“Innovations need to make it into the clinic”

This year sees Wyss Zurich celebrate its 10th anniversary. What are you particularly proud of as founder and co-director?

Simon Hoerstrup: Reflecting our motto Translating Science into Life, I’m particularly thrilled that we’ve been able to bring a number of excellent projects from UZH and ETH to the point where they’re in the clinical trial phase. Previously, this was virtually impossible within the context and with the resources of traditional academic research funding. I’m also proud that we’ve managed to keep developing the Wyss Zurich funding model over recent years and firmly establish it in the innovation ecosystem at UZH and ETH in Zurich.

How does Wyss Zurich enable this translation from basic research to the clinical trial phase?

Hoerstrup: A basic prerequisite for conducting clinical trials in humans using innovative therapeutic methods is to have regulated and monitored manufacturing processes, which normally can’t be implemented at universities, but only in industry. The initial discussions with Hansjörg Wyss, which ultimately led to the founding of Wyss Zurich, revolved around the question of how, through his support, he could make a difference that extended beyond traditional research funding. At the time, in my research group, we were developing heart implants for children with congenital heart defects that grow along with the children. We were in the phase that involved translating the idea from the research stage to initial clinical application, and we realized that this just wouldn’t be possible with the normal research infrastructure.

Why not?

Hoerstrup: In particular, there was a lack of manufacturing cleanrooms, which are highly regulated and therefore costly infrastructures that you normally only find in industry. Wyss Zurich enabled us to establish this unique infrastructure under the umbrella of a university in Zurich. UZH was truly visionary at the time and recognized early on how important these platforms would be for lots of other research groups as well. Looking at the situation today, Wyss Zurich’s translational infrastructure represents a unique attribute in the research landscape both within Switzerland and internationally, and it’s already enabled a large number of clinical trials to take place.

At the anniversary celebration to mark a decade of Wyss Zurich, there was talk of a paper napkin on which the idea for Wyss Zurich was sketched out during a meal with Hansjörg Wyss. What was written on this napkin?

Hoerstrup: To put it very simply, the napkin depicted the two technology platforms that exist today – Regenerative Medicine and Robotics – and this typical funnel that a scientific innovation has to pass through to become a marketable product. On this path, there’s what’s known as the valley of death, the transition from research to first clinical application. It’s often not financially viable, technically very demanding and requires the infrastructure described above that the regulatory authorities demand. This is why lots of projects fail at this phase. The idea was to conceptionally position Wyss Zurich in this very place.

Was it this idea that convinced Hansjörg Wyss?

Hoerstrup: Yes. It was clear to him as an entrepreneur that real innovations are usually technologically complex, and yet they still have to make it to the clinical trial phase. And the model of longer-term translational funding in the academic setting creates stability. The Wyss Zurich model with the innovation funnel that was originally sketched out on the napkin is now a key element of our visual identity, and it also features on our homepage.

The collaboration between UZH and ETH is a key element of Wyss Zurich. What’s behind this?

Hoerstrup: It’s very much shaped by the experience Hansjörg Wyss had when he founded his first Wyss Institute in Boston. When he did this, he was keen to establish closer links between Harvard and MIT. This has now been achieved in Zurich: regenerative medicine at UZH, robotics at ETH. The vision is for the two disciplines to inspire each other and ideally increasingly merge together into bionics, combining biology and technology.

How do UZH and ETH benefit from each other?

Hoerstrup: One example is the skin grafts for treating burns in children, which are being developed from endogenous cells by the Wyss Zurich company CUTISS. This is an extremely complex and expensive process. ETH has supported us by providing automation robots and bioreactors that are replacing and standardizing lots of manual steps. These are exactly the kind of synergies that Hansjörg Wyss had in mind.

What do scientists get if they approach Wyss Zurich with a project?

Hoerstrup: First of all, we’ll review the project: has the basic research been completed, and is there already a proof of concept in principle? Is it scientifically excellent? Does it have the potential to solve a real medical problem? And does it have the potential to deliver a successful product? This evaluation is made on various committees made up of scientists, clinicians and experts from industry. If a project is accepted by the Wyss Board, the teams get access to our infrastructure, coaching for the translation, assistance with regulatory matters and expertise to help them find financial backers. It’s important to note that Wyss Zurich supports innovative projects at the project level during the early phase. Subsequent investments in the companies that ideally then emerge from this are the preserve of venture capital, strategic investors or other financial market participants.

What advantages does Wyss Zurich offer compared to conventional venture capital?

Hoerstrup: When venture capital is involved, this often forces a technology to be nailed down prematurely or curtailed, and the primary reason for this is often simply economic logic. Then it’s normally almost impossible to take any steps back or modify the design. However, complex medical technologies tend to get better and therefore safer, especially in their early phase of development, if researchers can continue to engage closely with their academic partners and incorporate new findings into the technological developments at any stage. They can do this with us because we at Wyss Zurich are deeply embedded within the academic environment of UZH and ETH.

How do you submit an application to Wyss Zurich?

Hoerstrup: The projects generally come from UZH or ETH and are based on the knowledge and patents developed at these institutions. We want projects with translational maturity that are among the best in their field anywhere in the world. In terms of fields, we focus on regenerative medicine, robotics, medical technology and bionics.

When is the right time to come to you?

Hoerstrup: Once the research has been completed, with a patent, proof of concept and a motivated team. If a company has already been founded and there are investors on board, we can’t usually provide any more support at this stage.

Hansjörg Wyss said at the anniversary celebration that now was the time to take stock? Have you already done so and, if so, what was the verdict?

Hoerstrup: We’ve already had the chance to engage in close discussions with Hansjörg Wyss and the verdict is incredibly positive. There are challenges during the phase of transition to create a startup, which means turning a project into a company. This is where academic structures reach their limits. We try to promote and establish entrepreneurial thinking at an early stage, for example by involving experienced entrepreneurs in residence who can provide advice to the startups, or by offering entrepreneurship programs such as the BioEntrepreneurship & Innovation Program at UZH to young researchers.

What are the goals for the next 10 years?

Hoerstrup: As an organization, we want to keep learning, strengthen our entrepreneurial mindset and, in terms of disciplines, focus in particular on continuing to expand bionics, which is the interaction between biology, electronics and technology. In the medium and long term, we want to see Wyss Zurich become increasingly self-sustaining, courtesy of the financial returns from our startup companies and commercialized patents.

Will Hansjörg Wyss continue to support Wyss Zurich?

Hoerstrup: We’re hoping to receive a third donation from Hansjörg Wyss. This would help us bridge the phase until returns that we receive from the startup companies and licenses can cover a substantial proportion of our costs. But it’s not just about the financial support, which has already been exceptionally generous. The ability that Hansjörg Wyss has to quickly spot the strengths and weaknesses of projects and the potential of new technologies is truly remarkable. Working alongside him as a committed member of the Board of Trustees of the Wyss Zurich Foundation is a great privilege and an experience that has made a great impression on me personally.