Vanarix raised CHF 4 Million to begin new clinical trials
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The Biopôle-based startup recently raised CHF 4 Million from private investors to finance new clinical trials and the implementation of Cartibeads automated manufacturing.
Founded in 2018, Vanarix is a clinical stage startup specialising in regenerative medicine, focusing on articular cartilage regeneration. Despite being a small team of three people, the startup has already achieved incredible millstones, from successful clinical trials to raising CHF 4 Million, in their journey to improve patients’ lives.
Cartibeads: the first bioengineered, bead-shaped implants
Cartilage damage cause pain and disabilities, affecting individuals who have experienced repetitive trauma. In the absence of treatment, cartilage lesions can progress to osteoarthritis, the most common joint disorder affecting more than 300 Million people worldwide.
This is the challenge that Vanarix is tackling thanks to their patented solution “Cartibeads”, which are the first high-quality hyaline cartilage microtissues resembling native articular cartilage. This innovative product aims to regenerate cartilage damage and targets focal lesions and early osteoarthritis.
Preclinical data have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of Cartibeads in the treatment of focal knee injuries. 10 patients already have been transplanted with Vanarix first generation of Cartibeads (autologous Cartibeads), including five patients with a 6-month follow-up. All of them showed significant improvements in pain scores.
Their second generation of Cartibeads (allogeneic Cartibeads) were used in a preclinical study to transplant minipigs and in a clinical study to treat three young horses suffering from osteochondritis dissecans. The data showed good integration with no signs of inflammation or rejection.
New Phase I/IIa clinical trial for allogeneic Cartibeads
Building on these successful results, the company was cleared by Swissmedic to begin new clinical trials with the transplantation of the first 2 patients with allogeneic Cartibeads at the Lugano Hospital.
Additionally, three other sites will be involved in patient recruitment with HUG, Clinic Hirslanden/La Colline and Balgrist/Zürich.
This marks a new key milestone in Vanarix’s journey, as the company plans to be on the market in the next three years and to develop its own facilities in the future for large-scale, low-cost production of Cartibeads.
Source: Vanarix