Innovation: New biotech startup in Lazio (Rome district)

Genechron, a new biotech startup operating in the biotechnology field, was born at the ENEA Casaccia Research Center, near Rome. Genechron is involved in the research of new biomarkers  for the analysis of complex diseases and the development of laboratory tests to provide insight on their progression while evaluating a possible positive response to therapy.

Genechron has identified a biomarker- based test for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy based on a patent developed by the Rome University “La Sapienza”.

Always in collaboration with the main Rome University, “Genechron is developing additional tests for the analyis of neuromuscular diseases such as the SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy) and the ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) – Vittorio Rosato, ENEA research manager, co-founder and president of the newco, explained – and is also focusing research on the identification of new biomarkers in fields such as toxicology”.

The relevant market for these tests is primarily the pharmaceutical segment: biomarkers will increasingly become crucial endpoint in clinical trials for the development of new drugs and could gradually be employed in medical diagnosis and clinical practice.

In addition to biomarkers analysis, to be applied in the next years to other diseases, Genechron has developed a series of DNA sequencing tests to be applied in medical diagnostic, that will be put to the market after the necessary health authorization.

Genechron was founded as a branch  of Ylichron, a spin-off company of ENEA,  and has recently  received public grants also from the Regione Lazio through the regional fund “Venture Capital”, a tool aiming at promoting companies’ innovation. The initiative allowed to collect approximately 600thousand euro among private and public investors.

According to Andrea Ciampalini, General Manager of Lazio Innova, who manages the “Venture Capital” fund, “ this grant is part of a wider context of networking new enterpreneurs, companies, institutional investors, business angels and research centers through  a subsidiary and stimulating tool. With the risk capital fund POR FESR 2007-2013 the Regione Lazio, through Lazio Innova, has made available 24 million euro to be invested in innovation by companies and startups in the Region, together with other resources provided by private and independent co-investors”.

Genechron is one of the selected companies of “Startup on Stage” the dedicated bootcamp for startups in the LifeScience sector and will participate in the international event “Meet in Italy for Life Sciences 2016” taking place in Rome from 25 to 28 October.

For more information:

Vittorio Rosato, ENEA Casaccia Research Center, vittorio.rosato@enea.it