FluoSphera raises CHF 1.15 million to scale human-based preclinical drug testing

Geneva-based biotech start-up FluoSphera has raised CHF 1.15 million in a funding round led by Soulmates Ventures, alongside a Swiss business angel and IndieBio. The new capital will support the scaling of commercial collaborations, business development activities, and further investment in automation and artificial intelligence for large-scale imaging analysis.

A spin-off from the University of Geneva, FluoSphera develops human-based preclinical testing systems designed to improve the prediction of drug safety and efficacy. The company previously received early support through the Geneva innovation ecosystem, including seed funding via the Fongit Innovation Fund. Its technology addresses a critical challenge in pharmaceutical development, where more than 90% of drug candidates fail during clinical trials due in part to limitations of existing preclinical models.

A multiplexed approach to human-relevant drug testing

FluoSphera has developed a patented multiplexed in vitro platform that combines up to six or seven human tissue models within a single experimental well. Using proprietary fluorescent coding, each tissue can be independently tracked, enabling researchers to observe interactions between organs and assess both efficacy and potential toxicity earlier in the drug development process. The approach aims to overcome the limits of traditional 2D cell cultures and animal models, which often fail to accurately reflect human biology.

The company already collaborates with biotech and pharmaceutical partners, particularly in antibody-drug conjugate testing, and works with Revvity in the field of high-throughput screening. With the new funding, FluoSphera plans to expand its presence in the United States and Europe, while taking initial steps toward the Asian market, positioning its platform as a scalable alternative aligned with evolving regulatory frameworks encouraging non-animal testing.