Switches for the genome: Epitome Therapeutics develops innovative methods at the Vienna BioCenter

06. October 20263 minutes reading time

Quick Info

Who is Epitome Therapeutics?

Epitome Therapeutics is a biotech company deeply rooted in European cutting-edge research. Officially founded in 2025, the company started operations in Vienna in 2026. The EMBL spinoff was created through a partnership between UK epigenetics pioneer Dr. Jamie Hackett and Dr. Guido Gualdoni, a physician born in Argentina and based in Vienna.

Why does Austria stand out as a location?

Austria combines excellent scientific infrastructure with a vibrant ecosystem at the Vienna BioCenter. Backed by renowned investors such as caesar ventures, NAVEC ventures and XISTA Science Ventures, as well as public startup funding from aws and FFG, Austria offers the right balance of venture capital, networking opportunities and an attractive quality of life.

What is Epitome Therapeutics developing in Austria?

The team is developing a medical platform that can switch disease-relevant genes on or off in a targeted way without altering the genetic code itself. Published in the renowned journal Nature Genetics, this technology opens up entirely new therapeutic avenues for complex genetic and metabolic diseases.

What role does the Austrian Business Agency (ABA) play?

The Austrian Business Agency supported the settlement process from the very beginning. Through INVEST in AUSTRIA, the startup quickly found a suitable corporate structure, while WORK in AUSTRIA assisted with immigration procedures for highly specialized international professionals and helped secure fast entry and work permits via the EU Blue Card for a top researcher from the United States.

„When we planned the commercial use of our EMBL technology, several European cities were under consideration. In Austria, the strong commitment of local investors, the straightforward handling of public funding and the seamless integration into the Vienna BioCenter convinced us the fastest.“

At Epitome Therapeutics, the team is developing a medical platform that can selectively activate or deactivate disease-related genes without altering the genetic code itself. © KidizinSane

The founding team of Epitome Therapeutics: Jamie Hackett and Guido Gualdoni (from left to right). © KidizinSane

What makes Austria so attractive for companies like Epitome Therapeutics?

Spinoffs from academic basic research face a major challenge: they need to translate highly complex science into a viable business model in a very short time. When the technology developed at EMBL Rome was ready to be spun out, the founders examined several locations in Central Europe. Austria winning the race was no coincidence, but the result of a precisely interconnected ecosystem.

In Vienna, the founding team encountered an investor environment that immediately recognized the potential of epigenetics. Together with public startup funding from aws and FFG, the company was able to close an oversubscribed pre-seed round of EUR 4 million. This financial buffer gave Epitome Therapeutics the room it needed to establish itself without delay at the heart of Vienna’s life sciences hub.

How does Epitome Therapeutics use Austria’s potential for research and growth?

For a young biotech company, building its own highly specialized laboratory environment is extremely capital-intensive. Epitome Therapeutics addresses this challenge through smart sharing: at the Vienna BioCenter, the team uses existing core facilities and the laboratory infrastructure of leading institutes such as IMP and IMBA through cooperation agreements. As a result, investor funds flow directly into research rather than into costly initial applications for equipment.

This efficiency is also reflected in access to qualified talent. While the Austrian market provides excellent personnel for day-to-day biomedical work, the company recruits globally for ultra-specialized epigenetics profiles. A decisive advantage is that even top talent from established biotech centers such as Boston can be convinced by the overall package of Austrian research standards and Vienna’s outstanding quality of life.

Good to know!

Exclusive license
The intellectual property behind the breakthrough gene-regulation method is based on research results from EMBL Rome and is used by Epitome Therapeutics under an exclusive worldwide license.

+ 10 research positions

From 2 to 10+ at high speed
Within a very short time, the team in Vienna grew from the two founders to eight specialists and plans to expand to more than ten research positions during the current year.

How does ABA support international companies like Epitome Therapeutics?

Founding and scaling an international biotech startup requires fast answers on several fronts at once. The Austrian Business Agency therefore supported Epitome Therapeutics through its specialized units with tailored assistance from a single source.

INVEST in AUSTRIA advised the team on founding the company and choosing the right corporate structure. In parallel, WORK in AUSTRIA provided expert guidance for complex immigration procedures. ABA’s experts supported the relocation of international specialists and their families step by step, from checking documents to obtaining the EU Blue Card, enabling the scientific team to focus fully on medical research from day one.