Angiolutions fights the invisible

Founded by physicians Isabel Schellinger and Uwe Raaz, who have poured their passion for vascular medicine into a life-saving implant, Angiolutions wants to give patients new hope - with a clear goal in mind.

A visionary against vascular diseases

Isabel Schellinger is not only the founder, but also the driving force behind Angiolutions. Her journey began at the University of Erlangen, where she studied medicine and specialized in vascular regeneration (angiogenesis) at an early stage. With a PhD in this field and a clear scientific focus, she worked intensively on researching abdominal aortic aneurysms. “It is a dangerous vascular disease that often goes unnoticed,” says the doctor. This pathological enlargement of the aorta in the abdominal area occurs when the vessel wall expands. If the aneurysm becomes too large, it can burst and cause life-threatening internal bleeding.

After research stays in the USA, at the renowned Stanford University among others, where she met her future co-founder Uwe Raaz, an interventional cardiologist and vascular doctor, she decided to put her findings into practice.

Breakthrough in the lab, hope for clinical practice

Isabel Schellinger and company co-founder Uwe Raaz immersed themselves in their scientific work in a laboratory at Stanford University. This is where the idea for Angiolutions was born.  The two scientists shared an idea: to develop an innovative implant that could stop the progression of this often undetected but fatal disease at an early stage. Schellinger says: “Our motivation was very clear - we want to offer patients a real chance of a cure before it's too late.” When they finally returned to Germany, they pursued Angiolutions together in 2020 with the vision of improving treatment options for vascular diseases and making a lasting difference to the lives of many people. It was the beginning of an exciting journey, driven by the desire to turn research into life-saving practice. After a successful first round of funding, the two teamed up with Marius Rummel, an experienced marketing manager who shared their passion and brought his expertise in building strategic partnerships.

Uwe Raaz, Isabel Schellinger and Marius Rummel © Angiolutions

Small implant with huge effect

Main product of Angiolutions is a new type of medical implant that has been specially developed for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms. “In contrast to conventional treatment methods, which intervene in the late stages of the disease, our implant starts much earlier,” explains Schellinger. While other companies, particularly in the USA, rely on invasive surgical procedures or complex stent implantations, Angiolutions takes a different approach. Their implant is minimally invasively inserted into the aorta via the artery in the leg, where it takes effect by stopping the growth of the aneurysm before it becomes life-threatening. “We don't want to wait and see how the disease develops,” says the founder. Early intervention therefore offers patients a decisive advantage. Doctors can intervene at an early stage, which significantly reduces the risk of serious complications. The implant is designed in such a way that it is easy to insert and enables a quick recovery - a clear advance on previous invasive procedures, which are often associated with high risks. For patients, this means greater safety, a higher quality of life as well as a gentle and effective treatment.

The implant is classified as a Class 3 medical device, which requires the highest safety and quality standards. This classification applies to devices that can be life-saving and are inserted into the body. These standards include conducting clinical studies, a certified quality management system and continuous post-market surveillance of the product to ensure safety and efficacy for patients.

“The implant does not obstruct blood flow and is biocompatible and durable thanks to advanced materials. The minimally invasive insertion method via the leg artery also reduces strain and enables faster recovery,” says Schellinger.

Into the spotlight

The start-up company has already achieved impressive results in the preclinical phase: The studies show that the implant can effectively halt the growth of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Angiolutions' research work and the potential of its implant have also attracted international attention: the company has already received several awards from renowned organizations, including the EIC Accelerator Grant, which promotes innovative technologies. “This recognition underlines the importance of our work and strengthens confidence in the upcoming clinical trials and also the future application of our product,” says Schellinger. In 2024, Angiolutions also impressed at the MedtecLIVE trade fair and won the local Startup Contest.

Stronger together

Teamwork is at the top of the company's agenda. From the very beginning, it was vital to the founders to put together a motivated team that is passionate about the same mission: to improve vascular medicine. “We know how important strong partnerships and a good network are in the medical technology sector,” says the doctor. By collaborating with leading research institutes, clinics and companies, they are constantly developing their technology. Angiolutions invites everyone to join - whether doctors, researchers or investors - who are enthusiastic about the topic and want to make a difference. They want to shape the future of vascular medicine together with a lively community.

In the future, the team would like to successfully complete the clinical trials and enter the international market. They want to reach a large group of patients with their approach to treating abdominal aortic aneurysms. Exciting projects and partnerships are in the pipeline for the coming years and, in the long term, they want to develop new technologies and therapies that can improve the lives of many people. The vision is clear - to help shape the medicine of tomorrow.