FROM SPIN-OUT TO GLOBAL IMPACT: T3 PHARMA’S JOURNEY TO SUCCESS

T3 Pharma, a university spin-out, has been transformed into a biotech leader, acquired for up to CHF 450 million, demonstrating how Basel's innovation ecosystem fuels breakthrough growth.

«Because of our rapid growth, we were glad to move into fully furnished labs much faster, which allowed us to start manufacturing and continue growing seamlessly. The campus made it possible to have both custom-built space and immediate access to ready-to-use labs, ensuring smooth expansion.»

Dr. Simon Ittig

CEO of T3 Pharma and Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area, Main Campus resident

When Dr. Simon Ittig founded T3 Pharma, he set out to achieve what few had dared: to engineer live bacteria as precision delivery systems for cancer treatments. What began as an academic experiment at the University of Basel’s Biozentrum quickly evolved into a bold biotech venture. Guided by a vision to use living bacteria as therapeutic vehicles, the company developed a unique platform capable of targeting tumors with unmatched specificity.

From the start, T3 Pharma thrived within Basel’s vibrant life sciences ecosystem. With early support from BaseLaunch, the team gained access to vital industry connections, expert mentors, and funding partners. The Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area I Main Campus then provided the infrastructure to turn groundbreaking research into scalable development. Ready-to-use lab spaces, combined with options for custom-built facilities, allowed the company to move seamlessly from proof-of-concept to clinical readiness, all without losing operational momentum.

The journey wasn’t without hurdles. Transitioning from research to regulated development demanded new capabilities in manufacturing, compliance, and clinical trial planning. Yet being surrounded by fellow innovators on the Main Campus made all the difference. Informal collaboration, borrowing equipment, exchanging regulatory advice, or sharing patent insights over coffee, created a support network that accelerated progress and built confidence at every stage.

By the time Boehringer Ingelheim entered acquisition discussions, T3 Pharma was ready. The company had proven its science, established robust operations, and cultivated a resilient culture of innovation. The up to CHF 450 million acquisition marked not just a financial success but validation of a model: that world-changing biotech can flourish when science, talent, community, and infrastructure align. Today, T3 Pharma continues to grow under its new parent company, advancing its live-bacteria therapy platform toward patients while remaining firmly rooted in the Basel Area ecosystem that helped it thrive.

Read more about T3 Pharma

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