Oana Coșman
In the pharmaceutical industry, in silico research (in biology and other experimental sciences, an in silico experiment is one performed on a computer or via computer simulation software – n.red.). is emerging as a game-changer.
Advances in the computer-driven approaches allow for rapid exploration of vast drug candidate libraries and predict their interactions with target molecules. This translates to faster, more cost-effective drug development, paving the way for quicker advancements in healthcare.
However, commercial applications are just taking off. This surge is fueled by three key factors: the exponential growth of biological data, the immense processing power of modern computers, and the development of powerful new algorithms.
The team at TCHC is ideally positioned to capitalize on these trends and develop new, highly functional treatments.
Alexandru Voda, the CEO is an Oxford PhD in Molecular and Cellular Medicine and has published papers on new computational algorithms, and Alexandru Bacita, the COO of TCHC, is a former Senior Scientist at Charles River Laboratories, arguably the largest provider of services for drug discovery and clinical trials.
The two founders met during their degree at The University of Manchester and have continuously collaborated for the past 10 years.
They possess highly complementary skill sets, an uncanny ability to grasp business principles and have designed a highly efficient go-to-market model for TCHC.
While TCHC considered a broad range of new therapies, the founders, driven by their love for cats, embarked on a mission to pursue the high-potential field of feline longevity research. By addressing the root causes of aging, they aim to prevent or delay a wide range of age-related illnesses, extending both the life and quality of life for our purring companions. Furthermore, while the cat market has been relatively neglected compared to its canine counterpart, Romania's exceptional rate of cat ownership within EU households makes it a prime location for their operations.
The scientific cofounders are supported by two team members with strongly relevant skill sets. Dr. Ana Cruceanu is a compassionate veterinarian with deep knowledge of clinical studies into feline pathologies, and Adelina Craiciu is a senior advisor on European and corporate law matters.
Aiming to start the research for its most promising therapies, TCHC is embarking on a path that can change how new effective therapies are discovered and introduced to the market. Once the market validates its approach, the company will explore the possibility of developing new longevity therapies for human use.
“I’m thrilled to support TCHC. Their founders are not only brilliant Romanian scientists who deserve our full backing, with a promising entrepreneurial spirit. They’ve masterfully combined their scientific expertise with a keen commercial instinct to create a venture that has the potential to revolutionize both pet care and, why not, human health. This is a testament to Romania’s growing talent pool and I’m proud to be part of their journey”, says Florin Visa, Partner Early Game.
“We are incredibly grateful to Florin Visa, Cristian Munteanu, Dan Calugareanu, Bogdan Pasca and the team at Early Game Ventures supporting us. We have considered multiple options in our current round, but the experience and connections brought by EGV’s partners is unmatched. We’re also thankful to Elena Ovreiu, Adrian and Florin Grosu, Florin Cioaca as well as our many other resourceful angels for helping us in the mission to bring better drugs to the veterinary market. We need to go beyond just nine lives”, stated Alex Voda (CEO) & Alex Bacita (COO), TCHC.
