Targeting prostate cancer with an innovative therapeutic approach: AlphaOnco Swiss is developing a medical device for cancer treatment that is easy to administer, economically competitive, and suitable for low-resource settings. Incubated at BioArk technological site in Monthey, the company was founded by Dr. Edouard Alphandéry and is the Swiss subsidiary of the French company Nanobacterie.

We met with its founder to explore the transition from academic research to industrial development and the prospects for market launch.

You have just been ranked one of the World’s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University for the fifth consecutive year. What concrete impact does this have on your activities?

Dr. Edouard Alphandéry — This distinction remains symbolic, but it reflects the solidity of our work and its academic scope. It also sends a strong signal to our partners, particularly industrial partners and investors, by validating the scientific credibility of our approach.

What led you to combine academic research and entrepreneurship?

E.A. — The interface between research and entrepreneurship is essential in life sciences. R&D only makes sense when it translates into therapeutic solutions available to patients. At AlphaOnco, more than 90% of our developments come from internal work, which gives us complete control over our technology. Our goal is clear: to offer an alternative to standard prostate cancer treatments by drastically reducing the need for medical infrastructure in order to facilitate access on a global scale, including in contexts with limited medical resources.

What role does the Valais ecosystem play in AlphaOnco’s progress?

E.A. — BioArk and Valais Economic Promotion provide us with structural support: shared equipment, technical support, strategic advice, and access to professional networks. However, there is room for improvement: the creation of a cantonal inventory of available equipment, or even closer links with existing companies to deploy our prototypes in simulated or real physiological conditions.

Thanks to this support, we have been able to participate in strategic events such as the BIO International Convention in Boston and the Swiss Biotech Day in Basel. Currently, our collaboration with BioArk is focused on the Fill & Finish stage—the final phase of the process, which is critical for regulatory compliance—carried out in a production environment that meets GMP standards at the Monthey technology site. The proximity of this industrial capacity is a major asset in accelerating time to market.

What are your priorities for the coming months?

E.A. — Finalizing our preclinical trials and initiating the regulatory phase in preparation for clinical trials. To do this, financing remains critical: we need investors capable of supporting a high-risk deep tech project with strong medical and commercial potential. This is the main limiting factor in our sector.

Nevertheless, we remain confident: our technology is on the verge of reaching a stage of validation that will enable it to move into production and commercialization.

➡️ More on AlphaOnco Swiss

➡️ Get to know Edouard Alphandéry