A temperature difference of 2°C because of continuous refrigeration failing during transport and storage can ruin whole shipments of vaccines and other biologicals costing the pharmaceutical industry about $35 billion annually. The transportation and cold chain also produced 1.53 million tonnes of CO2 in 2021. EnsiliTech are making these drugs thermally stable so they can be kept at room temperature and have an extended shelf life. This will enable greater accessibility and availability of these life-saving drugs, especially in low-income countries and remote regions of the planet.
Dr Aswin Dekhie is Ensilitech’s Chief Technology Officer, who’s main responsibility is the research and development of their ensilification technology. He is also a board director, works closely with the commercial team and manages a team of scientists. He has a particular responsibility for grants, internal and client funded projects to improve our commercial position.
EnsiliTech have recently closed a £4.5 million oversubscribed seed raise and are now in a pivotal moment where they will be able to scale and demonstrate their technology at a commercial level. Aswin sees that the Shott Scale Up Accelerator will help him effectively lead the R&D of company through this period.
One area Aswin recognises that the Shott Scale Up Accelerator’s mentoring and coaching can help is “to understand adaptability to be more resilient as an organisation when situations go unexpectedly.” He also wants to use these to help understand and address his skills gaps, allowing him to grow with the company.
EnsiliTech have had funding from Innovate UK, DHSC, Royal Society of Chemistry and more. Aswin sees the support of the Shott Scale Up Accelerator as crucial to meeting his vision for the company. This will require the company to provide a robust approach to tech transfer, implementation and any regulatory requirements that might appear.
