FimmCyte

FimmCyte is a pre-clinical stage biotechnology company established in 2022, operating as a spin-off from the University of Zürich and the University Hospital Zürich. The company was founded by Dr. Valentina Vongrad and Dr. Mohaned Shilaih (referred to as Mohaned Shilaih in most sources), who combined their respective expertise in biotechnology and women's health to address the significant unmet needs in the field. Dr. Shilaih had worked in women's health for several years, recognizing endometriosis as a major issue, while Dr. Vongrad brought the biotech experience necessary to tackle the disease's complexity. Their collaboration originated from the lab of Professor Brigitte Leener.

The company's primary focus is on developing treatments for women's health, with its lead program targeting endometriosis, a chronic and debilitating disease affecting one in ten women worldwide. FimmCyte is developing a first-in-class, non-hormonal, antibody-based therapy designed to be disease-modifying, meaning it targets the root cause of the illness rather than just managing symptoms. This immunotherapy platform works by reprogramming the immune system to selectively identify and eliminate diseased endometriotic tissue while preserving healthy cells. The core of this technology is the discovery of a specific protein that is overexpressed in the diseased cells, allowing for precise targeting. This approach represents a departure from current standards of care, which are often limited to hormonal treatments with significant side effects or invasive surgery.

FimmCyte's business model is centered on the research and development of its proprietary immunotherapy platform, with the ultimate goal of bringing its novel treatments to the clinic. The company operates in the biotechnology and FemTech sectors, specifically addressing the market for fibro-inflammatory diseases. As a pre-clinical company, its revenue generation is focused on securing funding through investments and grants to advance its lead product candidate, designated FMC2, through the necessary development stages, such as IND-enabling activities, and eventually into human trials. The company has successfully raised capital from various sources, including a CHF 1 million convertible loan from the UZH Life Sciences Fund, and non-dilutive funding from Innosuisse and the Gebert Rüf Foundation. It has also received support from prominent accelerators like BaseLaunch, the BioInnovation Institute, and Venture Kick.

Keywords: endometriosis treatment, immunotherapy, women's health, biotechnology, fibro-inflammatory diseases, disease-modifying therapy, antibody-based therapy, non-hormonal treatment, FemTech, targeted therapy, pre-clinical startup, University of Zürich spin-off, Valentina Vongrad, Mohaned Shilaih, immune system reprogramming, chronic disease, fibrosis, life sciences, healthcare innovation, medical research