Hylomorph is not just another name in med-tech. It is a mission-driven company born from a passionate belief that everyone deserves the best medical treatment possible and that prevention is key. Hylomorph’s founders joined forces in the lab to bridge the gap between leading research, life-saving medical solutions, and a shared vision to transform the future of medical implants.
The inception of Hylomorph can be traced back to a bustling lab at ETH Zurich, where Simone Bottan, a biomedical engineer from Italy, crossed paths with his future co-founders, Aldo Ferrari and Francesco Robotti. United by a shared passion for patient-centric technology and a drive to make a tangible difference in healthcare, the trio began collaborating on a side project during their academic doctoral studies. Little did they know that this collaboration would lay the foundation for a company that would address one of the most pressing challenges in medical implants.
“Our mission is to save and improve patients’ lives by empowering doctors with the best tools through cutting-edge innovation,” asserts Bottan.
The Critical Need for Infection Prevention
“Infections related to implantable medical devices represent a significant burden on patients and healthcare systems alike,” Bottan notes. These infections can lead to severe complications, including prolonged hospital stays, increased mortality rates, and skyrocketing healthcare costs. For patients with cardiac implants like pacemakers and defibrillators, the stakes are even higher. Despite advancements in medical technology, the risk of post-surgical infections remains a daunting challenge, often leading to pain, additional operations, and even life-threatening consequences.
Bottan, Ferrari, and Robotti’s innovative solution to this critical problem is its bioresorbable drug-eluting envelope, specifically designed to encase cardiac implants. This envelope not only protects the implant but also delivers a high concentration of antibiotics directly to the surgical site over several days, killing the pathogenic organisms responsible for infection. The envelope naturally dissolves within three months, leaving no foreign material behind, which significantly enhances infection prevention for cardiac patients. By blending biocompatibility with therapeutic effectiveness, Hylomorph is raising the bar in patient safety and care.
From Research to Reality
As anyone in Biotech understands, moving from conceptual research to a market-ready product is a challenging one, requiring not just scientific acumen but also visionary leadership. Bottan, Hylomorph’s CEO, brings a rich background in biomedical engineering, having earned his PhD and honed his expertise in both research and business development.
“When I moved to Zurich, I had the opportunity to study at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, often called the ‘MIT of Europe’ for its top-tier R&D and international rankings,” explains Bottan.
His path from academia to entrepreneurship was driven by a desire to translate groundbreaking research into tangible medical products that could save lives. Bottan’s professional mission is clear: to establish advanced technologies in the MedTech field that have a profound impact on social and healthcare systems.
Ferrari, the company’s CSO, is a world-renowned expert in the field of interface phenomena between biomaterials and human tissues. He also has a PhD in physics and a wealth of experience in surface engineering, Ferrari’s research has been instrumental in developing the technologies behind Hylomorph’s products. His commitment to translating his research into standard clinical applications has been a driving force in the company’s success.
Hylomorph’s COO, Francesco Robotti, perfectly rounds out the team. He combines his interdisciplinary education in energy and mechanical engineering with a deep understanding of biomedical engineering. His passion for innovation and desire to make a direct impact on people’s lives led him to join Hylomorph in its early days.
Robotti’s role has been crucial in transforming Hylomorph’s main IP asset into a valuable medical product that holds the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes worldwide. He has presented the results and the vision of Hylomorph at several events, including the European Heart Rhythm Association annual meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, the 3rd ETH-Chalmers Bilateral Workshop in Gothenburg, Sweden, the Annual Symposium of the Competence Center for Materials and Processes in Zürich, Switzerland, and the Material Research Society Fall Meeting in Boston, USA.
From Concept to Clinical Application
Since its founding in 2015, Hylomorph has achieved significant milestones that highlight its potential to transform the medical implant industry. The founders, driven by their shared belief in the technology they were developing, sought validation from the very people who would ultimately benefit from their innovation — doctors and surgeons.
Their breakthrough moment came when cardiac surgeons at a nearby university hospital recognized the potential of their technology for use in cardiac electronic devices. This pivotal feedback sparked a collaborative effort that saw the team rapidly transition from prototype development to animal testing and, eventually, to first-in-human trials in less than five years. This milestone, along with their extensive pre-clinical research, has positioned Hylomorph as a leader in the field of infection prevention for implantable devices. Early exchanges with the FDA have further solidified the company’s commitment to transparency and clinical excellence.
The Market for Hylomorph’s Solution
The market for Bottan, Ferrari, and Robotti’s bioresorbable drug-eluting envelope is set to grow quickly with the rising need for better infection prevention with bacteria gaining resistance to our current drugs. Likewise, as regulatory oversight tightens and the healthcare industry shifts toward value-based care, preventing infections has become even more important for better patient outcomes and cutting healthcare costs. Hylomorph’s innovative approach positions it to tap into this growing market, especially as the need for safer and more effective implantable device solutions continues to grow.
The Future of Hylomorph
Hylomorph’s vision for the future extends beyond cardiac implants. The company envisions its modular solution becoming the standard of care for advanced infection prevention across a wide range of medical implants. As the company continues to grow, it plans to address other complications, such as antibiotic resistance and hematoma, ultimately setting a new benchmark in patient care and cost management. With a mission to enhance patient safety and quality of life, Hylomorph will soon be leading the way in transforming how the medical community approaches implant-related complications.
Innovation and patient outcomes go hand-in-hand. Hylomorph offers innovation and progress, driven by a team whose passion and expertise are creating a healthier, safer future for patients worldwide. As Bottan puts it, “We’re aiming to establish our solutions as the gold standard in infection prevention, globally. In the coming years, infection prevention will be a priority for everyone, and we want to lead the charge as pioneers in this field.”
Spencer Hulse is the Editorial Director at Grit Daily. He is responsible for overseeing other editors and writers, day-to-day operations, and covering breaking news.
