Pharmaceutical companies Novartis, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer have joined the launch of Switzerland-based healthcare-focused accelerator BaseLaunch out of regional development agency BaselArea.swiss.
Alethia de Léon, also founder and CEO of medical technology startup Senes Sciences, will run BaseLaunch.
Anja König, managing director of Novartis Venture Funds, said: “We are pleased to help energise the Basel region’s centre of gravity for European healthcare ventures, offering startups the support they need to accelerate their ideas.”
Uwe Schoenbeck, chief scientific officer for external research and development innovation at Pfizer, added: “Through Pfizer’s support of BaseLaunch, we hope to advance the pace at which promising science is translated into potential medicines.”
Richard Mason, head of the Johnson & Johnson Innovation Centre, said BaseLaunch created “an optimal environment for start-ups that focuses on supporting transformative science and great ideas in Switzerland”.