T3 Pharmaceuticals wins highest endowed award for startup companies in Switzerland

T3 Pharmaceuticals AG – a biotech company in Basel focused on immunooncology – wins the W.A. de Vigier Foundation’s highest endowed award for startup companies in Switzerland with CHF 100,000 in prize money.

«We are honored to receive the W.A. de Vigier Foundation’s oldest and highest endowed sponsorship award and would like to thank the foundation and foundation board for recognizing the potential of our immuno-oncology approach. Our thanks also go to the University of Basel, our partners and supporters and, particularly to our investors, with whom we have joined forces to move this project ahead. A special gratitude goes to the Grisard family, who donated our price», commented Simon Ittig, CEO of T3 Pharma. At yesterday’s award ceremony in Solothurn, the Foundation awarded ten prizes in total: five prizes of CHF 100 000 and five prizes of CHF 50 000. Five winning companies were awarded from a record number of 256 applications in a multi-step selection process  – T3 Pharma was one of those top five startup companies.

For three decades, the W.A. de Vigier Foundation has awarded the highest endowed startup prize in Switzerland, independently and with no strings attached. The Foundation places particular importance on the entrepreneur’s personality. In addition, the following aspects are relevant for the evaluation: the degree of innovation, the value for society as a whole, the technical and financial viability, market prospects and the potential for job creation.

The targeted Cancer Therapy using bacteria of T3 Pharmaceuticals was convincing. Cancer immunotherapy is seen as a turning point in the fight against cancer: Unlike traditional therapies that attack the tumor directly, T3 Pharma’s immunotherapy stimulates the immune system to selectively recognize and attack tumor cells. «Our bacteria provide a powerful and versatile platform» says Christoph Kasper, CSO of T3 Pharma. «The collected results confirm the medical potential of our immuno-oncological therapy. Work to complete the preclinical package for the lead candidate is well advanced and preparations for clinical development have been initiated», adds Simon Ittig, CEO of T3 Pharma, who convinced the jury not only with his idea but also with his spirit.