Beat Therapeutics, a young start-up born as a spin-off from the University of Porto, is exploring the potential of a Mozambican plant, known as Fruta Sapo, to develop therapies against aggressive cancers. The innovative compound, called BBIT20, is based on an extract of this plant used in traditional medicine in Mozambique, and has already shown promising proof of concept in tumours such as ovarian and pancreatic cancer.
Ângela Carvalho, chief executive of Beat Therapeutics, explains that BBIT20 works by inhibiting a DNA repair pathway in cancer cells, which leads to the selective death of these cells, leaving healthy cells intact. This advance is the result of a scientific partnership with the Pedagogical University of Maputo and years of research led by Professor Maria José Ferreira.
Funding and production challenges
Despite the encouraging findings, the start-up is still at a pre-clinical stage and faces financial challenges in moving forward with human trials. “We need to complete the pre-clinical stage, scale up production of the molecule and carry out all the regulatory trials”, says Ângela Carvalho, stressing that at least four years are needed before clinical tests can begin.
Beat Therapeutics has had important support, such as the 75,000 euros from the European fund Woman in Tech EU, as well as funding from initiatives such as Portugal Ventures and EIT Health InnoStars. However, next year will be devoted to actively seeking private investment to scale up the development of this pioneering compound.
“In this field, we are always looking for funding”, Carvalho confides. For projects as disruptive as this, she stresses that it is often necessary to turn to funds of excellence in Europe, such as the European Commission’s programmes.
With science joining forces with Mozambique’s biodiversity, Beat Therapeutics opens up a promising path for the country’s natural wealth to contribute decisively to the global fight against cancer.
