Baxiva: The Venture Leader Biotech combating bacterial infections with vaccines

Meet Tim Keys, co-founder of Baxiva. The ETH Zurich spin-off is building next-gen glycoconjugate vaccines to prevent serious infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, starting with extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli. Tim and the other nine Swiss National Biotech Team members will travel to Boston in June.

Name: Tim Keys
Location: Zurich
Nationality: Australia
Graduated from: Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia (BSc); Leibniz University, Hannover, Germany (PhD)
Prior role: Research group leader, ETH Zurich 
Founding team members: Christoph Rutschmann & myself
Number of employees: Team of nine
Money raised: CHF 3.2M


What does your product or solution do, and what makes it unique?
At Baxiva, we are developing next-generation glycoconjugate vaccines to prevent serious bacterial infections, starting with invasive Escherichia coli (called ExPEC). These bacteria are the major cause of complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) and sepsis, and they are the leading cause of deaths associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Our approach is built on a novel linker chemistry that we developed at ETH Zurich. It allows us to make potent conjugates targeting the dominant polysaccharide antigens on the ExPEC surface. 
 
What trend or shift in your industry is currently creating the biggest opportunity for you?
The rapid rise of AMR is driving interest in prevention. Vaccines not only prevent bacterial infections but also reduce antibiotic use, helping to preserve the effectiveness of existing drugs. This shift has driven substantial public investment in vaccines as a strategic countermeasure against AMR. 

How did the idea for your startup originate?
My cofounder, Christoph Rutschmann, and I have worked on glycoconjugates for nearly a decade. Early on, I questioned why the leading ExPEC vaccine targeted the O antigen when, for related pathogens like Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae, the clinically validated strategy is to target the capsule (K antigen). As we explored this at ETH Zurich, two gaps became clear: fundamental knowledge of ExPEC capsule epidemiology was missing, and existing conjugation technologies weren’t versatile enough. We addressed both, closing the knowledge gap and building a platform designed to enable a capsule-targeting ExPEC vaccine. 

Which market are you addressing, and what potential do you see for your startup in that market?
We target prevention of ExPEC UTIs and invasive disease in a large underserved market (>200M at-risk in US/EU) with high healthcare costs and antibiotic use. An effective vaccine could reduce hospitalizations and AMR, support strong partnering potential, and address the global burden of severe neonatal infections with long-term health and socioeconomic impact. 

What impact do you want your technology to have five years from now?
In five years, we aim to have clinical proof-of-concept in a defined high-risk population, positioning Baxiva’s ExPEC vaccine for late-stage development. In parallel, we want our platform to be powering a broader pipeline of Gram-negative vaccines that meaningfully reduce antibiotic use and AMR burden. 

What major challenges have you faced so far?
The most challenging thing has been transitioning from a university research project to a company that is going to survive and thrive in the biotech space. Doing outstanding science is one skill set. Aligning it with regulatory, commercial, and financing strategy is another. It has been a steep learning curve and an incredibly rewarding one. 

What motivates you on tough days?
I’m motivated by the opportunity to make a real impact on infectious diseases and AMR. Vaccines have transformed global health, and there is still vast potential to expand their reach, but we need technologies like Baxiva’s to achieve this. I’m also motivated by the team; it’s an absolute privilege to work with a group of talented and dedicated individuals towards a shared goal. 

Why did you decide to join the Venture Leaders Roadshow, and what are you most excited about?
Boston is the heart of the U.S. biotech ecosystem, and I’m eager to build a network there. I’m most excited to meet impact-oriented investors and vaccine / infectious disease leaders, to pressure-test our U.S. market access strategy, and build partnerships that will accelerate our path to the clinic.