INNOVEX THERAPEUTICS SL is the first Spanish spin-off company devoted to develop Exosomes as new platform for vaccines and diagnostic tools. Cornerstone of the spin-off is the discovery that reticulocyte-derived exosomes (rex) from malaria infections could be used as a new platform and vaccine against this disease. This approach is internationally protected (PCT/ EP2010/070800). Exosomes are 30-100 nm vesicles formed by endocytosis of segments of the plasma membrane. The internalized segment generates multivesicular bodies (MVBs) containing small vesicles that are released as exosomes following fusion of the MVBs with the plasma membrane. The company offers a new proprietary and flexible technological platform based on exosomes for the design, formulation and production of new vaccines and diagnostics. INNOVEX THERAPEUTICS SL was created in March 2014 by Hernando A. del Portillo and Francesc E. Borrás, with an accionary participation of three Research Institutions: ICREA, CRESIB and IGTP. Presently, it consists of two senior researchers, one junior researcher and one technician. The Scientific Advisory board is formed by Drs. Clotilde Théry (Institut Curie, France), Bernd Giebel (University Hospital Essen, Germany), Javier Martínez-Picado (ICREA at IRSICaixa) and Professor Hermann Bujard (University of Heidelberg, Germany). The management consultant is Dr. Carlos de Lecea (Lemus Buhils SL).

INNOVEX THERAPEUTICS SL´s objective is to contribute to a better health through the development and commercialization of exosomes as new vaccine platforms and diagnostic tools for human and animal health. The company includes in its portfolio balanced projects and takes into consideration that they are not presently covered by the market, the size of the business opportunity, their target amplitude of use, chronicity of the products and competitive price positioning in each segment. Our strategy is to develop three commercialized products within the next three years, when the company expects to have a return of investment. The business plan is adapted to regulatory guidelines of the different products to avoid delay in its economic objectives, and foresees that investments in early studies not only become rapidly profitable but that they also serve as the basis for regulatory applications of the most complex products. The company has obtained free laboratory space for the next three years at IGTP – Campus Can Ruti, where it is presently operating. In addition, the
company has received a first investment for developing a Proof-of-Concept of a new vaccine and is actually and actively seeking
new investors. Transfer of the patent to the company was only possible through the generous and “example-to-follow” attitude of the four Institutions originally owning it: ICREA, CRESIB, Fundació Clínic and Fundació Privada CELLEX, which fully and legally supported this transfer. 

Medcomtech SA is an experienced company in the sector of medical technology. In 2010 it entered the Alternative Stock Market (MAB) withsolid growth, visibility and credibility.MEDCOM ADVANCE SA was created in July 2013for the research, development, production and
distribution of new medical systems based in nanotechnology. It is a subsidiary company (spin-off) of Medcomtech SA and its initial objective is to promote and develop an innovative system for fast detection of microorganisms in fluids. This new system, aimed at hospitals, clinics and medical centers in general, presents improvements within the scope of the investigation of the source of infections and saving costs and time, since unnecessary medical tests are not carried out on patients.

To create this new product, medical nanotechnology has been used, and the project had a budget of e 2,8 M for its production. Activities of MEDCOM ADVANCE SA are not restricted to this, but are also involved in the development of new materials for medical implants or new diagnostic devices for diseases such as cancer or Alzheimer’s. To date, MEDCOM ADVANCE SA consists of six senior and six junior researchers, and two technicians with specialities ranging from physics to microbiology or medicine, with an expected expansion to other twenty positions within the next two years. This new business company, owned mainly by Medcomtech (75%), also involves scientific
partners: Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV); Catalan Center for Chemical Technology (CTQC); Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA); and, privately, the ICREA Research Professor Ramón Álvarez Puebla.