Flowbone receives a tech seed loan of 100K to prevent hip fractures
© 2021 Flowbone
Founded in 2020, the EPFL startup Flowbone has developed a bioactive gel for the local treatment of osteoporosis, a disease that weakens bones. Directly injected into the areas to be treated, the gel restores bone strength within few weeks and prevents fractures. Thanks to the CHF 100’000 Tech Seed loan from FIT, flowbone will be able to acquire production equipment to pursue the company’s development.
Every year, some two million hip fractures affect osteoporotic patients, causing dramatic damage to the victims. The proportion of patients who succumb to injury within the first year is nearly 20% and half of the survivors are never able to walk again without help. Today, doctors lack quick solutions as anti-osteoporotic drugs are slow acting and not very efficient for the hips.
In order to strengthen osteoporotic bones and provide a fast-acting solution, flowbone has developed its own gel-like biomaterial. The product is injected directly into the patient’s bone through a procedure under local anesthesia. This solution is primarily intended to treat locally osteoporosis of the hip bones as this is one of the areas most affected by the disease. A first fracture often leads to others, which can be anticipated with the bioactive gel. This process helps to protect patients from devastating fractures and to preserve their mobility and independence.
Created in July 2020, flowbone was founded by four EPFL alumni: Ulrike Kettenberger, Valérie Malfroy Camine, Régis Gauderon and Dominique Pioletti, who convinced and gained support from Eurostars, InnoSuisse, Venture Kick, the Canton of Vaud and EIT Health. flowbone also received the PERL 2021 award and was named a De Vigier finalist. With its growing success, the start-up is targeting the US and European markets.
The funds from the FIT Tech Seed loan of CHF 100’000 will allow flowbone to develop its production with the acquisition of new equipment. flowbone is currently conducting preclinical testing until the end of 2023 and will then start the first human trials. The flowbone team is also preparing to file for a Seed fundraising.
Contact:
Ulrike Kettenberger
CEO & co-founder
[email protected]