Curio Biotech, a young firm based in the BioArk in Visp, uses human tissue to test cosmetics and medicines. Its innovative working method means the firm is helping to reduce the number of experiments on animals. Its founder, Chennakesava Cuddapah, sees significant potential in Curio Biotech’s area of activity. In this interview, he offers us a peek behind the scenes and explains how his business has developed since its launch in 2017.
“Curiosity” is Chennakesava Cuddapah’s answer to the question of what the name of his start-up Curio Biotech (which was based on the word “curious”) represents. At the time he was setting up the business, the entrepreneur – who is of Indian origin – was curious to know how his life was going to pan out and what the future held for him, he explains. He felt that in principle, the name was very well suited to the business: “People who work for us need to be curious about science and enjoy developing their own solutions,” he comments. This is the mission the business has been pursuing since it was set up in 2017. Since then, it has been based in the BioArk in Viège and provides services to pharmaceutical firms, as well as customers in other sectors, such as cosmetics and nutraceuticals producers.
Tests on human tissues and cells
The young firm’s main area of expertise is in vitro studies. For these, Curio Biotech focuses on human cells: “We use discarded tissues, isolate the cells and carry out biological tests to check the effect of a product.” The primary cells used by the firm for its tests come, for example, from skin tissue left over from abdominoplasty or breast reduction operations. “The cells only develop for a few experiments and then die. We carry out tests and report on the results to our customers,” explains Chennakesava Cuddapah. To take a practical example, the effect of a sun cream might be tested on skin cell cultures.
Curio Biotech’s work is therefore based on tissues that would normally be discarded. Although there are sufficient supplies available, it can be difficult to obtain human tissues of this kind in Switzerland. Another of the firm’s positive side effects, however, is that it makes animal experiments superfluous. “We don’t use animals for our experiments, because tests on human tissues produce the most relevant information for human bodies.” According to the boss of Curio Biotech, this is particularly true in the cosmetics field, where animal testing is now largely banned. However, animal experimentation is increasingly being abandoned in the pharmaceutical industry as well, thanks to the work of innovative firms such as Curio Biotech.
The coronavirus crisis – a real killjoy
Valais is an ideal location for the start-up, especially because the BioArk site is just next to Visp railway station and easily accessible. Moreover, the firm’s founder is keen to point out the positive impact of the support from The Ark Foundation: Curio Biotech has benefited from know-how around promoting innovation in Valais and appreciates being close to other firms in different sectors. Chennakesava Cuddapah also has a personal connection to the Alpine canton. “I also wanted to give something back to Valais, since my wife is from the canton,” he explains. The couple currently live close to Bern with their two children.
Chennakesava Cuddapah commutes between Bern and the Haut-Valais almost daily. Meanwhile, the firm has also transferred its registered office to Visp, where it has been based from the beginning. Once it had been set up, the firm began to grow in 2018. It has had its share of highs and lows. “We were in a stable position and had won some big customers. But then, Covid happened. We suffered a lot from the effects of the crisis for two years,” he explains. The firm has also lost customers as a result of the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. “We’re now working to get back on our feet and start growing again,” continues its founder.
Ready for the next step
Curio Biotech currently employs a small team and is aiming to increase its workforce to 10 people. At the same time, it is important to respect its employees’ work-life balance. Chennakesava Cuddapah believes the key to the future will be more marketing. “One of our main challenges is visibility. Lots of people don’t know we exist.” Customers currently come mainly from Switzerland, but also Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, the United States, South Korea, Israel and India.
The young firm in Viège is keen to enlarge its range of services so that it can continue to develop in the future. “We want to expand our portfolio, especially in the pharmaceutical field. Our focus in this area is on autoimmune diseases and cancer, where we could continue to develop screening technologies.” The firm is aiming to build relationships with potential customers all over the world to establish a firmer footing in this field. The next step for Curio Biotech is to convince potential future partners and investors to support the firm’s mission and arouse their “curiosity” about it.
Further information: Curio Biotech