FluoSphera secures €1.23M to expand human-based preclinical platform

FluoSphera, a Swiss biotech startup focused on drug safety and efficacy testing, has raised €1.23 million (CHF1.15 million) in funding. The round was led by Soulmates Ventures and a Swiss business angel, with participation from IndieBio New York.

Developing a new drug is a lengthy and costly process, and a large proportion of drug candidates do not succeed in clinical trials. One of the main reasons for these failures is that existing preclinical models often do not accurately predict how compounds will behave in the human body. Traditional two-dimensional cell cultures cannot represent interactions between organs, and animal models do not fully reflect human biology, which can result in key toxicities being overlooked and delays in the development of effective treatments.

To address these limitations, FluoSphera has developed a multiplexed in vitro platform designed to predict drug responses in a more human-relevant manner. The company’s patented technology allows multiple human tissue models to be combined in a single experiment, with each tissue tracked independently using proprietary fluorescent coding. This enables researchers to observe interactions between different organs and assess both efficacy and potential side effects earlier in the development process, before proceeding to animal or human testing.

Dr. Clélia Bourgoint, CEO and co-founder of FluoSphera, said the company is developing a new generation of preclinical tools aimed at accelerating and lowering the cost of bringing medicines to market, while also improving the overall quality of drug discovery.

By improving human relevance and reducing reliance on animal models, we help our partners bring safer, more effective treatments to patients faster.

The platform is designed to help drug developers reduce development risk, shorten timelines, and lower overall costs, while also supporting alignment with evolving regulatory frameworks that encourage the validation of non-animal testing methods for preclinical research.

With the new funding, FluoSphera plans to expand its business development activities with pharmaceutical companies and contract research organisations, increase integration of its platform into drug development workflows, and further develop its AI-based image analysis capabilities. The company intends to focus on growth in the United States and Europe, with initial expansion into Asian markets underway.