Dear reader
Last May, Numab’s deal with Johnson & Johnson caused a stir: the US company paid USD 1.25 billion to secure the rights to a drug candidate. This was followed a few months later by a licensing deal with a Japanese pharmaceutical company and finally the start of clinical trials with a cancer drug that Numab is driving forward on its own. No wonder the Horgen-based company is able to attract investors: it has now raised CHF 50 million.
A series of healthcare start-ups delivered success stories this week and it is notable that they attracted very different groups. Araris Biotech has entered into a partnership with Japanese pharmaceutical company Chugai. This secured the start-up an upfront payment, plus milestone payments of up to USD 780 million and royalties on net product sales.
Onward Medical announced the first commercial sales of its ARC-EX system to improve hand strength and sensation in people with spinal cord injuries. This has pleased investors: since the beginning of the year, Onward Medical’s share price, which is listed on Euronext, has risen by more than 25%. In addition, CeQur, a global medtech company with its headquarters in canton Lucerne, has secured a VC investment of USD 120 million.
Digital health start-up Neuria recently received CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick and is now preparing to enter the market with both a B2B and a B2C model. Other start-ups from the healthcare sector made progress in product development. Vanarix has obtained Orphan Disease Designation from the US FDA for its bio-engineered cartilage mini-implants, and Comphya has been given the green light for clinical trials in the US.
The Swiss start-up scene has thus made a successful start to the new year, thanks to the biotech and medtech sectors. The role these two sectors played in financing in 2024, and the overall picture, can be discovered in the new Swiss Venture Capital Report, which we will launch at two events in Zurich and Lausanne on 4 February. It can be pre-ordered now in your profile.
Unfortunately, I cannot predict what will happen in 2025, but I can tell you the early indicators that precede an upturn in financing. More on this in our article from Monday.
As always, applications for a number of awards open at the beginning of the year, including Venture Leaders Technology, Startfeld Diamant, the Swiss Economic Award and *zünder.
I would also like to draw your attention to our article on the next Start Summit in St. Gallen, in which we present in particular the opportunities for participation by start-ups. Another article describes a new entity, ‘The Cultured Hub’, from Givaudan, Bühler and Migros, which supports start-ups in scaling up bio-processes.
All the best for 2025.
Stefan Kyora
Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch