Schlieren ZH – Venture Kick has accepted Amporin Pharmaceuticals, BTRY and Checktor Biosciences into the second phase of its funding program. They are developing membrane-protecting therapies for degenerative diseases, a solid-state battery and a novel molecular diagnostic test.
The start-up promoter Venture Kick has selected three young companies for the second phase of financial and entrepreneurial support, according to a press release: Amporin Pharmaceuticals from Basel, battery developer BTRY from Dübendorf ZH and Checktor Biosciences from Zurich. Each company receives 40,000 francs in funding.
Amporin Pharmaceuticals is founded in Basel to develop a new class of small molecule drugs. These can block and eliminate toxic oligomers and pores in the cell membranes. In this way, they protect cells from their lethal effects. More than 50 fatal degenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, diabetes and Parkinson's, are associated with protein aggregation.
BTRY builds a new solid-state battery. It can be recharged within a minute, is non-flammable and works even at extreme temperatures. The Venture Kick funds are intended to support the transition from a spin-off of the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology to a company financed with venture capital.
Checktor Biosciences focuses on the fight against drug-resistant infections with on-site tests. According to the press release, the key to this is the development of rapid diagnostic technologies. Checktor is working with partners around the world and wants to enter the fast-growing market, which is worth over 7 billion dollars. ce/gba