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Start-up business aiming to solve global medicine shortages sets up in Coventry

A high-tech start up business with the mission to solve global shortages of medicines is set to base itself in Coventry after joining a prominent business incubator to help realise its ambitions.

iEthico, established by four professionals from pharmaceutical and healthtech sectors with over 100 years’ combined experience, has created a digital solution that brings together wholesalers and pharmacists providing greater access to medicines in a regulated environment.

The company, founded by Debra Ainge, Renee Kalia, Peter Shone, and Claudio Zurzica, has taken office space at the University of Warwick Science Park’s Business Innovation Centre in Binley through the Ignite incubator programme.

Ignite offers start-up businesses flexible space and other forms of support in their early stages to help them get off the ground. iEthico is launching its solution early in the new year with a regional NHS Trust and aims to fully commercialise the product later in the year.

Debra said: “Drug shortages are a recognised major health concern. They are on the rise globally, occurring every day and impacting everyone involved in patient care. Our solution links together demand and supply, benefiting everyone in the supply chain, and reducing pharmaceutical waste.”

Claudio added: “Innovative technology is helping to improve patient care around the world. “iEthico’s solution will benefit patients by providing access via secure regulated routes, allowing prescribers greater control over treatments while reducing delays and interruptions in medication management.”

Peter said the Business Innovation Centre was the perfect location for the young company as it looks to grow. “We opted to come here to the University of Warwick Science Park for a number of reasons,” he added. “The location is great and the flexibility of space gives us a chance to expand quickly and tap into some of the support available from Science Park and links of the University of Warwick too.

“We expect to be creating many highly-skilled, highly-paid jobs over the coming years and that will be very good news for the regional economy.” Victoria Lynch, Centre Manager at the Business Innovation Centre, said: “We are delighted to welcome iEthico here.

“It is incredible to be able to support a company that has the potential to have a profound effect on something that is so important to all of us. “The fact that the University of Warwick Science Park is seen as the ideal home by a business such as iEthico speaks volumes about what we can offer.”

Dirk Schafer, SME Engagement Lead at the University of Warwick Science Park, added: “We are looking forward to helping iEthico grow through the Ignite incubator programme and providing them with a solid base here at the Business Innovation Centre.

“Many of our Ignite start-ups have gone onto achieve great success with our support, and we’re confident iEthico has everything in place to grow rapidly.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .