Anake, REMA and MechaGel receive an Innogrant

Anake

The EPFL-based startup project Anake aims to cure cardiac fibrosis. In 2021, over 800 million people were affected by conditions which resulted in heart attacks. These conditions range from hypertension, to coronary heart disease, to diabetes. After a heart attack, the heart muscle becomes scarred, dramatically impairing how it works. In most cases, cardiac fibrosis progresses to heart failure. At the moment, there is no cure for cardiac fibrosis – the condition can only be managed through pain management drugs and beta blockers. These are costly, inconvenient, and don’t reduce the risk of heart failure.

Anake have developed a breakthrough therapy which they hope will cure cardiac fibrosis after a single dose using NK (Natural Killer) cells to target active fibroblasts (the cells that cause the heart scarring).

The team will use their grant to run preclinical analysis and define the regulatory parameters required for clinical trials.

Contacts:
Mathieu Girardin and Angela Madurga Alonso

REMA

REMA is an EPFL-based deeptech startup project with the potential to revolutionize the way we produce green hydrogen.

The need for sustainable technologies for the production, storage, transportation, and usage of energy is rising. Due to its many applications as well as its storage capacity, green hydrogen is considered the Swiss Army knife of decarbonization. It is a prime environmentally-friendly alternative to fossil fuels. It can be produced from renewable energy and water and turn back to water when burned.

To produce green hydrogen gas, companies use a technique called electrolysis, to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen gas is then compressed or liquefied and can in turn be used as a power source. Yet the price and capacity of production is a problem. A cheaper, more efficient, and more reliable electrolyzer that can be mass-produced rapidly is therefore vital if green hydrogen is to become a viable alternative to fossil fuels.

The REMA team have patented a breakthrough membrane-less electrolysis technology (see picture of the prototype hereunder) which is more robust, can operate at a higher temperature, and is more efficient than current systems. The team will use the next year to scale their technology and prepare for incorporation in 2024.

Contacts:
Steven Schenk and Ioakeim Sioutis

MechaGel

MechaGel – an EPFL technology based in the Pioletti Laboratory of Biomechanical Orthopedics - has developed a new minimally-invasive method of repairing cartilage damage.

Cartilage is a strong, flexible tissue that protects joints and bones, acting a bit like a shock absorber. Joint cartilage covers the surface of bones where they meet – such as at your knee, elbow, or hip. However, despite its strength, cartilage can become damaged through injury, age, or disease. Cartilage damage does not heal and so can lead to swelling, difficulty moving, further degeneration and chronic pain. While there are ways of repairing cartilage, they often fail as the “scaffolds” used aren’t malleable enough to fit completely with the original cartilage.

To combat this challenge, the MechaGel team have developed an adhesive hydrogel technology (see picture hereunder) that can be injected directly into the patient. The gel sticks to the existing cartilage and increases the speed of tissue repair.

The team will use their Innogrant to develop a prototype, establish their manufacturing process, and undertake further preclinical trials. They hope move to human clinical trials by 2025.

Contact:
Peyman Karami