David Ofner is one of the two co-founders of EVANIUM. In the following interview, he discusses his primary activities, what motivated him to establish EVANIUM, and the company’s short-term and long-term objectives.
What are your primary responsibilities, and how do they contribute to the success of the company?
One of my primary responsibilities is to coordinate internal and external research. We are primarily concerned with technological systems that enhance the water solubility of substances, thereby making them more readily usable by the body. We are currently conducting a screening process for excipients, in which we are investigating the effects of various excipients on the water solubility of plant substances. To find the optimal combination, we are testing multiple excipients with different active ingredients in a high-throughput process.
As coordinator for branded ingredients, i.e., products that are already available on the market, I am also responsible for in vitro research. While the lab demonstrates improved solubility, in this case, it is more a matter of demonstrating the effectiveness of various complex compounds or raw materials. Our focus is on a complex that has neuroprotective effects and is used in the field of cognitive enhancement. We are currently investigating the neuroprotective effects of the flavonoid complex in a human cell line. This project is fascinating and offers insight into potential areas of application in the field of neuroprotection.
At the same time, I serve as the primary point of contact for the university, specifically regarding university research projects and joint development initiatives. We are currently developing an in vitro model to determine bioavailability.
How did you become interested in this field, and what motivated you to found the life science start-up EVANIUM?
I spent my childhood in Singapore, where traditional Chinese pharmacies are prevalent. Even as a child, I was fascinated by the medicinal plants, roots, and dried leaves on display there. During my studies, my interest in pharmaceutical technology grew even stronger. I was particularly interested in maximizing the benefits of existing active ingredients, whether through targeted carrier systems or advanced drug delivery technologies. I often wondered how a drug with so much potential could fail screening because it was poorly water-soluble or virtually ineffective when taken in its pure form. The same problem also exists with herbal active ingredients: although they often have interesting effects, their benefits cannot be exploited due to problematic bioavailability and water solubility. The hidden potential of these substances motivated me to focus on this area, which led to the founding of our start-up, Evanium.
What are your personal goals and visions for the future of EVANIUM?
We intend to expand our platform technology and offer a universal technology for plant extracts and plant-based active ingredients. In the long term, we also want to specialize in identifying our own active ingredients. Currently, however, the focus is more on the galenics and formulation of existing active ingredients. Above all, we aim to expand the screening process further to identify our own active ingredients. Our long-term vision is also to offer more plant-based health solutions, as the trend is moving towards plant-based products, especially in the OTC and consumer care sectors. If we could provide the full effectiveness of plant extracts and supply raw materials for innovative new products, this would be a big step towards our goal.
