The founders of UPyTher had an exceptional summer. The company received a €2.8 million grant from Europe and the Province of North Brabant for the collaboration with SupraPolix to bring a novel and improved therapy to patients with peritoneal cancer. Not long after, UPyTher announced the company attracted seed financing to advance the development of its lead product UPT-211. And as the icing on the cake the start-up, a spin-out from Eindhoven University of Technology, was rewarded with the prestigious Anton and Gerard Award. It’s time for an interim report on UPyTher’s journey with co-founder Geert van Almen.
Congratulations on the Award and securing new funding, Geert. Could you start by telling us what UPyTher does?
“Thank you! UPyTher is focused on improving intraperitoneal drug delivery using advanced materials technology. We specialize in creating therapeutic formulations that increase drug retention and exposure directly within the peritoneal cavity, which is crucial for treating peritoneal cancer, a lesser-known but deadly consequence of more common cancers like colon, ovarian, and gastric cancer.”
How far along is the development process?
“We’ve made significant progress. Initially, our research aimed to enhance the efficacy, safety, and simplicity of intraperitoneal therapy to align with current clinical practices. We’ve achieved a pre-clinical proof of concept in rodents and have successfully scaled our technology for human application using standard laparoscopic procedures. Our current seed funding will support the pre-clinical tests needed before we move to clinical trials.”
Reflecting on the journey from academia to a startup, what have you learned about developing a product?
“Transitioning from an academic to a startup mindset was a major shift. We’ve learned to be more ambitious with our timelines and prioritize getting our solution to patients as quickly as possible. Although our core goals have remained consistent, we now operate with a heightened focus on efficiency, spurred by both patient need and investor expectations.”
Early on, you engaged with key opinion leaders. How did you establish those connections?
“Our connection with the clinical community started with Professor Ignace de Hingh, a surgical oncologist from Catharina Hospital who was actively seeking solutions for treating peritoneal cancer. This collaboration began through an academic project and has evolved into a lasting partnership that has deeply influenced our product development.”
Now that you have investors on board, how has your perspective on the business changed?
“Having investors is reassuring, but it also reinforces our accountability. It’s not just about funding; our investors contribute valuable insights and experiences that help us navigate the complexities of product development. Their involvement is more of a partnership, which helps us refine our strategies and accelerate our path to market.”
What’s the next major milestone for UPyTher?
“The next step is to setup the methods for production and conducting our pivotal preclinical GLP-toxstudies. These steps are critical for demonstrating our ability to manufacture at commercial scale and ensure safety before we proceed to clinical trials. These studies are essential for moving our product from the laboratory to actual patient use. And we are looking forward to it!”
