Investors confirm constant trust in company’s recent development work
Jena/Erfurt. The Foundation for Technology, Innovation and Research Thuringia (STIFT) has had a share in SmartDyeLivery since 2018. Now, the company's latest milestone has also motivated another private investor to increase their investment.
The approval of BfArM to conduct a first clinical trial on healthy human subjects proves the success of SmartDyeLivery's work and is the next step towards the development of a specific therapy for septic liver failure. The investment in this patented platform technology is promising and will soon show its potential in humans for the first time.
Dr. Sven Günther and Christiane Kilian, CEOs of STIFT, are enthusiastic about SmartDyeLivery's progress so far: "We are particularly interested in strengthening young companies and the players behind them. SmartDyeLivery's innovative approach has proven itself in the preclinical setting and we are pleased to be able to support the company's next step – the transition into the clinical stage." With the help of the raised investment, SmartDyeLivery will be able to continue the development of innovative nanotherapies to treat various diseases in a more targeted manner.
About SmartDyeLivery: SmartDyeLivery from Jena is developing universal platform technology based on functionalised nanoparticles with which medicine or other cargo can be transported specifically to the desired organ. The aim is to provide new therapeutic options for diseases that were previously untreatable or difficult to treat. The innovative, patent-protected technology can also be used for diagnostic or theranostic applications.
For further information, please visit: www.smartdyelivery.de/en
About the STIFT: The STIFT supports, promotes and accompanies innovative technology-oriented and innovative business start-ups in Thuringia, Germany, within the ThEx project. The STIFT also invests in selected high-tech start-ups as a co-investor during the early stages of financing. For its investment activities, the degree of innovation of the founding idea and the entrepreneurial potential form the main criteria. The regional focus of those investments is Thuringia.
For further information, please visit: www.stift-thueringen.de
Contact:
Dr. Marc Lehmann
CEO
SmartDyeLivery GmbH
Botzstraße 5
07743 Jena
Christiane Kilian & Dr. Sven Günther
Management Board
Stiftung für Technologie, Innovation und Forschung Thüringen (STIFT)
Häßlerstraße 8
99096 Erfurt
New alliance to develop innovative approaches for the treatment of infections
Jena/Gera. The RUBIN Alliance "ATHANA" (antifungal therapy approaches with nanoparticle-based targeting of drugs) is developing innovative therapeutic approaches for the treatment of infectious diseases, in particular fungal infections. Fungal infections are a major challenge for modern medicine, especially when treatment is only initiated at an advanced stage of the disease due to the difficulty of diagnosis. Therefore, the WHO has recently called for prioritising the development of antimycotics.
The ATHANA alliance brings together companies and research institutions from Thuringia that are leaders in pharmaceutical biotechnology and the infection and clinical research sector. They combine their expertise in the fields of drug development, nanotechnology and infection research with the aim of developing innovative therapies. Specifically, the aim is to develop functionalised nanoparticles that deliver drugs precisely to where they are needed in the body.
The alliance is coordinated by SmartDyeLivery. The other regional alliance partners are Jena Bioscience, BioControl Jena, Dynamic42, Hapila, Dyomics, the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI) and the Jena University Hospital, all supported by the Thuringian Cluster Management of LEG.
Together, they aim to save human lives with innovative therapies and to develop the region into the European heart of anti-infective nanotechnologies. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding the project with a total funding volume of almost 6 million euros over three years as part of the RUBIN program - Regional Entrepreneurial Alliances for Innovation.
In addition to scientific expertise, the alliance partners cover the entire value chain for successful pharmaceutical development of nanoparticle-based dosage forms for the treatment of invasive fungal infections. The alliance aims to establish versatile platform technology for the use of target-guided nanoparticles for the treatment of infectious diseases. By targeting disease with medicine via functionalised nanoparticles, it will be possible to increase efficacy and reduce side effects due to the smaller quantities of drugs involved. With the help of a modular construction system, the innovative platform will permit the flexible production of therapeutic nanoparticles with different types of functionality for the treatment of infectious diseases. To this end, the partners will develop and apply bioinformatic methods, innovative three-dimensional cell culture models, new synthesis and stabilisation processes as well as complex testing and analysis procedures, among other things.
After the convincing performance of the alliance in the concept phase within the two-stage application procedure, it was able to win the contract ahead of 53 competitors in a procedure with 17 other alliances, and the project has now entered the implementation phase. Alliance coordinator and CEO of SmartDyeLivery, Dr Marc Lehmann, is looking forward to emphasising the focus of infection research in Thuringia and to leading this project to success.
The ATHANA alliance builds on many years of successful cooperation between the various industrial and research partners. The project is complementary to the PolyTarget Collaborative Research Centre funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the BMBF-funded InfectControl network.
About SmartDyeLivery: SmartDyeLivery from Jena is developing universal platform technology based on functionalised nanoparticles with which medicine or other cargo can be transported specifically to the desired organ. The aim is to provide new therapeutic options for diseases that were previously untreatable or difficult to treat. The innovative, patent-protected technology can also be used for diagnostic or theranostic applications.
About Jena Bioscience (JBS): JBS has long-standing expertise in the production, preservation and labelling of nucleotides/nucleosides. The company also specialises in the modification of biomolecules with the help of linker systems and coupling methods. For more information, please visit www.jenabioscience.com
About BioControl Jena GmbH (BCJ): BioControl Jena is a service provider for the analysis and optimisation of biodata and processes, bioinformatics and systems biology, statistics (including consulting), result visualisation and model development in various areas of life sciences. For more information, please visit www.biocontrol-jena.com
About Dynamic42 GmbH (D42): D42 was founded in 2018 as a spin-off of the Jena University Hospital. The start-up develops and sells human microphysiological systems (organ-on-chip technology) that enable toxicity screenings and ADMET studies. For more information, visit www.dynamic42.com
About Hapila GmbH: Hapila GmbH, based in Gera, Germany, has extensive expertise in the field of organic synthesis of active ingredients across all stages of development up to clinical trial samples and market products. Hapila has long been familiar with regulatory issues in drug development, GMP manufacturing (quality) and stability testing. For more information, please visit www.hapila.de
About Dyomics GmbH: Dyomics GmbH has many years of experience and extensive expertise in the field of diagnostic fluorescent dyes, which can also be used for selective targeting. For more than 20 years, a proprietary product portfolio has been offered worldwide for a wide range of applications in the life sciences. For more information, please visit www.dyomics.com
About Leibniz-HKI: As an academic institution, Leibniz-HKI has, for many years, been an international leader in research on the infection biology of human-pathogenic fungi and the identification of new anti-infective agents. The Leibniz-HKI is experienced in the development of medicines up to clinical trials and has a library of its own active substances. For more information, please visit www.leibniz-hki.de
About Jena University Hospital (UKJ): Jena University Hospital (UKJ) is the only university medical centre in Thuringia and the largest employer in the region with almost 7,000 employees. The medical faculty educates 2,700 medical, dental and master's students. Scientists from over 50 nations do research here. The focus is on sepsis and infection research, ageing and ageing-associated diseases as well as medical optics and photonics. More than 300,000 inpatients and outpatients are treated in the UKJ's clinics and polyclinics every year. For more information, please visit www.uniklinikum-jena.de
First-time testing of nanocarriers with targeted drug delivery on human subjects
Jena. The Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) has given permission to SmartDyeLivery to transition its first product into the clinical phase. Thus, nanocarriers that are developed for the treatment of septic liver failure can be tested on healthy subjects for the very first time.
With this, SmartDyeLivery has reached an important milestone. CEO Dr Marc Lehmann is enthusiastic about the latest developments: “We are very happy to have been given the official approval for the trial. After years of research and developemt, we are now a lot closer to providing a specific therapy for septic liver failure“.
In July 2022, the company based in Jena had successfully finalized the preclinical tests for the development of nanocarriers functionalized for targeted drug delivery. These tests are one of the Higher Federal Authority’s essential requirements for the application to perform human trials. Additionally, the production of nanocarriers had been transferred into a “good-manufacturing-practice“ (GMP)-environment. GMP is a quality management principle to ensure constant quality standards in the production and testing of drugs. On the long road to the permission of a new drug, the company gains motivation not only from developmental success but also from the enduring support by its investors.
SmartDyeLivery’s first product aims at providing a treatment for patients with septic liver failure. This diagnosis is associated with a mortality rate of over 90 %.
The first-in-human study will be executed on healthy subjects, with the aim to confirm tolerability and safety of the nanocarriers.
About SmartDyeLivery: Jena-based SmartDyeLivery GmbH is developing a universal platform technology based on functionalized nanoparticles that can be used to transport active ingredients or other cargos to the desired site of action. The company´s aim is to provide new therapeutic options for diseases that have previously been untreatable or extremely difficult to treat. The innovative, patented technology can also be used for diagnostic or theragnostic applications.
Financing round reflects trust in the potential of innovative nanotherapies
Erfurt/Jena. Using nanoparticles to deliver active substances specifically to diseased organs - with this concept and the latest preclinical study results, SmartDyeLivery GmbH once again convinced its investors. The lead investor, bm-t beteiligungsmanagement thüringen gmbh (bm|t), as well as a private investor from the existing consortium invest millions and secure the further growth of the innovative company from Jena.
"We are very enthusiastic with the development results achieved and are very grateful for the continued trust of our investors - especially in the current period with such unpredictable challenges," explains CEO Dr. Marc Lehmann. "The latest results from the non-clinical registration studies make it clear that the company is on the right track with the first application of the platform technology for septic liver failure," said Stefan Jahn, senior investment manager at bm|t. The new capital will now be used to prepare and carry out the first application in humans.
About SmartDyeLivery: Jena-based SmartDyeLivery GmbH is developing a universal platform technology based on functionalized nanoparticles that can be used to transport active ingredients or other cargos to the desired site of action. The company´s aim is to provide new therapeutic options for diseases that have previously been untreatable or extremely difficult to treat. The innovative, patented technology can also be used for diagnostic or theragnostic applications.
Further information can be found at: www.smartdyelivery.de/en/
About bm|t: Erfurt-based bm|t is a subsidiary of the Thüringer Aufbaubank and the leading address for equity investments in Thüringen, Germany. bm|t currently manages nine funds with a total volume of around EUR 350 million and invests in innovative companies across almost all sectors and in all phases of company development.
Further information about bm|t is available at: www.bm-t.com
Contact:
Dr. Marc Lehmann
CEO
SmartDyeLivery GmbH
Botzstraße 5
07743 Jena
Stefan Jahn
Senior Investment Manager
bm-t beteiligungsmanagement thüringen gmbh
Gorkistraße 9
99084 Erfurt
Picture source: © Sylvia Braunsdorf
Picture (f.l.): Dr. Marc Lehmann (CEO SmartDyeLivery GmbH), Dennis Sippach (Geschäftsführer IVOC-X GmbH), Prof. Dr. Ulrich S. Schubert (Stiftung Nanotechnologie)
Die Initiative „Operation Luftschloss“ der Stiftung Nanotechnologie initiiert insgesamt die Beschaffung von 17 High-End-Luftreinigern „Made in Jena & Saale-Holzland-Kreis“ für Schulen in Jena. Übergabe von 14 Geräten am Freitag, den 19. März 2021
Die aktuelle Pandemielage erfordert besondere Maßnahmen, damit in Schulen und Kindergärten ein sicherer Unterricht bzw. eine sichere Betreuung möglich ist. Luftreinigungsgeräte sorgen dafür, dass SARS-CoV-2-Viren, aber auch Influenzaviren und andere Pathogene aus der Luft gefiltert werden und ihre Verbreitung gestoppt bzw. verringert wird.Ein weiterer Pluspunkt: Diese Geräte helfen auch bei Pollenflug und Feinstaubbelastung.
Die Investition in Luftreinigungsgeräte ist dabei eine langfristige Lösung, die nicht erst entwickelt werden muss, sondern jetzt schon umgesetzt werden kann. Der “Operation Luftschloss“ haben sich nun weitere Unternehmen in Jena angeschlossen, unterstützt durch Spenden von Privatpersonen und direkten Initiativen in Schulen. Dies erlaubt die Bereitstellung von weiteren Geräten an die:
Þ Staatliche Grundschule Friedrich Schiller Jena (Förderer JENOPTIK AG)
Þ Karl-Volkmar-Stoy-Schule (Förderer SmartDyeLivery GmbH)
Þ DRK Bilinguale Ganztagsgrundschule DUALINGO (Förderer Sparkasse Jena-Saale-Holzland)
Þ Angergymnasium Jena (Förderer HGE Real Estate GmbH und Auto-Scholz-AVS GmbH)
Þ Westschule Jena (Förderer Eltern der Klasse 2a)
Þ Christliches Gymnasium Jena (Förderer microfluidic ChipShop GmbH und Volksbank Gera-Jena-Rudolstadt)
Þ Staatliche Grundschule Talschule Jena (3 Geräte, Förderer OLPE Jena GmbH)
Þ Westschule Jena (Förderer Eltern Westschule, Mitglieder der FDP-Stadtratsfraktion,weitere Spender)
Zum Einsatz kommen Geräte der Firmen IVOC-X GmbH Clean Air aus Jena (FX1.000) sowie NESTRO Lufttechnik GmbH aus Schkölen (VITAPOINT® 3000). Beide Firmen unterstützen die „Operation Luftschloss“ zusätzlich mit Gerätespenden über die Stiftung Nanotechnologie:
Þ Staatliche Gemeinschaftsschule "An der Trießnitz" Jena (Förderer IVOC-X GmbH)
Þ Evangelische Grundschule Jena (Förderer NESTRO Lufttechnik GmbH)
Þ Staatliche Grundschule Talschule Jena (Förderer IVOC-X GmbH)
Þ Freie Waldorfschule Jena (Förderer IVOC-X GmbH)
Der Finanzvorstand der JENOPTIK AG, Hans-Dieter Schumacher, erläutert über die Motivation: „Als Hightech-Unternehmen möchten wir diese Aktion unterstützen, um sicherere Rahmenbedingungen für Betreuung und Unterricht in den Schulen und Kindergärten in Jena zu ermöglichen. Damit kann der Hochtechnologie- und Wissenschaftsstandort Jena hier auch als Beispiel für Thüringen und Deutschland fungieren.“ Auch die Sparkasse Jena-Saale-Holzland,
erster Akteur bei einer Spende eines Gerätes an das Sportgymnasium, beteiligt sich mit einer weiteren Spende. „Wir freuen uns als ein in Stadt und Landkreis tätiges Unternehmen, der DRK Bilinguale Ganztagsgrundschule DUALINGO in Jena einen mobilen Luftreiniger der Firma NESTRO aus Schkölen als kostenlose Dauerleihgabe zur Verfügung stellen zu können“, so Vorstandsmitglied Herr Thomas Schütze. Auch Hightech Start-ups aus Jena unterstützen die
Aktion: „Als Ausgründung der Universität Jena und des Universitätsklinikums mit vielen jungen Eltern als Mitarbeitern ist es uns ein großes Anliegen, die „Operation Luftschloss“ nach Kräften zu fördern“, so Dr. Marc Lehmann, Geschäftsführer der SmartDyeLivery GmbH. Gleich drei Geräte übernimmt die OLPE Jena GmbH, ein weiteres wird von microfluidic ChipShop GmbH und der Volksbank Gera-Jena-Rudolstadt gespendet sowie eins von HGE Real Estate GmbH und Auto-Scholz-AVS GmbH. Aber auch direkte Initiativen von Eltern sind hervorzuheben.
So haben Eltern der Klasse 2a aus der Westschule in einer gemeinsamen Spendenaktion ein Gerät ermöglicht. Final wurde ein weiteres Gerät durch eine größere Zahl von Kleinspenden sowie von Stadtratsmitgliedern ermöglicht: „Die Diskussionen im Stadtrat der Stadt Jena hat mich und weitere Mitglieder der FDP-Fraktion motiviert, hier direkt mit Spenden unserer bisherigen Aufwandsentschädigungen aus 2021 zu unterstützen“, so Prof. Dr. Clemens Beckstein.
Weiterhin unterstützen die Herstellerfirmen NESTRO Lufttechnik GmbH aus Schkölen sowie IVOC-X GmbH Clean Air aus Jena mit direkten Gerätespenden an die Stiftung Nanotechnologie die „Operation Luftschloss“. Zusammen mit der Privatspende von Herrn Marco Scheidler an die Westschule konnten damit innerhalb von nur vier Wochen mit diesem bürgerlichen, gesellschaftlichen und privatwirtschaftlichen Engagement 17 professionelle mobile Luftreinigungsgeräte
in Schulen verschiedenster Träger in Jena bereitgestellt werden.
Kathrin Vitzthum (Landesvorsitzende der Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft Thüringen) begrüßt für die GEW Thüringen diese Initiative: „Es ist beeindruckend, wie in Jena diese Initiative vorankommt. Nun sind die Träger und das Land Thüringen gefordert. Schüler:innen sowie deren Erzieher:innen und Lehrer:innen müssen geschützt werden, damit die Schulen und Kindergärten offengehalten werden können“.
Jeder kann helfen – Spenden Sie mit!
Die Stiftung Nanotechnologie unterstützt den Einsatz der Nanotechnologie – in diesem Fallder Nano-Filtertechnik. Diese effektive Technik entfernt Aerosole im Nano- bis Mikrometerbereich – und ist besonders geeignet im Kampf gegen Coronaviren und andere Pathogene. Um noch mehr Schul- und Kindergartenkinder, Lehrer und Lehrerinnen und Erzieher und Erzieherinnen zu erreichen, wird um Spenden an die gemeinnützige Stiftung gebeten:
Stiftung Nanotechnologie, DE21830530300018021182, Sparkasse Jena-Saale-Holzland
Die Spendengelder werden schnell und unbürokratisch verwendet, um weitere Luftreiniger für Schulen und Kindergärten in Jena kostenlos zur Verfügung zu stellen. Die Spenden sind steuerlich abzugsfähig. Natürlich ist die Adressierung an spezielle Empfänger möglich.
Die Initiative „Operation Luftschloss“ der Stiftung Nanotechnologie ist unter der Webseite www.operation-luftschloss.de zu finden. Hier finden Sie alle Informationen zur Initiative: die bereitgestellten Geräte, die Unterstützerinnen und Unterstützer, die Spenderinnen und Spender, die unterstützten Schulen und Kitas sowie die Kontodaten. Die Webseite wird auch von einer Social-Media-Kampagne begleitet. Um Webseite und Social Media kümmert sich die Agentur Art-Kon-Tor, die so ihren Teil zum bestmöglichen Unterricht bzw. zur bestmöglichen
Betreuung in Jena beiträgt. „Unsere B2B Agenturgruppe unterstützt diese wichtige Initiative nach Kräften – und sorgt dafür, dass eine sichtbare Ausstrahlung in die Öffentlichkeit und die Politik erfolgt – auch überregional“, so Geschäftsführer Matthias Luge.
Übergabetermin:
Freitag, 19. März, 12:30 Uhr
West-Eingang der Goethegalerie Jena (Carl-Zeiss-Straße 1, 07743 Jena)
Zum Einsatz kommt der Profi-Luftreiniger FX1.000 der Firma IVOC-X GmbH Clean Air aus Jena, die sich u.a. auf Reinraumtechnik spezialisiert hat. Sie entwickelte den hocheffizienten Luftreiniger für Räume bis 100 qm auf Basis von einzelgeprüften und zertifizierten HEPA H14- Spezialfiltern, die sich seit Jahrzehnten in der Reinraumtechnik bewährt haben. Sowohl schwere Teilchen als auch schwebende Aerosole werden über eine große seitliche Erfassungsfläche optimal eingesaugt. Insbesondere Kinder und Jugendliche profitieren von
dieser Luftführung und somit von gesunder und sauberer Luft. Ein eingebauter CO2-Sensor zeigt zudem an, wenn eine Belüftung des Raumes mit neuer Frischluft notwendig ist. So können die Lüftungsintervalle optimal geplant werden.
Der zweite Gerätetyp, VITAPOINT® 3000, wird seit Mitte Januar 2021 von der NESTRO® Lufttechnik GmbH im Rahmen der VITAPOINT® Baureihe in vier Leistungsklassen als neue hocheffiziente Luftreiniger für den Kampf gegen das Corona-Virus angeboten. Denn mit diesen leistungsstarken, aber leisen Geräten lassen sich gesundheitsschädliche Stoffe zu 99,995% filtern und die Luftqualität in stark frequentierten und belasteten Räumen deutlich verbessern. Das einzigartige zylindrische Design wurde ganz bewusst gewählt, damit der VITAPOINT® auch in Kindergärten, Schulen und Sporthallen eingesetzt werden kann. Dies ist
auch aufgrund seines besonders niedrigen Geräuschpegels jederzeit möglich
Teilnehmer:
Thomas Schütze (Vorstandsmitglied der Sparkasse Jena-Saale-Holzland)
Cornelia Ehrler (Pressereferentin, JENOPTIK AG)
Dr. Marc Lehmann (Geschäftsführer SmartDyeLivery GmbH)
Marko Walther, Falko Gaudig (Volksbank Gera-Jena-Rudolstadt)
Dr. Holger Becker (CSO microfluidic ChipShop GmbH)
Prof. Dr. Clemens Beckstein (Mitglied im Stadtrat Jena (FDP-Fraktion))
Robert Nettelnstroth (Geschäftsführer NESTRO Lufttechnik GmbH)
Dennis Sippach (Geschäftsführer IVOC-X GmbH)
Jan Weidhaase, Jacqueline Kött (Eltern Westschule Klasse 2a)
Mike Stieber (Mitglied Geschäftsführender Vorstand GEW Thüringen)
Matthias Luge (Geschäftsführer Art-Kon-Tor)
Michael Holz (Center Manager Goethe Galerie Jena)
Silke Mack-Rymatzki (Schulleiterin Evangelische Grundschule)
Konstanze Müller (Schulleiterin Staatliche Grundschule Friedrich Schiller)
Richard Brömel (Schulleiter Karl-Volkmar-Stoy-Schule), Dr. Claus Rose
Norbert Beckert (Schulleiter Schule an der Trießnitz)
Peter Häuser (kaufmännischer Vorstand Freie Waldorfschule)
Silke Witte (Lehrerin Talschule)
Dr. Stephanie Schubert (Stiftung Nanotechnologie)
Prof. Dr. Ulrich S. Schubert (Stiftung Nanotechnologie)
Kontakt: Stiftung Nanotechnologie in Jena
Vorstandsvorsitzender: Prof. Dr. Ulrich S. Schubert
Tel.: 03641-534064; 0176-23595686
E-Mail:
Current financing round with a consortium of existing and new investors completed, bm-t beteiligungsmanagement thüringen gmbh increases lead investment
Erfurt/ Jena. SmartDyeLivery GmbH has successfully completed its most recent financing round in the mid-single-digit million range. In addition to bm-t beteiligungsmanagement thüringen gmbh (bm|t), which increased its lead investment, the Stiftung für Technologie, Innovation und Forschung Thüringen (STIFT) and three new private investors invested in SmartDyeLivery´s development of innovative nanotherapies. The new group of private investors was formed with the support of the business angel and finance & M&A consultant Louis Moser from Munich/Grünwald, who again invested in the company.
SmartDyeLivery develops a platform technology for the targeted transport of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Based on functionalized nanotransporters, active substances are specifically delivered to affected organs of the body. "Our goal is to develop nanoparticles with high cell specificity in which drugs can be encapsulated in order to treat diseases in a more precise way, minimize or even entirely avoid side effects and ultimately save human lives," said Dr. Marc Lehmann, CEO of SmartDyeLivery. Especially in the context of the company´s first application of nanotransporters for a specific therapy for septic liver failure, the investment enables important development steps on the path to market approval.
About SmartDyeLivery: Jena-based SmartDyeLivery GmbH is developing a universal platform technology based on functionalized nanoparticles that can be used to transport active ingredients or other cargos to the desired site of action. The company´s aim is to provide new therapeutic options for diseases that have previously been untreatable or extremely difficult to treat. The innovative, patented technology can also be used for diagnostic or theragnostic applications.
Further information can be found at: www.smartdyelivery.de/en/
About bm|t: Erfurt-based bm|t is a subsidiary of the Thüringer Aufbaubank and the leading address for equity investments in Thüringen, Germany. bm|t currently manages nine funds with a total volume of around EUR 420 million, which invest in innovative companies across almost all sectors and in all phases of company development.
Further information about bm|t is available at: www.bm-t.com
About the STIFT: The STIFT supports, promotes and accompanies innovative technology-oriented and innovative business start-ups in Thüringen, Germany within the ThEx project. The STIFT also invests in selected high-tech start-ups as a co-investor. For its investment activities, the degree of innovation of the founding idea and the entrepreneurial potential form the main criteria.
Further information is available at: www.stift-thueringen.de
Contact persons:
Dr. Marc Lehmann
CEO
SmartDyeLivery GmbH
Botzstraße 5
07743 Jena
Stefan Jahn
Senior Investment Manager
bm-t beteiligungsmanagement thüringen gmbh
Gorkistraße 9
99084 Erfurt
A new private investor was convinced of the concept of the SmartDyeLivery GmbH from Jena, and the bm-t beteiligungsmanagement thüringen gmbh is expanding its investment.
Erfurt/München/Jena. SmartDyeLivery has successfully completed its latest financing round. With its innovative nanotechnology for medical applications, the young company from Jena was able to acquire a business angel from Munich. bm-t beteiligungsmanagement thüringen gmbh also expanded its existing investment. "With the new growth capital, we are well positioned to reach the next stage in the development of our innovative therapy concept" says Dr. Marc Lehmann, CEO of SmartDyeLivery.
SmartDyeLivery develops functionalized nanoparticles that enclose active substances for targeted drug delivery directly into effected tissues or organs. The comprehensively patented system can be used for a broad range of applications in the field of therapy and enables a unique therapeutic approach due to its functionalisation. The SmartDyeLivery team is currently focusing on the therapy of septic liver failure with the aim of reducing the extremely high mortality rate of over 90%.
About bm|t: bm-t beteiligungsmanagement thüringen gmbh, based in Erfurt, is a subsidiary of the Thüringer Aufbaubank and the first address for investments in Thuringia. bm|t currently manages eight funds with a total invested volume of around €320 million, which invest in innovative companies in almost all sectors and in all phases of corporate development - both in the start-up and growth phases or in company succession situations. Further information about the bm|t can be found at sind verfügbar unter www.bm-t.de
The industry association medical technology/ biotechnology welcomes the start-up from Jena as a new member
Jena. medways e.V. - der Branchenverband Medizintechnik/Biotechnologie (industry association medical technology/biotechnology) is pleased to announce a new member: SmartDyeLivery GmbH from Jena develops functionalized nanoparticles for medical applications.
Innovative nanoparticles that find their way to the desired destination in the body by themselves and release the incorporated active ingredients only where they are needed – this is what SmartDyeLivery stands for. The patented functionalization of the particles with dyes acts like a navigation system in the body.
The team is currently focusing on a therapeutic application for septic liver failure. Due to a lack of therapy options, to the present day patients with this complication die in more than 90% of cases. Dr. Marc Lehmann, Managing Director, is convinced that "Our universal platform technology has the potential to offer more efficient treatment methods with less side-effects in the future and thus save lives". The advantage of the patented carrier platform is that it can be modularly adapted for further therapeutic areas. Numerous applications are also possible in the field of diagnostics and the increasingly important field of theranostics.
SmartDyeLivery is looking forward to benefiting from the medways service offerings in the future and trusts in a successful and fruitful cooperation.
About medways e.V.- der Branchenverband Medizintechnik/Biotechnologie: Founded in 1999, medways has been a competent partner for almost 20 years for research projects, the approval of medical devices, the introduction of QM systems according to DIN EN ISO 13485 and further training of employees. In these fields, medways e.V. supports its member companies and partners with a wide range of services in the Service Center, Research Center and medways Academy functional units. Further information can be found at: www.medways.eu
Would you like to become a member of medways e.V.? Your contact person:
Dr. Eike Dazert
CEO medways e.V.
+49 (0)3641-8761040
Stiftung für Technologie, Innovation und Forschung Thüringen (STIFT) And Sparkasse Jena-Saale-Holzland count on an innovative therapeutic concept from Jena
Erfurt / Jena. Using tiny particles to transport active substances into diseased organs of the body - this approach is pursued by the SmartDyeLivery GmbH from Jena. With the patented concept based on functionalized nanoparticles, SmartDyeLivery was able to convince the Stiftung für Technologie, Innovation und Forschung Thüringen (STIFT), in addition to Sparkasse Jena-Saale-Holzland, which is further expanding its existing investment, and beteiligungsmanagement thüringen gmbh (bm|t), as a new investor in the Jena biotechnology company. Both the STIFT with the Board Members Professor Dr.-Ing. Werner Bornkessel and Dipl. Ing. Wolfgang Meyer and Managing Director Dr. Ing. Sven Günther as well as the Sparkasse Jena-Saale-Holzland with the Board Member Erhard Bückemeier and Investment Manager Tilo Mascher are convinced that this innovation from Thuringia, which can save lives, will be economically successful.
Nanoparticle-based technologies have great potential, especially in the medical sector. The SmartDyeLivery GmbH, in cooperation with the working groups around the founders and Jena university professors Ulrich S. Schubert and Michael Bauer, succeeded in developing nanoparticles that find their own way to the target in the body and release the transported active substances specifically and in a controlled manner only into the target cells. In addition to the specific transport of active agents, in the future, the function of affected organs will be determined with the help of nanoparticles. In a first area of application, the company is focusing on the development of a specific therapeutic for patients with septic liver failure. Because of the lack of treatment options, these patients die in more than 90% of cases. The new therapy option currently under development could save more than 1,500 lives a year in Germany alone. "The latest preclinical data demonstrate the enormous potential already in the first possible area of application and show that we are on the right path," says Dr. Marc Lehmann, Managing Director of the Jena-based biotechnology company.
About Stiftung für Technologie, Innovation und Forschung Thüringen (STIFT):Within the framework of the ThEx project, the STIFT supports, promotes and accompanies innovative technology-oriented and innovative business start-ups in Thuringia. In addition, the STIFT supports selected high-tech foundations in the field of early-stage financing as a side investor. Here, the degree of innovation of the start-up idea and the entrepreneurial potential are in the foreground. The regional focus of investments is in Thuringia.
About Sparkasse Jena-Saale-Holzland: The Sparkasse Jena-Saale-Holzland has been a strong and reliable partner in the Jena and Saale-Holzland region for more than 185 years. Thanks to the large branch network, the consultants are close to their customers and make important decisions quickly and directly on site. From the current account over real estate brokerage and mortgage lending to corporate and commercial customer support, the Sparkasse offers everything from one source. As a public-law institute, it is committed to the common good, economic development in the region and the people who live here.
Jena. The start-up company SmartDyeLivery GmbH became a partner of the InfectoGnostics Research Campus on March 1, 2016. Being a spin-off from the University Hospital and the Friedrich Schiller University Jena around Professors Michael Bauer and Prof. Ulrich S. Schubert, SmartDyeLivery develops and commercializes a universal technology platform for the cell type-specific transport of active substances with the help of functionalized nanoparticles.
"We are pleased to be able to participate in the InfectoGnostics Research Campus network in the future. Our platform is an ideal complement to InfectoGnostics' technology portfolio as it combines therapy and diagnostics in a so-called theranostic approach," said Dr. Marc Lehmann, CEO of SmartDyeLivery. "Combining the targeted and efficient administration of active ingredients that has less side-effects with a coordinated diagnostic approach is the ideal way to improve individualized patient care.”
Professor Jürgen Popp, CEO of InfectoGnostics, adds: "We are pleased to welcome the newly founded company SmartDyeLivery as a partner of the InfectoGnostics Research Campus. SmartDyeLivery's platform technology can be applied to a wide range of applications, such as special issues in the treatment of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens, which are at the heart of InfectoGnostics' campus project.
About Infectognostics - Forschungscampus Jena: The InfectoGnostics Research Campus Jena is a public-private partnership breaking new ground in the diagnosis of infections and pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and fungi. InfectoGnostics is funded by the BMBF as part of the "Research Campus - Public Private Partnership for Innovation" initiative with additional support from the state of Thuringia. Approximately half of the required budget is financed by the partners involved.
Erfurt/ Jena: To transport drugs and active substances only into diseased organs or cells of the body in a targeted manner and thus with fewer side effects – this is the approach of the SmartDyeLivery GmbH from Jena. The innovative concept convinced the bm-t beteiligungsmanagement thüringen gmbh (bm|t) and Sparkasse Jena-Saale-Holzland to jointly secure the start-up financing. The investors agree that a technological innovation in Thuringia that can save the lives of many people must be supported.
SmartDyeLivery GmbH is a spin-off of the Friedrich Schiller University and the Jena University Clinics around Professor Ulrich S. Schubert and Professor Michael Bauer. In preliminary projects funded by the Free State of Thuringia and the German government, the research team have succeeded in producing nanoparticles and loading them with active substances that are equipped with a navigation system, released specifically and in a controlled manner only where they are needed. It is particularly interesting that this "navigation system" can also be used for diagnostic purposes, such as the determination of organ function or the transport efficiency of particles.
In a first field of application, the company is focusing on the development of a specific therapeutic agent for patients with septic liver failure. Today, these patients die in more than 90% of cases. This high mortality rate is to be reduced by therapy options based on the innovative technology. In Germany alone, more than 1,500 lives could be saved every year. The managing directors Dr. Georg Hochwimmer and Dr. Marc Lehmann are firmly convinced that this platform technology can be used not only for the treatment of septic liver failure but also for a broad spectrum of other applications, e.g. in the field of cancer therapies.
About the bm|t: The bm|t beteiligungsmanagement thüringen GmbH, headquartered in Erfurt, is a subsidiary of the Thüringer Aufbaubank and one of the top addresses for investments in Thuringia. The bm|t currently manages nine funds with a total volume of around 340 million euros, which invest in innovative companies in almost all sectors and in all phases of corporate development, both in the start-up and growth phases or in company succession situations.
Contact:
Katrin Uschmann
Investment Manager bm|t
Tel.: +49 361-7447-610
About the Sparkasse Jena-Saale-Holzland: The Sparkasse Jena-Saale-Holzland has been a strong and reliable partner in the Jena and Saale-Holzland region for more than 188 years. Thanks to the large branch network, the consultants are close to their customers and make important decisions quickly and directly on site. From the current account over real estate brokerage and mortgage lending to corporate and commercial customer support, the Sparkasse offers everything from one source. As a public-law institute, it is committed to the common good, economic development in the region and the people who live here.
Erfurt/Jena. SmartDyeLivery GmbH, a spin-off of the Friedrich Schiller University and the Jena University Clinics, was able to secure the highly endowed special prize for young companies as part of this year's Thuringia Innovation Award. In the coming years, the company will launch an innovative technology platform (patent pending) for the targeted transport of active substances into certain cells of the body. The active ingredient is transported with functionalized nanoparticles, tiny spheres that use dye molecules to navigate specifically to the diseased areas of the body, where they release their active ingredient in a controlled manner. The founding team led by Professor Ulrich S. Schubert from the Institute of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry and Professor Michael Bauer, head of the Center for Sepsis Control and Care at the Clinic for Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, is convinced that the technology will be successful in the future.
In a first field of application, the company is focusing on the development of a specific therapeutic for patients with septic liver failure. These patients die in more than 90% of cases, especially due to the current lack of specific treatment options. This high mortality rate is to be reduced by therapy options based on the award-winning technology. In Germany alone, more than 1,500 lives could be saved every year.
A high-ranking publication of the research results in the renowned scientific journal Nature Communications in December 2014 underlines the innovative approach that SmartDyeLivery is pursuing. The managing directors Dr. Georg Hochwimmer and Dr. Marc Lehmann, who are currently driving the development of the company, are firmly convinced that the technology can also be used for a broad spectrum of other application areas in addition to the treatment of septic liver failure, e.g. in the field of cancer therapies.