While the rest of the world has resumed business as usual since the innovation of groundbreaking mRNA vaccines allowed us to vaccinate our way out of the COVID-19 pandemic, for the global scientific community, the work has only just begun. Because, for as long as the COVID-19 virus is still circulating and evolving, there is a need for new and better vaccines that offer broader immunity and reduce transmission.
Leading the way is Swiss Rockets, a Switzerland-based incubator and accelerator for startup companies. In June 2024, it was announced that the nasal, live attenuated, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) vaccine, RVX-sCPD9, innovated by Rocketvax, one of its three R&D companies, had been selected for the United States’ National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Project NextGen. This government-led initiative is dedicated to advancing the pipeline of new vaccines.
The nasal vaccine is based on Rocketvax’s proprietary reverse genetic engineering and molecular biology platform. Beyond COVID-19, it’s hoped that the Phase 1 clinical study sponsored by the NIAID will reinforce its efforts to extend the platform to other infectious diseases and cancers, says Swiss Rockets Founder, Chairman and CEO Vladimir Cmiljanović.
“We are committed to pushing the boundaries of vaccine design to improve global public health,” he tells The CEO Magazine.
Revolutionizing cancer care
The collaboration with the United States government is a key milestone for Cmiljanović since he co-founded Swiss Rockets in 2018, but it’s by no means the only one.
“We focus on creating life-saving treatments in oncology, virology and immunology,” he explains.
To that end, another of Swiss Rockets’ R&D subsidiaries, Torqur, has innovated a personalized cancer treatment and topical cream formulation that has proven highly effective against skin cancer.
Not to be outdone, the third R&D subsidiary, Torpedo Pharmaceuticals, is developing next-generation radiopharmaceuticals for cancer treatment. Its main focus is on harnessing the potential of Terbium-161, a promising isotope in radioligand therapy (radiation to specifically targeted cancer cells, with a minimal effect on healthy cells).
Terbium-161, he says, has the potential to “revolutionize cancer care” through theranostics, or the combination of diagnostics and therapy for targeted treatment.
“Our development of 161-Terbium PSMA and similar solutions enables precise tumor targeting with minimal side effects,” he reveals. “These therapies offer new hope for patients with metastatic or treatment-resistant cancers.”
By integrating diagnostic tools like Gallium-68 PSMA (a scan to diagnose prostate cancer) with radioligand therapies, Cmiljanović hopes to create a personalized approach that maximizes efficacy and improves global accessibility.
A pioneer in personalized medicine
For Cmiljanović, the combination of these milestones and an investment in cutting-edge technologies has positioned Swiss Rockets as a pioneer in personalized medicine – an emerging practice of medicine that he believes is the future of healthcare.
“Personalized medicine offers tailored treatments based on individual genetic profiles and disease biomarkers,” he points out.
Along with the advancement of radioligand therapies, among the contributions Swiss Rockets is making to this space is the development of bimiralisib, which prevents the progression of skin cancers while blocking two enzymes, PI3K and mTOR, to stop the growth of cancer cells. Cmiljanović co-discovered the compound alongside his sister — and Swiss Rockets Co-Founder — Natasa.
“As the field grows, I anticipate better patient outcomes, reduced treatment costs and broader access to therapies worldwide,” he says. “It will transform how we treat complex diseases like cancer.”
Mind the gap
As a cancer scientist and medicinal chemist, Cmiljanović’s contributions to medicine have been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award from the University of Basel in 2009 and the Novartis and University of Basel Excellence Scholarship for Life Sciences in 2011.
His entrepreneurial journey — for which he has also been recognized, most notably in 2021 when he received the Serbian government’s Nikola Tesla Award — began as a researcher in oncology.
“I was struck by the gap between innovative science and its translation into patient care,” he recalls.
In 2011, Cmiljanović founded his first company, Piqur Theraputics, as the biotech spin off from the University of Basel to develop the anti-cancer drug bimiralisib, which was discovered by him and his sister, Natasa. Five years later, he added another company to his resume, TargImmune Therapeutics, with a focus on cancer-cell-targeted immunotherapies. RocketVax followed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Across all his biotech entrepreneurial endeavors, Cmiljanović has proven himself a savvy leader, leveraging his skills and network to attract investment, scientific experts and businesses. The road hasn’t always been smooth as he and his co-founders navigated early funding challenges, built a multidisciplinary team and forged strategic partnerships.
Yet the journey has also delivered a suite of core learnings that have influenced his leadership style.
“Overcoming regulatory and market hurdles has taught me resilience, adaptability and the importance of clear, transparent communication,” he says, adding that his leadership style centers on empowering teams, fostering collaboration and maintaining an unwavering commitment to the Swiss Rockets mission of advancing healthcare.
Pathways for growth
The biotech industry is rapidly evolving and that dynamism also drives challenges such as high development costs, regulatory complexities and access disparities, Cmiljanović explains.
“However, these challenges offer opportunities for innovation, such as AI-driven drug discovery, decentralized clinical trials and precision medicine,” he says.
“My leadership focuses on fostering agility and leveraging partnerships to navigate these complexities. By integrating new technologies and maintaining a patient-centric approach, we transform challenges into pathways for growth.”
Strategic partnerships have been at the core of Swiss Rockets’ growth. “Long-term relationships are built on transparency, shared values and mutual success,” he explains. “We prioritize open communication, joint goal-setting and regular performance reviews with our partners and suppliers.
“Our procurement excellence stems from rigorous supplier assessments, ensuring alignment with our quality standards and sustainability goals. Collaborative partnerships, like those with Swiss, German and United States universities for radioligand therapies or next-generation vaccines, exemplify our commitment to trust and strategic alignment.”
A cornerstone of oncology
Looking ahead and Cmiljanović predicts that, in the next decade, theranostics will become a cornerstone of oncology, providing curative treatments for advanced cancers.
Global partnerships that drive innovation, alongside investments in AI, genomics and manufacturing that accelerate accessibility, will play a crucial role in realizing this.
“By expanding collaborations with academic institutions and global biotech and pharma companies, Swiss Rockets aims to lead this transformation,” he says.
“Our goal is to ensure that breakthrough therapies reach patients worldwide.”
