Company Overview

Ayanda Biosystems S.A. ("Ayanda") is a technology development company of innovative tools for medical diagnostics and drug discovery applications. Founded in June 2001, Ayanda (a South African name signifying growth and prosperity) is a spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne ("EPFL"). The goal of Ayanda is to identify promising IP/Technologies that satisfy an identified market need and then bring together the necessary expertise and resources on a project-by-project basis to develop products with significant market potential.

Ayanda benefits from its close collaboration with the EPFL, an experienced management team that combine bioengineering innovation with business development skills and a strong IP portfolio.

As part of Ayanda's philosophy, we plan to use cutting-edge technology resources to develop products aimed at enhancing the quality of life in the developing world. Additionally, Ayanda hopes to develop a technology transfer strategy that will assist in the generation of new technology industries and skills development in the emerging countries, with an initial focus on South Africa.

Management Team

Dr. Solomzi Makohliso, founder and CEO

• Ph.D. in Biomaterials, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
  Research topic: Molecular Surface Engineering of Cell-based Biochips.
  Director: Prof. Patrick Aebischer (Ph.D.) & Prof. Horst Vogel (Post-Doc)
• Several invited international presentations & publications on Cell-based Biochips and Biomaterials.
• Previous experience in a biotech start-up (CytoTherapeutics Inc., USA).

Bill Muirhead, Chief Operating Officer

• Chartered Accountant (England & Wales) and Electrical & Electronic Engineering Degree (Univ. of Bristol).
• Previously CFO of Groupe Horloger Breguet (Switzerland), a Swiss haut-de-gamme watch brand and a Senior Manager in Corporate Finance with Coopers & Lybrand in Paris.
• Extensive experience in the preparation and implementation of Business Plans, M&A activity and financing structures.

Dr. Marc Heuschkel, Chief Technical Officer

• Ph.D. in Microengineering and Microsystems, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
  Research topic: Multi-electrode array devices for electrophysiological monitoring of in-vitro cell/tissue cultures.
  Director: Prof. Philippe Renaud
• Several publications on multi-electrode array device technology and applications.

Ayanda MEA Biochip Products

The company produces multi-electrode array (MEA) biochips for electrophysiology applications. Our technology enables the fabrication of novel 3D tip-shaped microelectrodes, which are especially well suited for acute tissue slice experimentation. We have the capability to provide customized solutions to our customer's needs. We are selling these products to various academic institutions and industrial customers.

Ayanda Diagnostics Platform

The company has secured exclusive intellectual property rights for a novel nanotechnology, which was developed in the laboratory of Prof. Horst Vogel at the Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry at the EPFL. This is based on a synthetic ligand-gated ion channel (SLIC) biosensor that is capable of detecting biomolecules with ultrasensitivity.

We are currently developing this technology for applications in infectious diseases and initially concentrating on HIV and respiratory diseases.