X-ZELL announces strategic expansion into Europe

Lennestadt, February 2021 – Award-winning Singaporean start-up, X-ZELL, has announced the opening of a new international office in Germany. 

Recently voted the second-most innovative health-tech start-up in the world¹, X-ZELL has developed a powerful platform technology capable of identifying ultra-rare atypical cells in a 10ml blood sample and analysing them using advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Germany’s renowned Sauerland region – a sprawling economic hub that is home to some of Germany’s largest privately owned tech businesses – will now serve as the launch pad for X-ZELL’s foray into the European diagnostics market.

“It is with great pleasure that we are finally able to announce the opening of X-ZELL Europe, and I couldn’t be more excited for it to take place where my personal journey began too,” commented X-ZELL Founder & CEO, Dr Sebastian Bhakdi, who was born in Germany and received his medical doctorate from the University of Freiburg before emigrating to Southeast Asia.

“Home to one of the largest statutory health insurance systems in the world, Germany is quickly evolving into a central hub for innovative health technology,” he explained. “By establishing an office here we hope to be able to become part of that evolution and bring a new perspective on AI-powered early cancer detection to the European healthcare market.

X-ZELL Europe’s initial focus will be on engineering and product development, as well as engaging with Europe’s innovative atypical cell research and cyto-pathology community, according to Dr Bhakdi.

“We look forward to sharing our findings on circulating atypical cells with the local research community and partnering with Germany’s best and brightest on programs that will make accurate and affordable cancer screening accessible to everyone.”

Coinciding with the official launch of X-ZELL Europe, Dr Bhakdi also announced the appointment of Sven Strache as Head of Engineering and Product Development. He will be based in Europe and report directly to the X-ZELL Head Office in Singapore.

Strache can look back on a 10-year tenure with German industrial powerhouse MAN, where he served in both sales and engineering roles in Europe and the United States before heading up the company’s international ‘Revamps’ department since 2018.

He will be responsible for the ongoing development of the X-ZELL platform technology and coordinate the company’s global product development program.

“We are genuinely excited to welcome Sven on board,” commented Johannes Hille. “Sven not only comes with impressive accolades and a wealth of experience, but also shares special can-do-attitude that is so important in a start-up environment.”

He added, “X-ZELL is now officially entering a new growth phase that will not only focus on the clinical and commercial validation of our atypical cell detection technology, but also set the course for X-ZELL’s long-term development as a global cancer diagnostics brand.

“There is a big task ahead of us and I am proud that Sven has joined us in taking it on.”

¹Galen Growth, 2020

Media Contact:
Sebastian Grote
Head of Strategy, Marketing & Communications
sebastian.g@x-zell.com
www.x-zell.com