The Swiss company FimmCyte is venturing into drug development. There are high hopes for a new drug that can stop endo lesions. It could be on the market in about 8 years.
Standard therapies—hormonal drugs and surgery—are increasingly rejected by patients due to side effects and limited success, especially in advanced cases. Swiss start-up FimmCyte, a USZ and UZH spin-off, is pioneering a non-hormonal medication targeting a protein over-expressed in endometriotic cells. Their approach aims to train the immune system to recognize and remove fibrotic tissue without harming healthy cells, addressing the disease’s inflammatory root cause. Bringing this innovation to market faces significant hurdles. Drug development typically takes a decade, with FimmCyte projecting an eight-year timeline. Key challenges include securing funding, conducting clinical trials (planned to start in 2026), and attracting pharmaceutical partners. The company emphasizes the need for greater societal and political awareness, as endometriosis is often overlooked despite its widespread impact on women’s health, careers, and relationships. FimmCyte’s progress, backed by promising lab and animal model results, underscores the urgency for investment in gender-specific medicine. Their goal: a first-in-class, non-hormonal therapy that could transform endometriosis treatment and improve quality of life for millions.
The original article and interview with FimmCyte is in German. Read more