ARTHEx Biotech, Evolving Therapeutics and Optical Sens, awarded at the Santander X 2025 awards in the Startup category

The University of Valencia has awarded the Santander X Spain Awards to recognize the best ideas in the categories of "University Entrepreneurship Projects 2025" and  "Startup 2025", which seek to boost with 3 awards of € 2,000 and € 4,000 respectively the best university entrepreneurial projects and the best startups or spin-offs. 

Among the winners, in the startup category are three companies linked to the Science Park of the Universitat of Valencia (PCUV). The first prize went to ARTHEx Biotech, a company located in the scientific-business area of the PCUV and focused on the development of a treatment against muscular dystrophy type 1 based on microRNA inhibitors. The second prize was awarded to Evolving Therapeutics, also in the PCUV’s business science area, which develops phage-based, natural, ecological and zero environmental impact solutions. As for the third prize, it has been to Optical Sens SL, which was also located in this institution of the University of Valencia and that commercializes sensors for detection of chemical drugs and senescence sensors.

The UV Rectorate building hosted the public presentation of ideas to two evaluation committees and the closing event attended by Rosa Donat Beneito, Vice Rector for Innovation and Transfer, Juan Vicente Climent, Manager of the University of Valencia and Rosa Sánchez Malonda, responsible for Santander Startup in the Valencia and Murcia Territorial Delegation. Vicent Clemente, responsible for operations at the Science Park University of Valencia Foundation, participated as a member of the jury of the Santander X. 

Vicent Clemente (right), head of operations at the UV Science Park Foundation, member of the jury for the Santander X Spain Awards

This award is in addition to those already received by these three PCUV companies in the VLC START UP awards, the support programme for innovative enterprises that is part of a collaboration agreement signed between the University of Valencia and Santander Bank, with the aim of promoting and supporting the creation and consolidation of enterprises in the university innovation environment. Specifically, Optical Sens won in 2024 in the laboratory category; Evolving Therapeutics in 2023 also in the laboratory for its project One Phage Solutions project; and Arthex Biotech was awarded in the 2019 edition.  

Evolving Therapeutics is a spin-off of the University of Valencia founded in April 2023 by sisters Pilar Domingo-Calap (scientific director) and Marisa Domingo-Calap (CEO), with support from UV and the Respiralia Foundation, linked to fibrosis. Its main objective is to combat bacterial resistance through the use of bacteriophages -specific viruses that attack pathogenic bacteria- under a global "One Health" approach covering human, animal and plant health.
 
Focused on the fight against multiresistant bacteria, it seeks to develop products that are able to prevent, treat and diagnose bacterial diseases that today have no treatment. Among its services it offers phage isolation, characterization and optimization, developing therapeutic cocktails and diagnostic tools based on these ecologically safe agents.  

 

 

ARTHEx Biotech S.L. is a spin-off company of the University of Valencia focused on the development of a treatment against muscular dystrophy type 1 based on microRNA inhibitors. The proof of concept of the efficacy of these molecules in animal models of the disease was generated at the translational genomics laboratory of the Universitat de València, directed by Dr. Ruben Artero.

The founders of this company are Dr. Beatriz Llamusí and Dr. Ruben Artero. The business model proposed to complete this project corresponds to the current open innovation model, in which the biotechnology company develops products up to clinical phase 2 (efficacy), and then license them to multinational pharmaceutical companies with the ability to complete development, develop more advanced studies and carry out their marketing.

 

 

 

Opticalsens, commercially known by the name of Celentis, winner of the third prize for startups in the Santander X awards , is the first spin-off from the University of Valencia and the Polytechnic University of Valencia, which also brings together researchers from the Interuniversity Institute for Molecular Recognition and Technological Development (IDM), who have managed to develop product lines such as drug detection probes for abuse in beverages, the so-called submissive drugs. 
 
Since its inception, Optical Sens SL has developed chemical sensors and biomarkers initially focused on two main applications: chemical submission drug detection and senescence sensors. In July 2024, the company delivered its first test vials to the Generalitat Valenciana for municipal festivals and parties, designed so that anyone can detect changes in their beverages at room temperature.