Invitrolize Raises Seed Funding To Transform Respiratory Safety Testing

Luxembourg biotech Invitrolize has secured seed investment through Expon Capital’s Digital Tech Fund and private investors to scale its cutting-edge respiratory testing technology across the US and Europe.

Source : siliconluxembourg.lu
Publication date : 05/14/2025

The spin-off from the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) will use the undisclosed sum to accelerate the rollout of ALIsens®, its first in-vitro alveolar model, designed to simulate how animal lungs respond to inhaled substances—without the need for animal testing.

“With Expon Capital’s support, we’re scaling lab operations in Europe, launching in the US, and preparing for future expansion into Asia,” said Dr. Arno Gutleb, Invitrolize managing director. “We’re also investing in next-gen models and AI-powered tools to extend our lead in respiratory toxicology.”

With its predictive, ethical, and regulatory-compliant approach to chemical safety, ALIsens® addresses a growing concern: inhalable chemical compounds are everywhere—in everyday products like cosmetics, clothes, medical sprays, pastes, gels, paints, and more. Yet, there is still no validated method for testing their potential to trigger respiratory allergies before these products reach the market.

The technology was developed through a decade of research at LIST. It responds to a clear demand from R&D teams in pharmaceutical, cosmetics, chemical and consumer goods sectors for detecting sensitisers in products without testing on animals. 

“This is not just a better model – it’s a leap forward in how industries can protect human health while speeding up product development. We’re thrilled to be backing a world-leading research spin-off from Luxembourg” said Jérôme Wittamer, Managing Partner at Expon Capital.

In 2023, Arno Gutleb, who was formerly head of group of environmental health at LIST, hired his first staff member, Sabina Burla, as the chief scientific officer. Burla studied under Gutleb when she completed her Master’s in toxicology at “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca. Invitrolize participated in the fourteenth Luxembourg Fit 4 Start accelerator programme and Luxembourg’s National Research Fund (FNR) supported two projects that led to the development and patenting of the prototype. Backed by strong research roots and growing industry demand, Invitrolize is now poised to scale its breakthrough platform globally—offering safer, faster alternatives to traditional animal testing and setting new standards in respiratory toxicology.

Jess Bauldry

www.siliconluxembourg.lu/invitrolize-raises-seed-funding-to-transform-respiratory-safety-testing/