Mr Pelkmans, Mr Zering, can you briefly describe what exactly your spin-off does?

Michael Zering: Apricot is developing a technology that allows us to visualise in, say, tumour tissue how cancer cells respond to certain medicines. The aim is to provide personalised therapy recommendations within a few days – both quicker and with greater precision than with traditional methods. The platform both informs clinical decisions and helps with the development of medicines. One example of this is the collaboration with the Tumor Profiler Center (link). There, our technology was able to help identify the most suitable medicine for the individual patient in any given case. We generally passed on the results to the physicians responsible for treatment within five to seven days.

How is it possible to identify the most suitable medicine in such a short space of time?

Lucas Pelkmans: We founded Apricot BIO in September 2022. But our technology has a pretty long backstory. In my laboratory at the University of Zurich (UZH), we have been developing methods associated with imaging-based microscopy for a long time now, in combination with machine learning. We were pioneers in this area. In my research at UZH, our team has been using machine learning since 2005. So, we were actually one of the first laboratories in Europe to use computational methods and artificial intelligence (AI) to source information from images of biological samples such as cells or tissue – and do so quickly.

What processes do you work with specifically?

Pelkmans: Our technology is based on two core processes. The first is the so-called 4i method – which stands for ‘iterative indirect immunofluorescence imaging’. This allows us to visualise lots of biological characteristics of individual cells at the same time. As for the other one, we work with drug response profiling, or DRP for short – which is a functional approach within precision medicine. Instead of just measuring the characteristics of cells, this is more about observing their specific responses to different medicines. From these responses, we then create a detailed drug response profile – so a kind of active ingredient map for each individual sample.

Zering: By way of comparison, you might describe this image-based form of systems biology as Google Maps for cells. But instead of mapping districts and streets, we create a high-resolution map of both the inside of cells and the cellular environment. Thanks to automated microscopes and AI-supported image analysis, countless images of cells are taken and assessed – like satellite images, but at a microscopic scale. We can then identify how the cell structure changes when, say, a medicine comes into play – a bit like Google Maps, we show where traffic is jammed or flowing freely. The more information we have available, the broader the context, which results in better decisions.

When did you decide to swap the laboratory for a more practical role and set up your spin-off?

Zering: Lucas and I got to know each other through our network of local contacts in Zurich. After plenty of face-to-face discussions, it soon became clear that his research has lots of potential to really make things happen. He brings his in-depth scientific know-how from the world of research to the table, while my strength is my ability to see things from a corporate perspective. I think in terms of business models and have a flair for getting things done and moving quickly. And both of us were clear about one thing: the field of cancer treatment has a lot of complex structures – and we saw an opportunity to put the latest scientific expertise into practice, in the hope of making a noticeable improvement in patient care. Apricot BIO was certainly not created on a whim. It was a carefully planned move.

What does the collaboration with physicians actually involve?

Pelkmans: We see ourselves as a service provider – our job is to support oncologists. Our platform analyses how tumour tissue responds ex vivo – so under laboratory conditions – to various medicines. This means that oncologists can prioritise and target those therapies that are more likely to be effective – and just as importantly: identify those where success is less likely. This predictive assessment helps the treatment team save valuable time and look at alternative options at an early stage.

How many medicines do you test when you receive a tissue sample?

Zering: Depending on the tumour type and the number of samples available, our platform is able to test up to 50 clinically approved medicines. The respective cancer type and the study design will determine which active ingredients are actually tested. We make the results available very quickly – the final decision regarding therapy is obviously taken by the team of physicians providing the treatment.

You generate a lot of scientifically valuable data. What happens to it?

Pelkmans: Our analyses generate a great deal of so-called phenotypic data – in other words, we closely observe how individual cells behave, what they look like, what proteins they show, or how they respond to certain medicines. You can think of it as the body language of cells: we can see, from the outside, how they ‘behave’, without changing the genetics of their inner life. We create a response profile based on this information, which both helps us treat individual patients and also provides researchers with important clues on how certain tumours work. The data is stored in anonymised form and can also be used in future to develop models for new medicines or approaches to therapy.

How are you positioning your business and how does the financing work?

Zering: We are developing a platform for precision oncology, which provides functional insights into how individual tumours respond to various therapies – and therefore helps physicians make faster and better-informed decisions about treatment options. From our perspective as founders, we are proud to already be making a turnover and to be working with a growing number of clinical and scientific partners – both in Switzerland and abroad. We remain practice-oriented: we are in regular contact with oncologists, clinics and leading opinion makers, who are working with our technology directly and provide valuable input for its ongoing development. Our focus now is on the next milestone we want to achieve by the end of 2026 – which includes clinical validation, scaling up and preparing for wider application. We have been really fortunate to be supported by the University of Zurich, the Translational Medicine Accelerator (TMA) and Unitectra – their expertise and resources were a decisive factor in helping us make the step from research to application. And as far as financing is concerned, we believe that the last two years have shown us that scientific excellence must go hand in hand with entrepreneurial resilience.

Lastly, does the company name really have something to do with apricots?

Zering: The origins of the name are actually pretty technical – ‘Apricot’ was the in-house name for a prototype microscope that we used in the early development phase. But the name has taken on a deeper meaning over time. In East Asia, the apricot tree is traditionally seen as a symbol of medical knowledge. A legend from the region tells the story of Dong Feng, a physician from the era of the Three Kingdoms (around 220 - 280 AD). It is said that he asked the patients he had healed to plant an apricot tree, instead of giving him money. His orchard became a symbol of healing – and this idea of medical efficacy and responsibility is a nice fit for what we are trying to achieve in terms of precision oncology.

From research to marketability: Zurich offers ideal conditions for successful spin-offs

The founding of a spin-off typically involves a transition from pure research to commercialization, something that presents a considerable challenge. This process involves developing a marketable application or product based on the results of research. It includes aspects such as product development, market analysis, business modeling, financing, legal framework conditions, and setting up a fully operational business. These hurdles need to be cleared in order to turn a scientific idea into a successful commercial enterprise.

Targeted support improves competitiveness

To help close the gap between scientific research and use in practice, University Medicine Zurich (UMZH) is offering interested spin-offs an opportunity to improve their competitiveness with the Translational Medicine Accelerator (TMA.) If the development process receives professional support and is therefore accelerated, this can give medical innovations a better chance of succeeding on the market. The TMA offers tailored advice, business courses, and mentoring, and connects company founders with relevant parties from industry and also investors. The UZH Life Sciences Fund is particularly worthy of mention. This provides specific financial support for spin-offs to help them develop their business strategy and successfully scale up their projects.

The TMA has supported almost 100 projects over the past three years. An important role is also played by SPARK ZURICH, a mentoring network supported by the TMA, which is based on the successful program with the same name, run by Stanford University in the USA. Founder teams are able to present their projects and plans and benefit from feedback given by a range of external experts.

Zurich as a unique place for business and commerce

The city itself, as a location, offers ideal conditions for innovative life sciences companies that are looking to build a successful business. And as Switzerland’s business hub, the «Greater Zurich Area» certainly impresses with its high density of small biotech companies, established industry partners, and leading-edge laboratory infrastructure. The region also offers access to the «Swissmedic Innovation Office,» which supports innovations in the area of medical devices and medicines. The promotion of spin-offs not only facilitates the emergence of innovative companies, but also creates highly skilled jobs. The proximity to leading universities and renowned university hospitals is another big draw. The close collaboration with leading global research facilities and access to international markets are of particular interest to investors.
By helping to fuel this dynamic innovation landscape, University Medicine Zurich is making a considerable contribution toward strengthening Zurich’s position as a leading center for medical innovations. This ultimately results in a significant improvement in healthcare provision and emphasizes Zurich’s key role in the global life sciences sector.

Contact for researchers who would like to found their own spin-off:

TMA (Translational Medicine Accelerator UMZH)
Moussonstrasse 15
8044 Zurich

Michio Painter: E-Mail
Liliane Brunner Halbach: E-Mail

Innovation Hub at the University of Zurich