV manufacturing.
● Genomic stability: The clone remained genomically stable over 55 population doubling levels and exhibited lower genetic heterogeneity than the parental HEK293 population.
● Genome integrity: Long-read sequencing confirmed more than 70% intact rAAV genomes with minimal encapsidated contaminating DNA.
● Scalability and versatility: NBX1P01 demonstrated consistent performance across production volumes ranging from 10 mL to 1.5 L and supported multiple rAAV serotypes and clinically relevant transgene sizes.

Igor Fisch, CEO and Co-founder of NewBiologix, said, “As the gene therapy landscape evolves, manufacturing platforms must radically improve in performance. Our goal is to help revolutionize gene therapy by ushering in a more reliable and consistent industrial scale manufacturing foundation. This peer-reviewed publication validates our precision-built, high performance, stable HEK293 platform and showcases its reliability and consistency for quality rAAV production.”

Efrain Guzman, VP, Innovation & Business Development at NewBiologix, said, “We’re determined to make gene therapies more accessible and provide safe and effective therapies to patients. In viral vector manufacturing, quality is essential to assure the product’s integrity from day one. Choosing a reliable, stable and adaptable cell line that demonstrates consistent performance is foundational to achieving that goal.”

Manufacturing scalability and product quality remain central challenges in rAAV-based gene therapy development, particularly as programs expand beyond rare diseases into broader patient populations. Improvements in cell line stability impact product quality and dramatically reduce variability, thereby increasing manufacturing efficiency and enhancing overall product consistency.

For additional technical information, see the company’s latest Scientific White Paper (2).

References

(1) Generation and characterization of a HEK293 cell line optimized for recombinant adeno-associated virus production: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.btre.2026.e00948

(2) Unlocking Scalable, High-Quality rAAV Production with Xcell Eng-HEK293: https://145175225.hs-sites-eu1.com/white-paper-hek293

Source: Press Release | Igor Fish, CEO and Co-founder of NewBiologix. ©NewBiologix

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Swiss biotech Timeline, born at EPFL Innovation Park, has entered a landmark global partnership with Lancôme, the flagship beauty brand of L’Oréal. The collaboration marks the first worldwide large-scale commercialization of Timeline’s proprietary longevity molecule, Mitopure®, within a global skincare brand.

For Timeline, this partnership represents the culmination of nearly two decades of scientific research and over CHF 50 million invested in R&D. For Lancôme, it signals a bold step forward in its “Longevity Integrative Science” strategy — anchoring beauty innovation in deep biological mechanisms rather than surface-level aesthetics.

From EPFL Labs to Global Beauty

Founded in 2007 by Patrick Aebischer, former EPFL President, and Dr. Chris Rinsch, with early backing from visionary investors including André Hoffmann and Pierre Landolt, Timeline emerged from fundamental neuroscience research before shifting its focus to muscle health, mobility, and ultimately, cellular longevity.

At the heart of its innovation lies Mitopure®, a highly pure form of Urolithin A. Rather than promising a “miracle pill,” Timeline positions its molecule as something more fundamental.

Mitopure® works by activating mitophagy, the natural recycling process of mitochondria — the “power plants” of our cells. As we age, damaged mitochondria accumulate, reducing cellular energy efficiency. By stimulating their renewal, Mitopure® supports healthier cellular function across muscle, immune, and skin systems.

Longevity, Backed by Science

Timeline’s scientific credibility rests on 18 years of research, 25 clinical trials and more than 50 global patents. The company has already partnered with Nestlé Health Science and L’Oréal. With Lancôme, the scale changes dramatically.

The new skincare range, integrating Mitopure®, will be officially unveiled at the American Academy of Dermatology Congress in Denver in March 2026.

As  Vania Lacascade, Global Brand President of Lancôme, said:

“We are defining a new scientific era where beauty is proactive, decoding the core biological mechanisms of skin aging.” 

From Scientific Vision to Industrial Scale

Following years of clinical validation and product development, Timeline is now entering a new phase: global industrialization and mass-market deployment.

Supported by patient capital and deeply rooted in Swiss scientific rigor, Timeline embodies a distinctive model of longevity innovation — one built on biological understanding, not hype.

As Chris Rinsch, co-founder and President of Timeline, notes:

“This partnership represents a unique opportunity to democratize our longevity molecule, Mitopure, making its advanced benefits more widely accessible than ever.”

Source: Press Release | ©Lancôme

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The drug, developed by Eli Lilly, slows the progression of the disease, but cannot stop or cure it. Alzheimer Switzerland and Swiss Memory Clinics welcome this decision, but emphasize that many people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families still face significant challenges.

On February 4, 2026, the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products (Swissmedic) approved the active ingredient donanemab for the treatment of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, concluding that the benefits outweigh the potential side effects. After decades of unsuccessful research worldwide, the arrival of donanemab represents a significant advance in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common neurodegenerative disease. Although this active ingredient does not cure or halt the progression of the disease, but only delays its development in the early stages, and although it may cause side effects, Alzheimer Switzerland and Swiss Memory Clinics welcome Swissmedic’s decision. “With donanemab, Switzerland now has its first drug for Alzheimer’s disease that, at least in some patients, slows cognitive decline, allows those affected to live longer with a good quality of life, and delays premature admission to institutions, with the financial consequences that this entails,” says Daniel Janett, interim director of Alzheimer Switzerland.

The new active ingredient reduces protein deposits in the brain

Developed by Eli Lilly, the antibody donanemab belongs to a new generation of active substances that, for the first time, act on what modern science defines as the causes of Alzheimer’s disease, namely deposits of harmful proteins known as beta-amyloids. However, donanemab can cause serious side effects such as bleeding or cerebral edema. This means that the risks involved must be carefully assessed and rigorous monitoring carried out during the first few months of treatment. “The authorization conditions for lecanemab, which is produced in Switzerland, would have been significantly more restrictive, which recently prompted Eisai to withdraw its application for authorization. The relatively long time it took Swissmedic and foreign authorities to review the application for authorization of these active ingredients shows that the decision was not an easy one. This now gives us the opportunity to decide, together with eligible individuals, whether they wish to receive such treatment, based on their own assessment of the risks and benefits,” says Dr. Rafael Meyer, President of Swiss Memory Clinics. In order to be able to carry out this assessment in the best possible way, however, it is important that donanemab is carefully studied over a longer period of time and that existing studies are supplemented by additional studies. In addition, care must be taken to ensure that the resources required for current standard treatments, which are available to all those affected by the disease, are not depleted.

Final points still need to be clarified

Before the active substance can be widely used as a treatment that modifies the course of Alzheimer’s disease, a few points still need to be clarified. These include, in particular, its inclusion in the FOPH’s list of specialties, as well as rapid and uniform regulation of cost coverage by health insurers, so that those affected do not have to finance most of the treatment themselves. Alzheimer Switzerland calls on the competent authorities to clarify these outstanding issues quickly. Given the already very long wait in Switzerland, it is essential that access to treatment is now guaranteed without further delay.

Source: Press Release | © Canva Media Library, Anna Shvets – Pexels

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