MetAlead gains CHF 1M Investment for Wilson’s Disease Therapy
basel — May 17,2024 —
metalead,a biotech company from Zurich,received CHF 1 million to enhance its work on a novel therapy. The investment from the UZH Life Sciences Fund will accelerate the development of a treatment for Wilson’s disease. Funding recipients announced the news, highlighting the vital research efforts, with the primary aim of developing more effective treatments for this rare genetic condition. Explore the potential of peptide-based therapy with us.
MetAlead Gains CHF 1 Million Investment to Advance Wilson’s Disease Therapy
Basel/Zurich – MetAlead,a biotech company originating from the University of Zurich (UZH),has received CHF 1 million in funding from the UZH Life Sciences Fund (LSF). This investment is earmarked to accelerate the advancement of a novel treatment for Wilson’s disease, a rare genetic disorder characterized by copper accumulation in the body.
The Investment and Its Purpose
The UZH Life Sciences Fund,a partnership between the UZH Foundation and the Novartis Venture Fund,provides early-stage financing to UZH spin-offs with promising business ideas rooted in the university’s life sciences,biotech,and medtech research. This funding is designed to bridge the gap between academic discovery and commercial application.
According to a notice
from the UZH Life Sciences Fund, the investment will specifically support MetAlead in advancing its proprietary peptide-based and metal-binding therapeutic platform. This platform aims to offer a more effective and better-tolerated choice to existing chelation therapies for Wilson’s disease.
Wilson’s Disease: An Unmet Medical Need
Wilson’s disease results in a toxic buildup of copper,leading to meaningful damage to the central nervous system and kidneys. Current treatment options are limited, highlighting the urgent need for improved therapies. MetAlead’s approach focuses on developing a treatment that addresses these limitations.
leadership Outlook
Michio Painter, investment manager at the LSF, expressed enthusiasm for supporting MetAlead, stating:
We are very happy to support MetAlead. Michal Shoshan and her team have proven a unique ability to discover and optimize peptides for the treatment of metal diseases.Michio Painter, Investment Manager at the LSF
Michal Shoshan, co-founder and CEO of MetAlead, emphasized the significance of the investment:
enables us to accelerate our preclinical development in the direction of ind-capable studies. We are steadfast to cover the urgent need for better therapies for Wilson disease, especially for patients with neurological symptoms.Michal Shoshan, Co-founder and CEO of MetAlead
Shoshan described the investment as an significant milestone
for the company.
About MetAlead
MetAlead, a spin-off from the University of Zurich, is based in Basel and was founded in Dübendorf ZH. The company is focused on developing innovative therapies for metal-related diseases, with a particular emphasis on Wilson’s disease. The team is composed of almost exclusively female scientists.
