TimeTeller shows what makes the body tick

Using the internal clock to optimize chemotherapies in cancer treatment - that is the goal of the start-up TimeTeller. If the drugs are administered at the ideal time of day for chemotherapy, it can reduce side effects and improve the effect. TimeTeller has developed a method for determining the internal clock to make this possible.

In an interview with MEDICA-tradefair.com, Prof. Angela Relógio talks about her experience with the founding of TimeTeller and how the determination of the internal clock works.

Prof. Relógio, how does the non-invasive method for determining the internal clock work?

Prof. Angela Relógio: To determine the internal clock, we need saliva from four different times during the day. In the laboratory, we can study the RNA molecules from the saliva samples by extracting, measuring and quantifying the corresponding molecules. The different samples from different time points are important because the amount of molecules changes. As a result, the number of molecules measured varies throughout the day, allowing us to profile a person's internal clock.

How does it improve treatment options if the internal clock is known?

Relógio: The internal clock, which we measure by means of our analysis, influences many important processes in the body. These include metabolism, hormone production and also our sleep rhythm. Especially for taking medication, it can help enormously to know a person's metabolism and individual changes throughout the day. In this way, medications can be optimized and taken at the ideal time for the individual each day.

What was the biggest obstacle in launching TimeTeller?

Relógio: One of the biggest obstacles for health tech startups is funding. That was a problem for us as well. We could have sold our development immediately as a lifestyle product, but as soon as it comes to a medical application, i.e. a medical device, the situation gets more complicated. A medical device requires approval by a notified body and several clinical studies. These studies take several years but are necessary in order to analyze all aspects of the product. This costs time and a lot of money.

What are the advantages of using programs like the BIH Digital Health Accelerator to launch start-ups from research projects?

Relógio: We as scientists conduct research in many projects, but only in very few cases is a product ultimately developed from this research that actually reaches the market and can help patients. That's a shame, and that's why funding programs like these are a great help. Programs like the BIH Digital Health Accelerator offer funding and support through experience in developing research findings into a commercially viable product.

What are the next steps for TimeTeller?

Relógio: Our vision for TimeTeller is to assist with cancer treatment, specifically chemotherapy. We are working hard to optimize chemotherapy for patients in a way that reduces side effects and improves efficacy. This is our long-term vision, which of course will take some time and preliminary development.

Currently, we are collecting as much data from healthy people as possible so that we have the relevant norm values. We need to characterize the biological clock of healthy people in order to understand the differences from the clock of cancer patients and use this information to refine our algorithms for determining both disruptions to the clock and optimal therapy times.

In addition to ongoing studies for this purpose, we are pursuing patenting of our method. In this regard, we are in the final process phase in Europe and the USA.

Important partners for us are the pharmaceutical industry, hospitals, and medical professionals. In Germany and Portugal, TimeTeller is already used in several hospitals for different studies on leukemia and Parkinson's disease. It is nice to see that medical professionals recognize the product as a tool and help us in testing and development.

How do you perceive the opportunities for start-ups in the medical market?

Relógio: It is important to get other interested supporters on board and to draw attention to the product. In our case, for example, we are participating in the ‘Female StartAperitivo 2023’ competition, in which we are currently representing the city of Hamburg in the German final. It's a competition for women who have founded a start-up. This gives us and other start-ups the opportunity to talk to investors, expand our network and support other female founders. We are also receiving funding at the moment through a very good program for start-ups in Hamburg, InnoRampUp.

In addition, funding opportunities for founding and further developing research projects, such as those offered at universities, are a very good way to take the first step toward your own start-up. It is challenging but also very motivating to translate your own research toward patient welfare. I personally had a very good experience, both during my time at the Charité in Berlin and with excellent support now after founding the company in Hamburg.