Investor Network holds pitch contest at EIT Health Summit

Limnopharma wins €10 000 provided by Fondation de l’Avenir and Matmut

A start-up developing a treatment for a rare genetic disorder that causes sufferers to lose most of their sight was chosen as the winner when EIT Health’s Investor Network programme held its first pitch contest at the EIT Health Summit in Paris.

Ten of the more promising start-ups that have been supported EIT Health’s Investor Network programme were invited to present their ideas in front of a panel of investors on 2 December 2019. The winning start-up of the pitch contest, Limnopharma, earned a prize of €10 000 offered by the Fondation de l’Avenir and its partner Matmut.

The Investor Network is an EIT Health Accelerator programme that supports start-ups by connecting European health-oriented investors and promising start-ups through cross-border financing and co-investments, while also providing coaching for start-ups. This year, they were able to supplement their usual support with this pitch contest, thanks to the support of la Fondation de l’Avenir, a non-profit organisation founded to support applied medical research in surgery, and Matmut group, a key actor in insurance in France.

The competitors

Limnopharma: A biotechnology company focused in the development of novel patented therapies for the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases.

PharmaBiome AG: Pioneers the development of bacterial consortia targeting IBD and oncology, based on their proprietary mixed-culture technology.

Nvigorea AB: Virus removal filter paper ensures highest safety level of bioprocessing and radically enhances production cost-efficiency for protein-based drugs

Accanis Biotech: Exploits mRNA technology to develop innovative, proprietary products to treat high need and large markets (indications NMSC and Skin rejuvenation)

Destina Genomics: Delivers error-free, quantitative , direct, PCR-free detection of RNA biomarkers, without the need for refrigeration, in under three hours.

Eukarys: Unique safe and efficient synthetic gene therapy technology, and high performance bioproduction systems for biologics, based on Eukarÿs proprietary technologies.

Biodata Devices: Vital signs and sythom monitors for remote complex chronic patient monitorinng for telemedicine solutions.

Alma Bio Therapeutics: Pioneers a new class of highly-selective therapeutics for autoimmune diseases that support the immune system rather than suppressing it.

Bingli: An AI powered medical chatbot that improves doctor visits by preparing patients, saving doctors’ time and increasing capacity.

Surge-On Medical: Free-dimensional minimally invasive instruments to empower surgeons. There are only few days left to join their crowdfunding campaign!

The jury

The jury panel for the competition consisted of seven highly distinguished experts of healthcare investment:

• Erik Lavarde, Fondation de l’Avenir
• Juliane Zielonka, Business Angel
• Nick Dunster, European Investment Fund
• Martin Pfister, High Tech Gruenderfonds HTFG
• Niclas Holmberg, Nasdaq North
• Georgina Sorrosal, Invivo Capital
• Stéphane Roecker, Member of EBAN Health

More about the winner

Limnopharma is a biotechnology company founded in March 2019 that specializes in the development of new therapies for the treatment of retinal degeneration diseases. The company is currently developing its first product, a topical solution for the treatment of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a rare inherited disease that can be caused by more than 70 different mutations. Nowadays, RP has only one treatment available that is administered through a subretinal injection, which gives Limnopharma’s treatment a substantial competitive advantage. Moreover, the product is a small molecule that offers the possibility of being capable to treat all the patients regardless of the affected gene. Limnopharma will also test its products for the treatment of Dry-Age-related macular degeneration.