Aargau, Switzerland: The Ideal Location for a Pharmaceutical Start-Up


Thursday, March 01, 2012 by Aargau Services

Curodont™: An uninvested invention. An ingenious product idea. An optimal location. Dominik Lysek is certain: The world has been waiting for a medical device for regenerating tooth enamel.

"The product idea is a mean for the remineralization and/or the regeneration of tooth enamel. In the future, this new product should give dentists the opportunity of counter acting tooth decay in addition to mere drilling and filling," explains Dominik Lysek. "The product was invented and patented by the University of Leeds, UK. Researchers are good at research, but have no experience development. I want to introduce curodont to the market by cooperating with the right partners. I am anticipating a time horizon of two more years." Lysek continues: "The product market approval process is anticipated to be concluded by the end of the year. As for curodont™ itself, I am very confident; we have very good first clinical data. That provides us with the necessary assurance. Curodont is applicable to early cavities, to hypersensitive teeth, bleaching damage and secondary caries around fillings. It might even be able to seal the surface and thereby stop tooth erosion."

Invented by the University of Leeds

Dominik Lysek became aware of the technology from the University of Leeds during his time at Geistlich Pharma AG. Geistlich Pharma AG knew about the research work and supported the research in the area of bone regeneration for its own purposes: "For me it was already perfectly clear that enamel regeneration was the real breakthrough that could be achieved with the technology. Some time later - I was no longer working at Geistlich - I asked a colleague about the status of the invention. We investigated and found out: the idea remained untapped. We put together a business case and decided to develop a product from the idea - together with the University of Leeds. Because for me it was clear: the world was waiting for a device that could regenerate tooth enamel!" By now we have secured a first financing round of 2.5 Mio CHF, and have achieved several important milestones.

Looking back, Dominik Lysek can hardly believe that he succeeded. He said: "It was fortuitous. For Geistlich, it was not their core market and for the University of Leeds, research and not development is the focus. Why did I get the rights to the idea? Maybe I was the most persistent. In addition, this know-how is not widespread, and now I am benefiting from the fact that I have a good network and many good and direct contacts with universities and professors in dentistry."

Aargau as the ideal location

"Aargau is located spot-on for me," Dominik Lysek emphasizes. "Super transportation facilities, a terrific infrastructure that can even keep up with that of Zurich, and short distances to the pharmaceutical stronghold Basel and the commercial center of Zurich: The Technopark in Windisch gave me some valuable options. During the founding phase of credentis, I was living in the so-called office hotel of the Technopark. Since then we have a 25m2 Technopark office, and will move into larger facilities in 2012. I think the commitment of the canton's Economic Promotion Office, Aargau Services, is outstanding. I am happy about the startup support and believe that I will be able to build upon the support of Aargau Services in the area of coaching, networking, and contacts."