Vanarix raises CHF 4 million to advance cartilage regeneration

Biopôle-based start-up Vanarix has secured CHF 4 million to initiate new clinical trials and automate the manufacturing of its Cartibeads.

Founded in 2018, Vanarix is a Lausanne-based clinical-stage start-up specializing in regenerative medicine, with a focus on articular cartilage regeneration. Despite its small team of three, the company has achieved significant milestones, including raising CHF 4 million from private investors to fund new clinical trials and the implementation of automated manufacturing of Cartibeads.

Cartilage damage, often caused by repetitive trauma, causes pain and disability and can progress to osteoarthritis, a condition that affects more than 300 million people worldwide. Vanarix is addressing this challenge with its patented Cartibeads, the first bioengineered, bead-shaped implants designed to regenerate damaged cartilage. Cartibeads are designed to treat focal lesions and early osteoarthritis by mimicking the high-quality hyaline properties of native articular cartilage.

Cartibeads, a breakthrough in cartilage regeneration

Preclinical data have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of Cartibeads in the treatment of focal knee injuries. Vanarix’s first-generation Cartibeads have been implanted in 10 patients, with significant improvements in pain scores observed in five patients at six months. The second generation, allogeneic Cartibeads, showed promising results in preclinical studies in minipigs and in a clinical study in young horses with osteochondritis dissecans, with good integration and no signs of inflammation or rejection.

Following these successful results, Swissmedic has approved Vanarix to initiate new Phase I/IIa clinical trials with allogeneic Cartibeads. The first two patients will be transplanted at Lugano Hospital, with additional patient recruitment at HUG, Hirslanden/La Colline and Balgrist/Zurich.

This new funding and clinical trial approval is a significant milestone for Vanarix. The company aims to bring Cartibeads to market within the next three years and plans to develop facilities for large-scale, low-cost production. The start-up’s innovative approach to cartilage regeneration promises to improve patients’ lives and address a significant unmet medical need.