BioVersys: A Journey in Antibiotic Innovation

Celebrating 15 years of the Top100 Swiss Startup Award, we spotlight the pioneers who shaped their industries. Among them is BioVersys, which gained early recognition in the ranking — appearing three years in a row — won the final stage of Venture Kick, and participated in two Venture Leaders programs. Born as an ETH Zurich spin-off in 2008, BioVersys has become a biotech leader in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, publicly listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange with a CHF 213 million valuation, and having raised CHF 130 million, with two promising drug candidates targeting WHO priority pathogens.

As Top100 celebrates its 15th anniversary, BioVersys exemplifies how Swiss innovation can turn academic research into impactful antibiotic solutions. Ranked early on in the Top100 for three consecutive years, a Venture Kick final-stage winner, and two-time Venture Leaders participant, the company began as a student project during the 2007 Venture Challenge semester course. It was at one of the Venture Kick camps that BioVersys first connected with its long-term partner GSK. Seventeen years later, the company has grown into a publicly listed biotech on the SIX Swiss Exchange with a CHF 213 million valuation, having raised CHF 90 million at IPO and a total of CHF 130 million, and now advancing therapeutics addressing the WHO’s list of priority pathogens.

BioVersys Founder and CEO Marc Gitzinger

"A world without access to working antibiotics
would lead to losing the last 50 years of medical progress."

How did the concept for BioVersys first come to life?
BioVersys started in the lab during my PhD at ETH Zurich, where we developed an initial proof of concept to interrupt antibiotic resistance in tuberculosis. This program is now in Phase 2 clinical trials. Since then, we’ve expanded to new technologies and additional programs. 
 
What’s one piece of fundraising advice you wish you knew earlier?
> Be persistent and consistent. 
> Build long-term relationships with investors and show that you deliver on your promises — a first “no” can become a “yes.” 
> Don’t focus only on technology. What truly matters is how your product meets customer needs and stands out from the competition. In the end, it’s not how it works, but how well it solves a real problem. 
 
What was your very first lab test or prototype like?
Our initial proof of concept felt like a promising molecule, and we were eager to bring it to patients. In reality, we had no idea how far we were from that goal. The first molecule turned out to be a useful tool compound, but nothing more. It took years of work — and a partnership with GSK that began during a Venture Kick camp and continues today — to deliver a true drug candidate.

First subjects dosed in phase 1

Which milestones led up to BioVersys’ CHF 213 million listing on SIX? 
The key milestone was the strong Phase 2 clinical data for our lead asset, BV100. Without these results, we wouldn’t have been able to secure the investor support necessary to go public.

Daniel Schmucki, SIX CFO, and Marc Gitzinger, BioVersys CEO

What’s been the hardest challenge you’ve had to overcome? 
Beyond the usual scientific hurdles, our biggest challenge remains investor education. Many recognize the importance of novel antibiotics but are still learning about the new ways to develop, position, and commercialize them — including evolving reimbursement models. We therefore need to not only deliver scientifically but also explain the business case around new antibiotics.

"Build long-term relationships."

What are three mistakes you made early on that other founders should avoid?
>   Listen to advisors, form your own opinion, and then own your decision
>   Don’t hold on to people who don’t fit your team for too long — it only slows you down
>   Always stay in fundraising mode... building relationships takes time

How has BioVersys changed the way pharma tackles antibiotic resistance? 
We focus on the specialty pharma market, developing targeted antibiotics for the most difficult-to-treat bacteria. Our approach includes challenging clinical trials to clearly differentiate our drug candidates from today’s standard of care. We now see more pharma companies moving in this direction, confirming that we made the right choices.

Dr. Sergio Lociuro (BioVersys Chief Scientific Officer) and Marc Gitzinger (CEO)

What role do you see BioVersys playing in the fight against tomorrow’s health challenges? 
A world without effective antibiotics would erase 50 years of medical progress. From simple surgeries to advanced oncology, immunotherapies, and care for an ageing population — all rely on antibiotics. Yet, in every country, we already face infections untreatable with existing drugs. It’s past time to replenish the pipeline with new, effective antibiotics.

Which early scientific or business decision had the biggest impact on your path to the exchange?
The most important decision was simply to get started — inspired by the Venturelab trainings. Scientifically, our key principle has been to kill projects quickly if they don’t work. This approach has strengthened our pipeline and sharpened our focus.