Virtonomy: Performing virtual clinical trials with a digital twin solution

Virtual clinical trials can be accomplished a lot faster and conducted with more flexibility for patients than in real life. The start-up Virtonomy takes these clinical trials to the next level with the software v-Patients. With v-Patients, a digital twin can be constructed and used in silico clinical trials.

In the interview with MEDICA-tradefair.com, Virtonomy CEO and Founder Dr. Simon Sonntag is introducing his start-up and its achievement. He tells us how simulation technology could digitalize clinical trials and the way his start-up plays a part in the process.

Where does the idea for your product come from?

Dr. Simon Sonntag: I have been in the medical device field for a long time and have experienced first-hand the challenges of developing and bringing a medical device to market and in clinical practice. Using simulation technology in this field for over ten years now, I have seen the tremendous potential of combining it with digital patient twins - not only to support medical device development but also for the regulatory process and clinical trials. There is a huge demand from the industry to reduce the time, cost, and risk involved in developing medical products, and these so-called in silico methods can achieve this. 

What problem do you want to address with it?

Sonntag: The costs of developing a new medical device have risen tremendously over the last decade, while the time to market can take as long as 10 years for high-risk devices. Regulations are getting tougher to fulfill as requirements increase, this leads to regulatory costs outpacing revenue growth. This inhibits medical innovation. Virtonomy set out to change this by being among the first to offer medical device testing virtually.

At which stage in your development are you now?

Sonntag: We have successfully launched our software v-Patients end of last year and already gained some significant traction from users in the medical device industry. Our solution enables medical device developers to perform development and testing in a virtual environment, thereby accelerating development, reducing risks, expenses, and regulatory burdens. Our end-to-end digital twin and simulation solution is based on an ever-expanding database of real clinical data to reflect anatomical variability, demographic diversity, and pathological conditions.

What was the biggest obstacle during the foundation of your company?

Sonntag: Starting a business is not an obstacle. You don’t pass an obstacle and then your business becomes successful. Obstacles come up all the time along your way when you run a business. Founding a company is a marathon, not a sprint.

What were you worried about most before founding the company?

Sonntag: I wasn't that worried because I always believed in our approach and already had years of experience in this field. However, when you start a business, in most cases you can't afford to pay yourself a salary for quite a while. It can be a bit worrying when you see the numbers in your bank account getting lower and lower over several months.

What was your best decision until now?

Sonntag: First, the founding of Virtonomy. And second, having my co-founder Wen-Yang Chu join me in our mission. With his years of industry experience at Philips Healthcare, his extensive background in software development, and his forward-thinking mindset, this was the best way to launch the company in 2019. The addition of our first employees Gloria Zörnack and Bence Rochlitz was also critical to our success.

How do you assess the opportunities for start-ups in the medical market in your country?

Sonntag: Germany is on the rise in the digital health space. Factors such as regulatory advances, the presence of successful accelerators, increasing numbers of HealthTech investors and associations make Germany an attractive ecosystem for digital health start-ups. In Munich, we receive a lot of support from the local start-up community and start-up centers, such as UnternehmerTUM, which is very helpful. In addition, the German medical market is one of the most lucrative healthcare markets in the world. Looking at the U.S., however, Germany still can learn a lot.

What advice would you give future start-ups in the medical market?

Sonntag: In addition to the technical expertise, at least one of the team members should have domain-specific knowledge, good understanding of the industry and, at best, an existing network in the medical field your product belongs to. This field is heavily based on reputation and visibility. It helps to have someone in the team who has that background, rather than building it up from scratch.

Please describe the medical technology industry in three words.

Sonntag: Lifesaving, in transition, regulated

What are your plans for the next two years?

Sonntag: We want to significantly grow into different markets and internationally with expansion to the US and Asia.