Veltist

Veltist is a Swiss medtech company established in 2021 as a spin-off from ETH Zurich and Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology. The company was founded by Dr. Alexandre Anthis, who serves as CEO. Dr. Anthis' background is in chemistry, and his doctoral work at ETH and Empa, in the group of Prof. Inge Herrmann, led to the co-invention of Veltist's core technology. This foundational research, which won the Empa Research Award in 2021, focused on developing a polymer patch to securely seal internal wounds in the abdominal cavity.

The company operates in the surgical sealants market, which was valued at over USD 2.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to see significant growth. Veltist aims to address a critical unmet need in abdominal surgery, where post-operative leaks from sutures or staples in the gastrointestinal tract are a severe complication. These leaks affect over 10% of the 14 million patients undergoing such procedures annually, leading to high mortality rates, extended hospital stays, and substantial healthcare costs. Veltist's business model centers on the development and eventual commercialization of its proprietary surgical patch, AnastoSeal, targeting hospitals and surgical centers as its primary clients.

AnastoSeal is engineered as a next-generation sealant patch designed to prevent and detect digestive leaks after abdominal surgery. Its key differentiator is a dual-function design that combines high-performance adhesion with an integrated early-warning mechanism. The patch is a hydrogel composite that adheres strongly even in the harsh digestive environment. Crucially, it incorporates sensing elements that allow for non-invasive monitoring. If a leak begins, the material reacts with digestive fluids, creating small gas bubbles or other changes that are visible on standard imaging equipment like ultrasound and CT scans. This feature provides surgeons with critical, real-time feedback, enabling early intervention before a patient's condition deteriorates. The company received CHF 150,000 (approximately €160,000) from Venture Kick in May 2025 to support validation and progress toward regulatory approval, with plans to initiate clinical trials within three years.

Keywords: surgical sealant, AnastoSeal, post-operative leak prevention, digestive surgery, anastomosis leakage, abdominal surgery patch, smart biomaterial, ETH Zurich spin-off, Empa spin-off, medtech, surgical devices, hydrogel patch, tissue adhesive, wound closure technology, clinical monitoring, ultrasound detection, Dr. Alexandre Anthis, surgical complication, gastrointestinal surgery, medical implant, Venture Kick