Spinoff BioVersys: A pioneer amongst Swiss startups

Source: https://bsse.ethz.ch/news-and-events/d-bsse-news/2025/11/spinoff-bioversys-a-pioneer-amongst-Swiss-startups.html Parent: https://bsse.ethz.ch/news-and-events/d-bsse-news.html?AUTHOR=Q2Fyb2xpbiBBcm5kdCBGb3BwYQ&path=L2NvbnRlbnQvc3BlY2lhbGludGVyZXN0L2Jzc2UvZGVwYXJ0bWVudC9lbi9uZXdzLWFuZC1ldmVudHMvamNyOmNvbnRlbnQvcGFyL25ld3NmZWVkXzQzMTg

BioVersys, an ETH spinoff from 2008 originating from D-BSSE labs, gained early recognition in the ranking of Top100 Swiss startup companies - appearing three consecutive years in a row from 2011 to 2013. The company has become a biotech leader in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, publicly listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since February 2025.

In an interview,  CEO Marc Gitzinger shares insights on BioVersys' success story. It all started in the Biotechnology lab of Martin Fussenegger where Marc did his doctorate. He developed an initial proof of concept to interrupt antibiotic reistance in tuberculosis. This programme today is in Phase 2 clinical trials. Since then, BioVersys expanded to new technologies and additional programmes.

Sharing fundraising advice, Marc gives the following recommendations:

• 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.

And, on the question "what are the three mistakes you made early on that other founders should avoid?" Marc responds:

• 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.

BioVersys AG is a multi-asset, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing and commercializing novel antibacterial products for serious life-threatening infections caused by multi-drug resistant (“MDR”) bacteria. Derived from the company’s two internal technology platforms (TRIC and Ansamycin Chemistry), candidates are designed and developed to overcome resistance mechanisms, block virulence production and directly affect the pathogenesis of harmful bacteria towards the identification of new treatment options in the antimicrobial and microbiome fields. This enables BioVersys to address the high unmet medical need for new treatments against life-threatening resistant bacterial infections and bacteria-exacerbated chronic inflammatory microbiome disorders. The company’s most advanced research and development programs address nosocomial infections of Acinetobacter baumannii (BV100, Phase 2), and tuberculosis (alpibectir, Phase 2a, in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and a consortium of the University of Lille, France). BioVersys is located in the biotech hub of Basel, Switzerland.

Find the full-length interview on the external page Top 100 Swiss Startups website.

Learn about other spinoff companies that originate from D-BSSE labs.