Josua Jordi co-founded EraCal Therapeutics in 2018 as a spin-off from the University of Zurich and Harvard University, with a mission to develop first-in-class treatments for obesity and metabolic disorders. With a Ph.D. in physiology and a background in biochemistry, Josua combined academic research with entrepreneurial ambition to address one of the most pressing health challenges of our time.
EraCal’s founding strategy was clear from the outset: partnerships with larger pharma companies would be essential to bringing their therapies to market. This wasn’t just about securing funding—it was about accessing the resources and expertise needed to tackle the complexity of obesity treatments. Josua saw partnerships as a way to scale their discoveries efficiently while maintaining a focus on scientific innovation.
From the very inception of the company, it was the goal to partner with a larger pharma company to bring our products to market,” he explained in an interview with the University of Zurich Innovation Hub.
Why This Discussion Matters for You
Too often, partnerships are seen as a funding solution. But EraCal’s story shows how partnerships can serve as a strategic lever to de-risk innovation and accelerate market entry. Josua’s journey offers practical insights into:
Scaling with purpose: By partnering early with Novo Nordisk and Nestlé Health Science, EraCal gained access to complementary expertise, avoided costly missteps, and stayed focused on their core scientific mission.
Industry validation and visibility: Securing a partnership with a reputable pharma or med tech player signals to the market—and future investors—that your science or technology has passed a critical credibility threshold. This validation can raise international awareness of your business and attract additional interest from potential acquirers.
The real work begins post-deal: Partnerships are often celebrated at the announcement stage, but the real challenge is making them successful in practice. Maintaining alignment, navigating shifting priorities, and ensuring mutual value creation requires skillful relationship management to deliver lasting results.
Beyond Drug Development: Partnering Principles for Med Tech and Deep Tech
While Josua’s story focuses on partnerships in drug development, the core thinking applies across life sciences, including med tech and deep tech sectors. In all of these fields, partnerships can play a critical role in overcoming technical, regulatory, and commercialization hurdles.
Whether you're developing a new medical device or pioneering a deep tech innovation, the challenges of bringing a product to market are similar:
Complex development cycles require specialized expertise that often sits outside your core team.
Regulatory pathways are difficult to navigate without the right partners who understand local and global compliance.
Scaling solutions from prototype to market-ready product is resource-intensive and benefits from strategic alliances.
The “killer experiment” mindset is equally relevant. It encourages teams to test assumptions early, identify weaknesses, and focus only on projects with a clear path to success—an approach that can make partnerships more appealing to potential collaborators.
We look forward to hearing Josua’s INSIGHTS on how a disciplined approach to partnerships can turn early challenges into long-term growth opportunities—a lesson applicable to any life sciences company, whether in therapeutics, med tech, or deep tech.