BioInnovation Institute (BII) has announced a 4 million DKK (approximately €500,000) investment in Beech Biotech, a Swiss startup developing a groundbreaking treatment for preeclampsia. The funding comes as part of BII’s latest Venture Lab cohort announced last week.
Preeclampsia represents a significant unmet medical need in women’s health, claiming the lives of approximately 70,000 women and 500,000 babies annually worldwide. The condition, characterized by high blood pressure and organ damage during pregnancy, currently lacks effective treatment options beyond delivery of the baby, which can be dangerous when occurring prematurely.
Beech Biotech is developing a novel placenta-impermeable antibody designed to address the root causes of preeclampsia while ensuring the treatment doesn’t cross the placental barrier—a critical safety feature for maternal medications. The company is collaborating with a network of expert industry consultants and contractors to advance the technology toward clinical applications.
“BII’s investment in Beech Biotech is a great endorsement of our project to bring a new treatment for preeclampsia to women and their babies. The BII network also provides a perfect springboard for our Series A fundraising, planned later in the year,” said Ian Cottingham, CEO and Founder of Beech Biotech.
The BioInnovation Institute, based in Copenhagen, Denmark, supports life science startups and projects through various programs designed to help early-stage companies bridge the gap between research and commercialization. The Venture Lab program specifically provides funding, business development support, and access to a network of investors and industry partners.
