Leading the complex field of biotech demands a unique blend of passion, resilience, and strategic acumen, qualities epitomized by Björn Cochlovius Ph.D., in driving innovation on a global scale.
With a distinguished background as a molecular biologist and entrepreneur, Dr. Cochlovius brings a wealth of experience to his CEO role at Eleva, a leading biotech company headquartered in Freiburg, Germany. Eleva specializes in the groundbreaking field of “Bryotechnology,” utilizing moss-based production to develop complex therapeutic proteins poised to revolutionize medical treatment.
Dr. Cochlovius has navigated a professional journey spanning nearly three decades, marked by scientific excellence, entrepreneurial ventures, and key advisory roles. Beyond his leadership at Eleva, he extends his influence as Chairman of the Supervisory Board for prominent biotech entities such as Sapreme Technologies in the Netherlands and Karolinska Development in Sweden.
Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Cochlovius has strongly advocated for the integration of passion and strategic decision-making. He emphasizes the importance of creating a culture of inspiration and purpose within leadership teams.
In our exclusive feature, we dive into Dr. Cochlovius’s remarkable journey, exploring the defining moments, innovative endeavours, and lasting impact that shaped his leadership legacy.
A Journey Through Healthcare Innovation
Dr. Cochlovius considers himself fortunate to have navigated a career path enriched with diverse experiences, spanning scientific roles at the DKFZ, a prominent cancer-focused research organization in Germany, positions within biotech firms, and Big Pharma. His journey also comprises entrepreneurial ventures and early-stage start-up formations. Although his initial focus was in oncology and immunology, his career path has granted him a comprehensive view of the healthcare industry and its disease landscape.
Reflecting on his journey, Dr. Cochlovius notes, “There are many events, both achievements and setbacks, that sharpen your perspective, diversify your skill set and help you define your leadership style.” His career evolution has led him to confront universal challenges encountered by drug developers, with manufacturing emerging as an important topic of discussion.
Throughout his career, Dr. Cochlovius has seized various opportunities to expand his horizons. He highlights his involvement with start-ups and organizations at the board level, notably serving as Chairman of Karolinska Development, the investment arm of the esteemed Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. This role provided him with yet another distinct and enriching experience.
Revolutionizing Biomanufacturing with Byrotechnology
Founded upon the innovative concept of leveraging moss as a manufacturing platform, Eleva aims to redefine biomanufacturing with its Byrotechnology. In an industry dominated by mammalian cell-lines, Eleva recognized the inherent challenges and limitations associated with traditional methods, including contamination risks and glycosylation pattern discrepancies.
Traditional approaches, while widely utilized, often pose significant obstacles such as contamination risks from animal pathogens and the necessity of antibiotics. Additionally, the absence of human glycosylation patterns in mammalian cell-lines has been a persistent concern. While alternative manufacturing methods, including plant-based solutions, have been explored, many have fallen short of expectations, failing to seamlessly integrate into existing infrastructure.
Eleva’s pioneering approach seeks to bridge this gap by offering the advantages of plant-based manufacturing while overcoming the limitations of mammalian cell-lines. The fundamental question guiding their innovation was whether it was possible to combine the best of both worlds. Through the development of Byrotechnology, Eleva believes they have achieved precisely that.
Over time, Eleva has evolved its business model to provide partners access to their platform, facilitating the collaborative development of drug candidates. This strategic approach enables Eleva to leverage its expertise both independently and in partnership with other companies, driving innovation and advancing biopharmaceutical research.
Eleva’s commitment to revolutionizing biomanufacturing highlights its dedication to addressing industry challenges and driving progress in the development of novel therapeutics.
The Role of Perseverance in Pharma and Biotech
Dr. Cochlovius emphasizes perseverance as a crucial quality for navigating the dynamic business landscape of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Contrary to the rapid pace often depicted in media coverage, real breakthroughs in biotech do not occur overnight.
“In the pharma and biotech industries, perseverance is paramount,” Dr. Cochlovius asserts. “Despite the allure of quick success, it’s essential to recognize that meaningful progress takes time.” He stresses the importance of maintaining determination and morale, even when confronted with challenges.
Reflecting on his own journey, Dr. Cochlovius recalls his early involvement in the development of bispecific antibodies, a field that was once uncharted territory. Today, after decades of rigorous research and innovation, bispecific antibodies are beginning to demonstrate tangible benefits for patients on a broader scale.
By embracing perseverance and resilience, individuals and teams can navigate the complexities of the industry and ultimately contribute to meaningful progress in healthcare.
Sustaining Innovation in Biotech
Dr. Cochlovius asserts that innovation lies at the core of the biotech industry, serving as a driving force behind advancements in patient care. He emphasizes the importance of continually challenging the status quo and striving to introduce novel solutions that significantly impact patients’ lives.
However, Dr. Cochlovius cautions that as organizations expand, the ability to innovate may become uncertain. He points to the experiences of some Big Pharma companies as a lesson in the fragility of innovation. To preserve the innovative spirit, he advocates for adopting a culture of collaboration, avoiding the creation of silos, and encouraging calculated risk-taking at the organizational level.
“While maintaining a focus on innovation is crucial, not all ideas can be pursued simultaneously,” Dr. Cochlovius explains. He stresses the importance of prioritizing and concentrating efforts to prevent dilution of resources and expertise. He views the function of identifying and pursuing the most promising avenues of innovation, tailored to the company’s stage of development, as a critical leadership responsibility.
The Truth Behind Bryotechnology’s Manufacturing Process
Dr. Cochlovius aims to dismiss a common misconception surrounding plant-based manufacturing and molecular farming within the biotech industry, particularly in relation to Eleva’s unique Bryotechnology platform. While traditional perceptions may evoke images of expansive greenhouses or vast fields of crops, this portrayal does not align with the reality of Eleva’s innovative approach.
The Bryotechnology platform, powered by a moss-based cell-line, operates through liquid suspension culture, a critical distinction from conventional methods. Dr. Cochlovius emphasizes that this method offers scalability and efficiency, enabling the production of large quantities of biologics in a relatively short timeframe. The use of liquid suspension culture allows for high cell densities in a compact volume of culture medium, resulting in a higher yield of the desired biological product.
“Contrary to popular belief, our process does not require vast agricultural spaces,” Dr. Cochlovius clarifies. “Our bioreactors, currently operating at 500 liters and scaled up to 2,000 liters in compliance with GMP standards, can fit into standard clean rooms. The process closely resembles that of CHO cells, offering familiarity and ease of integration.”
Scaling Innovative Solutions in Biotech
Since assuming the role of CEO at Eleva in early 2023, Dr. Cochlovius has been entrusted with a crucial task: to translate over two decades of pioneering research and development into substantial advancements in industrial and medical practice on a global scale. At Eleva, the focus lies on harnessing the potential of “Bryotechnology,” a plant-based manufacturing process, to revolutionize the production of complex therapeutic proteins and address unmet needs in rare and underserved diseases.
“Our vision at Eleva is clear: to demonstrate the effectiveness of moss-based production methods and showcase the capabilities of our Bryotechnology platform through rigorous preclinical and early clinical testing,” Dr. Cochlovius asserts. “We firmly believe that this approach holds immense promise for transforming patient care.”
Central to Eleva’s strategy is the strategic engagement of partners to adopt moss-based production methods and collaborate in advancing therapeutic candidates. By convincing a growing number of partners to embrace Bryotechnology, Eleva aims to validate its unique approach and broaden its impact in the biopharmaceutical landscape.
Enhancing Biologic Therapies
Manufacturing is the foundation of success in the field of biologics. Without the ability to produce molecules in substantial quantities, at reasonable costs, and with favorable characteristics, a drug remains nothing more than a concept. Eleva is reshaping the landscape of manufacturing with its innovative approach.
Take, for instance, complement disorders, where approved treatments broadly suppress the immune system, leaving patients susceptible to infections. Eleva’s solution offers a more selective approach, restoring the natural balance of the complement system while preserving its protective functions against bacteria.
In enzyme replacement therapy, critical for treating genetic disorders like Fabry Disease, Eleva’s cell line enables the production of enzymes closely resembling their human counterparts. This dependability enhances uptake and metabolism, amplifying therapeutic efficacy.
Eleva’s impact extends to therapeutic antibodies, an important class of drugs. Monoclonal antibodies produced with Eleva’s platform exhibit significantly higher antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, crucial for potent cancer treatments. Moreover, Eleva’s moss cell-lines can be tailored to mitigate the toxicity associated with antibody-drug conjugates, streamlining production processes.
Dr. Cochlovius emphasizes, “We believe there are numerous opportunities in our industry to refine and optimize product characteristics through synergistic manufacturing approaches.” This pursuit not only facilitates the creation of optimal first-in-class drugs but also enables fast followers to develop best-in-class therapeutic options with higher margins.
The goal is clear: to continually enhance therapeutic strategies and molecules in the biopharmaceutical space. Eleva’s commitment to optimizing and reinventing manufacturing processes aligns with the industry’s course of innovation, ensuring that therapeutic advancements are not delayed by outdated manufacturing methods. Just as it would be unimaginable for a modern carmaker to produce its latest model on outdated assembly lines, Eleva strives to propel the biotech industry forward with cutting-edge manufacturing technologies.
Leading the Way in Next-Level Medicine
Dr. Cochlovius envisions Eleva as a global leader in developing unique biologicals requiring equally distinctive manufacturing processes. He articulates this vision through Eleva’s slogan, “Next level medicine with ease,” targeting complex medical challenges deliberately.
“Our strategy is to apply this approach to a portfolio of proprietary product candidates, which we can develop into early clinical development ourselves, and also to search for partnerships that combine innovative programs with our differentiated manufacturing platform early on,” Dr. Cochlovius explains.
Rooted in Eleva’s German heritage is a commitment to meticulous industrial design and sophisticated engineering, reflecting the renowned “Made in Germany” qualities. However, Eleva embraces international collaboration, recognizing that innovation in drug development transcends borders.
As CEO, Dr. Cochlovius prioritizes assembling the right team and organizational structure. Key to this effort was the recent addition of a Chief Business Officer, reflecting Eleva’s focus on expanding partnerships. Additionally, securing financing is paramount, with Eleva having secured EUR 60 million in a recent financing round led by Zukunftsfonds Heilbronn (ZFHN). This substantial investment provides a solid foundation for future growth and potential partnerships as Eleva’s business matures.
Unlocking Success
Dr. Cochlovius emphasizes the importance of recognizing that biologics vary significantly based on how they are produced. The manufacturing process can influence their safety, effectiveness, mode of action, and commercial viability. Understanding manufacturing platform selection as more than just a means to increase production volumes is crucial in today’s industry.
He advises life sciences founders to adopt a long-term perspective and prioritize sorting out the manufacturing of their product sooner rather than later. This proactive approach can not only solve many problems down the road but also lead to the development of a much better product than originally anticipated.
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