ATANIS Biotech AG, a Bern-based company specializing in functional allergy diagnosis, completed an oversubscribed capital raise. The funds will be used to accelerate marketing efforts of FAST-PASE, a safe, functional ex vivo allergy assay.
Worldwide the prevalence of allergies is continuously rising. With one third of the global population affected by allergic conditions, it almost reaches epidemic levels. However, current diagnostic procedures for allergy rely on risky, uncomfortable, cumbersome, and outdated functional in vivo allergen exposures. ATANIS has developed a novel, functional ex vivo mast cell activation test, named FAST-PASE. The assay uses shelf-stable patient serum, which enables scalability. In recent diagnostic accuracy studies FAST-PASE has outperformed other established clinical methods and procedures to identify allergies.
In addition, FAST-PASE has been optimized for high throughput measurement. Using a fluorescent cellular barcoding method, ATANIS can significantly increase sample throughput. This is an ideal way to screen large patient cohorts (e.g. clinical trials) or identify lead molecules from a library of potential candidates.
ATANIS Biotech is pursuing regulatory approval of its proprietary mast cell activation test for use in a clinical setting in the US, EU, and Switzerland. Discussions with the FDA are underway to bring FAST-PASE to the US market as fast as possible.
An oversubscribed funding round enables ATANIS to accelerate the progress of FAST-PASE. The round was led by Spectrum Moonshot Fund, an investment vehicle backed by a prominent Swiss family with a strong focus on high-growth technology startups. Additional funding was provided by seasoned investors in the allergy sector, along with contributions from existing backers.
ATANIS Biotech also generates revenue by serving over 20 institutional clients from pharma, biotech, and agri-food industry with different needs ranging from pre-clinical compound screening to efficacy assessment of selected drug candidates.
“I am delighted to have completed this oversubscribed capital increase in record time” said Pr. Dr. Jean- Pierre Kinet, CEO of ATANIS Biotech. “This will enable us to accelerate our marketing efforts of FASTPASE in the United States and Europe, and help us to more rapidly address the urgent need for a safe, functional ex vivo allergy assay for patients”
As part of this capital raise, Mr. Jascha Forster has joined the board of the company, where he will contribute his expertise in financing and management of rapid growth enterprises. “I look forward to working with ATANIS’ leadership team and better serve allergy patients”, declared Mr. Forster.
(Press release / SK)
The new Swiss Venture Capital Report was published on 26 January. It analyses 304 financing rounds closed in 2020 and includes further article such as an interview with Michael Hengartner, President of the ETH Board, and a list of Swiss "soonicorns". 
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