cellvie featured in Gen Suisse: advancing gene therapy through mitochondrial innovation

Zurich, Switzerland - April 21, 2026 - The article, written by Gen Suisse, features cellvie’s work in leveraging mitochondria as gentaxis, enabling new ways to deliver genetic material within the body. This concept has the potential to address key limitations of existing delivery technologies, particularly in terms of delivery payload capacity, in vivo distribution and safety.

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Mitochondria as Gene Taxis: A Zurich Startup Wants to Reinvent Gene Therapy

The Zurich startup cellvie aims to use mitochondria as biological gene shuttles — an approach that could open up gene therapies for organs previously out of reach.

Gene therapies are widely regarded as one of the great hopes of modern medicine. They promise to treat diseases at their root by repairing or replacing faulty genes. Yet a central challenge remains unsolved: how to deliver therapeutic genes safely and precisely to the right cells. The most common methods rely on viruses or synthetic fat particles known as lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). Both approaches have their limitations. Viral vectors can trigger immune reactions, and lipid nanoparticles almost invariably end up in the liver. Organs such as the kidneys, the lungs, and the skin remain difficult to reach.

From Power Plant to Gene Shuttle

This is where Zurich-based biotech startup cellvie comes in. The company is pursuing a surprising idea: mitochondria — the powerhouses of our cells — could serve as biological delivery vehicles for genetic therapies. Mitochondria are tiny structures found in almost every human cell, responsible for producing energy. They carry their own DNA and are capable of traveling from cell to cell. These are precisely the properties cellvie is looking to harness. The concept: mitochondria are loaded with additional genetic information — so-called plasmids — transforming the cell's power plant into a biological gene shuttle capable of delivering its cargo directly into target cells.

"Mitochondria are significantly larger than existing delivery vehicles such as lipid nanoparticles or viral vectors. This means they can carry much larger DNA fragments and transport them into organs that are difficult to reach with established approaches. Mitochondria could therefore offer a solution for genetic defects that have so far been untreatable." — Martijn Brugman, CTO, cellvie.

But how do loaded mitochondria actually enter target cells? Like synthetic nanoparticles, they are taken up by cells through endocytosis. However, unlike synthetic particles, the body recognizes them as beneficial components. This allows them to more efficiently overcome the so-called endosomal barrier, where a large portion of LNP cargo is typically lost. Repeated treatments are also feasible with mitochondria, as they do not trigger significant immune responses.

Kidney, Lung, and Skin: New Pathways to Hard-to-Reach Organs

The approach is particularly exciting for organs that have so far been largely beyond the reach of gene therapies. Hereditary kidney diseases, cystic fibrosis, and genetic skin conditions are notoriously difficult to treat because conventional delivery methods barely reach these tissues. Mitochondria could, for the first time, provide access. Early studies suggest they can be introduced into solid organs in a targeted manner using minimally invasive procedures.

"What we could only hope for a few years ago is today a tangible prospect. With our mitochondrial constructs, we have repeatedly and successfully transfected kidney, lung, and skin in vivo — using both RNA and DNA constructs. We have observed expression even after 28 days, and single-cell sequencing has confirmed that mitochondria are able to cross the endothelial layer." — Alexander Schueller, CEO, cellvie.

In doing so, cellvie could close a gap that has persisted in gene therapy for years: enabling effective treatments for organs beyond the liver — including for large genetic constructs that LNPs or viral vectors have so far been unable to deliver into cells.

First Application: Treating Epidermolysis Bullosa

cellvie plans to bring its gene vector technology into clinical use for the first time in the treatment of epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a rare hereditary disease in which even minor mechanical stress causes severe skin injuries. Affected individuals suffer from chronic wounds, persistent pain, and a significantly elevated risk of infection. The focus is on the targeted delivery of a functional COL7A1 plasmid into skin cells to address the underlying genetic defect. Early preclinical data are promising and are intended to pave the way for near-term clinical translation.

Swiss Funding for a Pioneer Technology

The broader recognition of this research is reflected in funding from Innosuisse, the Swiss Innovation Agency. In 2024, cellvie received support through the competitive Swiss Innovation Project program to advance the development of mitochondrial gene therapy vectors. The grant underscores the importance of such platform technologies for Switzerland as a hub for biotechnology. In Switzerland, mitochondrial therapies would likely be classified as biological medicinal products and fall under the Therapeutic Products Act. The precise regulatory classification remains open, however, as mitochondria used as gene therapy delivery vehicles represent an entirely new product category.

Outlook

The path to clinical application is still long. But the potential is enormous: if the mitochondrial approach proves its worth, it could make gene therapies safer, more broadly applicable, and independent of viral systems. For patients with diseases affecting hard-to-reach organs, that would be a breakthrough. And for Switzerland as a research and innovation hub, it would be further proof that the country is not only conducting cutting-edge science, but actively shaping the future of therapeutic medicine.

About Gen Suisse

Headquartered in Switzerland, Gen Suisse is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering informed dialogue around genetic technologies and their societal impact. Through accessible content, educational initiatives, and public engagement, Gen Suisse aims to bridge the gap between science and society. The organization covers a broad range of topics, including genetic engineering, biotechnology, and emerging therapeutic approaches, with the goal of making complex scientific developments understandable to a wider audience.

About cellvie

Headquartered in Zürich, cellvie is a Harvard Medical School spin out and pioneer in mitochondria-based therapeutics, developing allogeneic cell-line derived frozen mitochondria as a scalable and shelf life stable medicinal product. The team is focusing on ischemia-reperfusion injury as the technology’s first application - a thus far intractable disease pathology and leading cause of death arising in heart attacks, stroke, or organ transplantation. cellvie believes in the platform potential of mitochondria honing a pipeline of applications in the fields of cell and gene therapy and longevity.

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