Due to Covid, last year’s winners of the Venture Challenge were announced today at the Dutch Life Sciences Conference. The proud winner of the 2021 summer edition is Sella Therapies. The innovative startup Sella Therapies has developed a novel therapy for chronic pain relief that targets the body’s internal neuropeptide system.
According to the jury, comprised of Carine van den Brink, Geert-Jan Mulder, Florian Ludwig, Kim Lucassen, Olga Liska, Sella Therapies is addressing a real need as experienced by patients suffering from severe chronic pain. They have a clear value proposition on which they can expand in the future. Sella Therapies has developed an implanted, minimally-invasive medical device capable of treating whole-body pain, while also reducing associated anxiety and depression. The device targets the pituitary gland where it delivers small, safe electrical pulses to activate the release of the hormone/neuropeptide oxytocin, inducing a powerful natural analgesic that can mitigate even severe pain. Sella’s approach builds on a historical body of clinical evidence that demonstrates the efficacy of pituitary mediated pain relief.
The Venture Challenge Summer 2021 started in June last year and today at the Dutch Life Sciences Conference Sella Therapies takes home the €25.000 prize money to invest in their growth. The other highly-motivated participating teams were: Astherna, Orgonex and Vivart-X.
Participating in the Venture Challenge leads to a clear venture plan, as well as to investor-ready pitches. The LifeSciences@Work Accelerator is powered by Health~Holland, Top Sector Life Sciences & Health. Contact Wouter van Furth For more information about Sella Therapies.