Inventor-View, Interviews of Inventors from Around the World

Prof Theo Wallimann, Bio-Ceutica GmbH

1) Can you give a brief introduction to you and your company Bio-Ceutica for the readers of Inventor-View?

My name is Theo Wallimann, born 1946 in Lucerne, Switzerland.  I completed my PhD in Biochemistry/Cell Biology at the ETH Zurich in 1975, spent 6 years as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Biology Dept. at Brandeis University in Boston, USA. After returning back to the ETH Zürich, I was a staff member and research group leader at the Institute of Cell Biology and was given the title of Professor in 1994. During my academic life, I worked in basic research on kinases involved in the regulation of cellular energetics, specifically on creatine kinase, adenylate kinase and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Additionally I started to investigate the pleiotropic actions of creatine supplementation in vitro and in vivo (animal models). Over the years, together with my highly motivated graduate students and post-doctoral associates, we published a significant piece of work along these lines of research, with many publications in first-class scientific journals (see: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/C-6047-2008).

2) When and Why did you start up Bio-Ceutica GmbH? 

Bio-Ceutica GmbH was founded in 1999 and I got appointed as CEO of the Company in Sept 2008, after I resigned from my position at the ETH and got retired. I am now the sole owner of Bio-Ceutica GmbH. As a Prof. Emeritus, it is my intention to develop within the Company new and, if possible, high-tech applications in the field of nutritional supplements, especially with Creatine. One of the goals of Bio-Ceutica is to investigate and develop novel applications of Creatine for medical purposes and for prevention. A second goal of the Company is to provide expert knowledge and advice on Creatine and related nutritional supplements and to invest in applications of Creatine for medical purposes and prevention of disease to the benefit of the general population and of patients. Since it was realized that the knowledge about Creatine and its possible benefits for health and disease within the medical profession is very rudimentary, Bio-Ceutica GmbH is dedicated to improve this situation by offering educational seminars for Medical Doctors and Medical Personnel. This is done at specifically organized conferences or special meetings in the framework of medical education, e.g. by giving seminars at selected hospitals and rehabilitation centres.


3) Was the move from academia to business difficult or was the ETH commercially focused already?

Since I was idea-driven, the move from basic science towards actual applications of the topic of Creatine Supplementation was easy, for our business activities are more or less a continuation of our earlier research efforts into Creatine and its implementation into daily normal and clinical life. However, the bureaucracy and bookkeeping activities needed for a business operation were rather new and special for me.


4) Was it easy to get help to set up your own company in Zurich, did you get much help from local agencies?

To set up a Company, e.g. a GmbH ("Society with limited liability") in Switzerland is easy. All you need is a local lawyer who is proficient in doing such, and within a week or two you have the documents completed. 


5) You are a leader in your technology area, does this help in establishing industrial relationships?

Yes, definitely. Since we regularly try to approach International Pharma-Companies for collaboration, the proof of expertise to them is an important prerequisite, especially for obtaining a first auditorium. Of course, one has to be able to communicate new ideas and to convince such Companies to invest in clinical research to develop such a concept. For this, you have to be able to provide new ideas and present the facts and numbers for a commercial application of such ideas.



6) How do you find dealing with your industrial colleagues?

As an academic, one may at first be too naive when dealing with industrial colleagues, who, of course, are part of a money-oriented business endeavour. If one approaches industrial colleagues in a Company with a patent application in hand that may be of interest for them, they take you seriously. This could have to do with the fact that they feel that you would not make an investment into patenting new idea, if you were not fully convinced yourself. Promoting ideas and developing these with industrial partners without such protection at hand, however, may be counter-productive, even if you signed a confidentiality agreement. 


7) How many inventions have you applied for patent protection?

Two international patents have been granted and one application dated 2009 is pending


8) Would like to apply for more patents?

Yes, whenever an idea is mature enough and the data are convincing, it is worth to apply for a new patent, provided a good preliminary patent search has been made. The help of a Company such as PatentNav may be a first important step to get a picture of what already exists out there patent wise in the field of interest.


9) What are the main obstacles to obtaining such protection?

The costs for application and obtaining/maintaining a patent are indeed rather high, especially in Switzerland. For this reason it may be wise to obtain the expert services of a Company like PatentNav Ldt who help you with a professional patent search and who keep you updated with information concerning new inventions and patents along your topic of interest.


10) Are you looking for new business or industrial partners?

Yes, definitely.


11) Have you some advice to give academics about to start up their own company?

Trust yourself! You can do it! Start at a low flame not burning your last bit of cash. See how it develops and then start to think of growing harmonically. If you can develop a new project with a strong industrial partner for whom the idea is important and money not limiting, then you might have unforeseen possibilities. Instead of clinging to your patent, which is worthless if not implemented, try to share it by licensing agreements with such a Company that helps you to develop the idea and bring it to the market.

Theo can be contacted as follows:

Dr. Theo Wallimann. PhD
Prof. emeritus ETH Zurich
Schuermattstrasse 23
CH-8962 Bergdietikon, AG
Switzerland

Tel. ++41-(0)44-740-70-47
FAX ++41-(0)44-741-30-08

E-mail: theo.wallimann@cell.biol.ethz.ch

Home page at Institute of Cell Biology:
http://www.cell.biol.ethz.ch/research/emeriti/wallimann

Researcher-Identification:
http://www.researcherid.com/rid/C-6047-2008

Creatine Review: Kreatin, warum, wann und für wen?
http://www.rosenfluh.ch/images/stories/publikationen/sze/2008-05/11_Kreatin_5.08.pdf
http://www.kreasup.ch
http://www.kreasup.ch/update/pdf/kreatin_warum_wann

Creatine Supplementation, welche Präparate und wo erhältlich?
http://www.kre-mag.com
http://www.synergen.ch
http://www.creapure.com

Die Energie des Herzens
http://archiv.ethlife.ethz.ch/articles/tages/herzenergie.html

CK: ein unerhörtes Enzym
http://archiv.ethlife.ethz.ch/articles/sciencelife/ohrkreatinwallim