Precision diagnostics for tumor diseases
Together with three partners, Jana Fischer has taken the bold step of founding a company and entering the world of private enterprise. The tumor diagnostics services offered by her company «Navignostics» will be available in Switzerland from 2025 and will help treatment providers make better-informed decisions.
Ms. Fischer, your company name makes reference to diagnostics. What exactly are you providing diagnostics for?
Fischer: Our aim is to find the best, individually tailored treatment for every cancer sufferer. In order to do this, we use spatial single-cell proteomics analysis, which can identify up to 50 proteins in a single tumor section. This allows us to obtain an extraordinary volume of information from very little tumor material and save valuable time and materials. It also enabled us to explain why certain patients failed to respond to a given medication or survived for longer. Our analysis provides a deeper insight than other approaches into what is happening at cell level: We study proteins that serve as docking sites for medication and analyze the status of cells and how they communicate. We also identify immune cells that supposedly combat tumor cells and observe how tumor cells withstand attack.
Who will benefit from your technology?
Fischer: The number of targeted cancer and immune therapies is growing, but the usual tests only record a fraction of tumor characteristics, while genomic tests only provide indirect information. We, on the other hand, are developing a diagnostics service to provide doctors with critical information that allows them to make better-informed treatment decisions. Under clinical study conditions, we’re able to provide data that is used by, say, tumor boards – where complicated cancer cases are discussed. Our diagnostics will be available in Switzerland from 2025.
How did you come up with the idea of founding a spin-off?
Fischer: We were constantly seeing the enormous potential of our method during our years of research work in Professor Bernd Bodenmiller’s laboratory at the University of Zurich. We were then able to take part in the Tumor Profiler Study, where tumor analysis methods were tested in a clinical setting. This gave us a chance to optimize our workflows and deliver fast results. The medical profession gave us extremely good feedback, and our data helped inform treatment decisions with great success. That gave us a boost, and we decided to found Navignostics.
What about collaboration within the team?
Fischer: We complement each other really well: I have a bioinformatics background, Andrea Jacobs (co-founder and COO) has a lot of experience in laboratory operations and development, Stéphane Chevrier (co-founder and CSO) is an experienced immunologist, and Bernd Bodenmiller (co-founder) has a worldwide reputation as a pioneer in our field of research. What drives us all is the opportunity to make a difference in day-to-day clinical work with our research. And at a personal level, we make an incredibly good team. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.
Your team has now grown to 15 people. How did you go about finding a location for your spin-off?
Fischer: We were lucky and found our current working premises in Horgen, so really close to Zurich. They belong to the grow foundation, whose mission is to create a first-class environment for innovative life sciences companies. We used to receive financial support from the UZH Life Sciences Fund, which enabled us to build a team and get started with our development activities. We then finished our seed funding round and were able to sign the lease at around the same time – so perfect timing! This support was incredibly important to the development of our company.
When are you planning a market launch for Switzerland?
Fischer: We’ll enter the Swiss market with our first diagnostics product in 2025. After that, we plan to expand into the US market!
Glossary
(Bio)Marker:
Umbrella term for laboratory values or other measurable characteristics associated with tumor diseases that provide additional information on the status of a condition, the likely prognosis, or the efficacy of treatments
Immunohistochemical tests:
Immunohistochemistry uses special antibodies for identifying proteins, specifically in tissue and on cells
Seed funding round:
Sourcing of the capital needed to found a company
Single-cell proteomics analysis:
Analysis of protein composition with a focus on the environment of single cells
Tumor section:
Tissue section of a tumor
Contact
Jana Fischer (CEO)
Bernd Bodenmiller (Professor University of Zurich and ETH Zurich)
Navignostics AG
Tödistrasse 46a
8810 Horgen
+41 44 244 09 70
E-Mail
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.
