Accure Therapeutics, D-Sight and Aromics selected by the Alira Health 'Startup Support Program'

Knowing the specificities and needs of any market is key to successful access. In the case of the health sector, which is very complex and has its own very clear rules, this knowledge is not only key but essential. To get into this sector properly, one needs to know the structure and organization of the National Health System, local and national legislation, the process and requirements of clinical trials, competition, how the 'payers', distribution channels, and so on. All the nuances and details that we know before starting any entry process will help the path to have as few obstacles and unforeseen as possible.

Alira Health, in collaboration with Biocat, presented the Startup Support Program in February, in the Barcelona Health Innovation Week, a mentoring programme that offers small biotechnological companies an accompaniment in the design of the market access strategy.  Individualised tutories that companies will carry out with expert consultants will help them to improve their value proposal, navigate the ecosystem and adequately define their needs. 

Throughout the sessions they will be familiar with the health ecosystems of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. While these countries offer good business opportunities and public or private health systems open to introducing new technologies, they are complex and difficult to access. Especially when it comes to small and medium-sized enterprises. A good strategic and market access plan will optimise commercial opportunities.

Of the 18 companies that submitted to the call, they will participate in the programme:

• Accure Therapeutics: an R+D pharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative drugs to treat patients suffering from central nervous system (CNS) diseases. It focuses on neurons suffering from dysfunction and the glial environment that underpins them, in an attempt to prevent their degeneration and death. Let us work to find new medicines that will correct the pathological changes responsible for the disease and produce beneficial results (i.e. disease-modifying therapies). 
   
• D-Sight: a spin-off of the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute led by an experienced and committed team dedicated to the discovery and development of new innovative treatments for retina neurodegenerative diseases. They have developed a non-invasive solution for the prevention and early-stage treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
   
• Aromics: a biotechnology company dedicated to the research and development of new drugs and diagnostic methods for human health. They use the omic technologies for generating biological knowledge about: the mechanism of action of new drugs, optimizing the development process and making possible their progress towards clinical phases and the determination of clinically predictive molecular markers for diagnosis, adequacy and monitoring of pharmacological response.