Hopills, upcycling for hope

Beer is one of the most consumed beverages in the world and as a consequence, it generates a large amount of waste. The main and most abundant is Brewer´s Spent Grain (BSG), corresponding to 85% of all waste, with about 3 million tons of material produced per year only in Brazil. Much of this material is currently intended for animal feed, with low added value for the brewing industry, or is improperly disposable by them, causing damage to the health of animals, water and soil. However, BSG naturally has several nutritional properties such as high protein content, minerals, amino acids, vitamins and fibers in addition to polysaccharides known for their immunomodulatory and prebiotic capacity.

At the same time, the use and popularity of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) increase every year, being practiced in recent decades by about 90% of 2 million cancer patients in Brazil and 14 million worldwide/year. Whether to reduce side effects, improve the effectiveness of treatment, or even as a recommendation from family and friends, more than 70% of patients do not inform the health team that they use CAM therapy during cancer treatment, which can bring complications during the treatment or even mask the effects of conventional therapy, becoming a silent problem for the medical team and patients. This situation is even more harmful to the rare tumors, in which the diagnosis is such difficult. There are more than 200 rare tumors, which represent about 25% to 30% of all oncological diagnoses in the world. Access to products with CAM characteristics is limited in our country, making it difficult for disadvantaged social classes to use and benefit from the qualities of those that already have some clinical evidence. More than that, with an effective CAM product we can reduce hospital stays and costs, for both patients and hospitals and reduce even the chance of cancer recurrence, avoiding spending unnecessary duplicative costs.

Thus, with our product, we can help to solve problems in environment, health and cost.

Hopills helps oncology patients under chemotherapy that are struggling with treatment side effects and the environment, biotransforming 100% of BSG into a nutraceutical supplement for chemotherapy improving oncology patient’s quality of life with ZERO waste and low cost.

Considering the high production of BSG, and the patient's necessity for a natural supplement clinically proven and with low cost, we have developed a technology based on microorganisms in which BSG is used as a raw material for the production of a natural nutritional supplement.

The complex cancer cases, including rare ones, that do not fit the predefined protocols could be beneficiated for Hopills once it has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor and immunomodulatory properties science-based proved. Also, the metabolites of the microorganism used in our technology have been extensively tested in combination with several traditional cancer treatments. The results range from an 80% decrease in symptoms such as fever, weakness, nausea, vomiting and hair loss, up to a 63% increase in survival after 1 year in different cancer patients. In addition, there was a significant increase in the lymphocyte population responsible for tumor killing, a decrease in gastrointestinal problems, and anxiety and depression.

Last but not least, for producing the supplement we need BSG as raw material. Upcycling it we reduce the huge amount of waste produced by breweries, increasing their resource-use efficiency, reducing carbon emissions and supporting clean and environmentally sustainable communities. As a byproduct, BSG has a low cost, reducing the final price of the product, which can be distributed in an accessible way.

Considering these, Hopills is a solution that can be used as a CAM in cancer treatment, enhancing its efficiency, as well as decreasing the side effects and regulating gastrointestinal problems, making improvements in patients' and families' quality of life in a sustainable and cost assessable supplement. 

The solution is designed to serve cancer patients, including rare ones, that struggle with the chemotherapy side effects or look for CAM therapy.

When patients are under chemotherapy treatment they face gastrointestinal disorders, loss of appetite and opportunistic diseases such as cold, flu, or candidiasis which interfere with the treatment and well been of patients. The rare cancer patients do not have options too, the availability of CAM is also limited, making the course of the disease even more difficult. Considering that cancer condition evolves the whole family, the disease on itself, the opportunistic ones and the gastrointestinal disorders affect the quality of life of every people around, both in physical and psychological overload. However, all of these scenarios can be even worse. Brazilian culture, like so many others, is heavily influenced by indigenous and religious practices, which patients adhere to in an attempt to seek natural alternatives to reduce symptoms related to chemotherapy for a low price. These cannot be bad but also can bring negative consequences, impairing the treatment silently.

Thus, we are here to help cancer patients undergoing treatment linked to public hospitals in Brazil. Patients looking for a healthy and natural alternative, with proven clinical efficacy, low cost and that can be used with chemotherapy treatment, bringing quality of life for patients and families. By enhancing the efficiency of treatment, alleviating the chemotherapy side effects, and reducing hospital stays, costs, time and resources, for both patients and hospitals and reducing the chance of cancer recurrence, we also reduce unnecessary duplicative costs. Therefore, when the patients are good, the family is also fine; the physical and psychological overload can be decreased and the treatment become even more effective.

For that, we are constantly developing the technology for the improvement of the benefits it brings as anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant and antitumor properties. Also, talking with patients and observing them in our personal lives allow us to bring their acknowledgment into our product, aligning science and need. At the same time, sustainability is very important for a better environment, which directly affects people's quality of life.  Products that bring sustainability inside, also promote environmental care, reaching improvements in the entire population´s life.Through our technology, we can reach health through pill treatment and environmental sustainability. 

The team lead is a biologist with two post-doctorate degrees. Between immunology and pathology, she has been studying cancer treatment from over 20 years. The team is also composed of two doctorate students, one in Chemistry of Natural Products, which adds a lot of value to the product development and the other one on Medical Sciences, which helps us to improve the product for health.

To reach the goal, we developed a brief questionnaire (survey), which has been applied in the form of interviews with cancer patients from all social classes. The whole team is involved in this. These interviews are bringing us closer to the target community, as well as feeding us with relevant information for meeting the needs of patients. It is guiding us to design and implement the solution on the market and inside public hospitals as a product with patients’ needs. Also, the team is always studying product improvement and patient care, literature reviews and primary data collection are used to understand the needs of the target population, keeping up to date with the latest research and advances in the field of cancer. We are involved in improving and adapting the existing technology for customers’ needs.

Also, we have established partnering with Sebrae for Startups, a Brazilian organization dedicated to providing the necessary support (administrative, financial, networking) to guide us toward the growth of the company. We are also looking for partnerships with public hospitals to clinically test the product.

During the development of the technology we tested for antioxidants, performed in vitro tests against cancer cells and analyzed also for microorganism metabolites.

Regarding the antioxidants, we found great results on types and quantities. Compared with the natural supplements we have in Brazil and also in Switzerland, we offer more than two times in quantity (mg/kg of product), which were proven by HPLC-type tests (High-performance liquid chromatography). Also, for microorganism metabolites,  we confirmed that they occur during the fermentation process, and are available in the product without chemical process or chemical solvent, giving the product immunomodulatory characteristics with green chemistry production.  The bio efficiency against cancer cells was also tested by cancer cells at in vitro culture and the product showed a very good cytotoxicity against the target, confirming the several scientific articles in the field. More than that, the metabolites of the microorganism used for our technology were tested in Clinical Trials combined with various treatments against cancer, resulting in improved survival of patients and reduction of adverse effects of chemotherapy, improving the quality of life of them.

We already have the product on hand and the patent process is already started. We are also lining up a partnership with a reference public hospital for cancer treatment in Brazil, aiming to prove the clinical efficiency of the product. However, at the moment we are not on market sales. We are TRL 4.

The MIT Solve is a singular opportunity to reach opportunities, partnerships and investments. The prize of 150 thousand dollars is the equivalent of 750 thousand reais and will help us to develop and practice our solutions based on our technology. This value is enough for us to set up our laboratory, develop other applications of this same technology and supply a larger quantity of the product (to increase the scale), necessary for our next steps. In addition, part of this value will be used to place the product on the market, positively impacting millions of patients' lives and guaranteeing a financial return for the company's founder and the team. 

The team lead is a biologist with two post-doctorate degrees that have been studying for over 20 years for cancer treatment. During this time, besides her scientific background, she was enrolled in case study groups of cancer patients, visiting them, and observing and discussing the cases with the oncology team. Also, family and friends' cases were strait monitored in an attempt to help each other in the best possible way. Recently the partnership with a reference public hospital for cancer treatment in Brazil allowed not only to refine the clinical knowledge of the Team Lead but also to adapt the needs of the patients to the product. The team leader is very observatory and connected to both communities, the scientific and the patients, making her not only a CEO, but a person who understands the needs of patients as well as the requirements of a product with a solid foundation to bring efficiency to this community that struggles over the time.

During the past 20 years of study carried out by the researcher and founder of Sante Science, she noted that the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been practiced in recent decades for about 90% of 2 million cancer patients in Brazil and 14 million worldwide/year. Brazil has a high rate of attempts to minimize the side effects of chemotherapy and help with chemotherapy treatment; however, most patients do not report its use to the oncology team, which may harm the therapy because generally, it has no clinical evidence when associated with chemotherapy drugs. Also, in rare tumor treatment, the oncology team generally does not offer natural CAM, making it even more difficult for patients.

Furthermore, she noted that the Brewer Spent Grain resulting from the brewer process has a high amount of production, responsible for about 3 million tons of material produced per year only in Brazil, been a real waste problem in Brazil and the world. It brings together both the difficulty of correct disposal, due to its high perishability, and soil and water contamination due to incorrect disposal. In a landfill, every ton of BSG releases around 514 kg of CO2 greenhouse gases equivalent, the transportation is expensive, their storage difficult, and limits their stability and exploitation.

Considering the European Commission, through the European Ecological Pact, presents an ambitious strategy for implementing the circular economy, aiming at transforming agro-food waste into resources, as a priority to close the ecological cycle and reduce the environmental impact caused by large industries, this technology encompasses both concepts of the European Ecological Pact and Cleaner Production, aimed to breweries. More than that, this technology includes at least 9 of The Sustainable Developing Goals: 3 (Good health and well-being), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Structure), 10 (Reduced inequalities), 11 (Sustainable cities and communities) 12 (Responsible consumption and production), 13 (Climate action), 14 (Life bellow Water), 15(Life on land), 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

In addition, in Brazil, the science produced by universities is rarely transformed into a product or service that reaches the population, mainly the disadvantaged or neglected socioeconomic classes. Access to natural products with proven efficiency is limited in our country, preventing disadvantaged social classes from using and benefiting from the qualities of those that already have some clinical evidence. In this way, the technology of Sante Science uses microorganisms to biotransform the BSG into a nutritional supplement, fitting the oncology patient’s needs as CAM. Thus, we aim to help improve this flow between science and population based on solid research and meaningful partnerships. Upcycling waste into value for people and the environment with accessible cost, delivering an innovative and sustainable solution.

Our main goal is to put the product on the Brazilian government health program (“Sistema Unico de Saúde”), but considering that takes long periods, we plan to do it during the next five years, to be available to all socioeconomic classes of patients. To reach that, next year, we aim to start the clinical trials with a reference public hospital for cancer treatment and to license the technology to an industry that can produce and sell it for doctors and patients. We recently started a partnership with the reference public hospital for cancer treatment and we will design a project for fundraising to finance the Clinical trial costs. Regarding technology licensing, we are looking for a partnership that could be interested in our technology through national and international accelerations and mentoring sessions.

Also, for the next five years, our goal is to expand the market internationally. To reach this, we have already started international accelerations and mentoring and we are looking for partners in other countries than Brazil. 

According to the SDG, we can measure our progress through the following indicator points: 

Goal 3, Good health and well-being: Target 3.8  (Indicators 3.8.1 and 3.8.2) and Target 3b (Indicator 3.b.3).

Goal 9, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Target 9.4 (Indicator: 9.4.1). 

Goal 10, Reduced Inequalities: Target 10.2 (indicator 10.2.1) and Target 10.3 (Indicator 10.3.1).

Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities: Target 11.6 (Indicator: 11.6.1).

Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production: Target 12.1 (Indicator: 12.1.1) and 

Target 12.3 (Indicator: 12.3.1b) and Target 12.5 (Indicator: 12.5.1) and Target 12.6 (Indicator: 12.6.1).
Goal 13: Climate action:Target 13.2 (Indicator: 13.2.2).

Goal 14: Life below water:Target 14.1 (Indicator: 14.1.1a)

Goal 15: Life on land:Target 15.5 (Indicator: 15.5.1)

Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals: Target 17.11 (Indicator 17.11.1).

Our strategies can be summarized as presenting a natural supplement cost accessible to oncology patients. This includes putting the product inside the public health program to guarantee that every social person's condition and rare cancer patients can have it.

Our targets are to increase the immune system of the patients by increasing the number of cells responsible for fighting cancer and its effectiveness; decrease the opportunistic diseases and gastrointestinal problems with just one product and costly accessibility.

As for the outcomes, we aim to decrease the side effects of chemotherapy and improve the treatment response against cancer, increasing the quality of life of patients and families. We are in contact with a public hospital to look at how the product could be used and tested to get real results from the customers.

By combining these strategies, targets and outcomes, we've been checking parts of our TOC by analyzing the product in vitro against cancer cells, the chemical and biological properties and the clinical trials enrolled with the microorganism involved in the process. Results show that the product is effective against cancer cells and has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and probiotics properties that could help the patient's and family's quality of life beyond cancer treatment and chemotherapy. 

We use microorganisms to bio-transform the Brewer Spent Grain into a supplement with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor and immunomodulatory properties, which can be used as a CAM in cancer therapy.

The technology developed by the Sante Science team uses a microorganism capable of degrading complex molecules from BSG into simpler molecules, upcycling the by-product from the brewing industry, as well as generating molecules scientifically proven to be beneficial for the health of the population. In addition, the metabolites of this microorganism have been clinically tested in combination with several traditional cancer treatments, resulting from up to an 80% decrease in symptoms such as fever, weakness, nausea, vomiting and hair loss to a 63% increase in survival after 1 year in different types of cancer patients. In addition to these, there was a significant increase in the lymphocyte population, and a decrease in gastrointestinal problems, anxiety and depression.

Tests carried out by the group with the material produced by Sante Science, have already shown a significant increase in the number of natural polyphenols (a higher concentration than that available in Brazil and the Swiss market), and high antitumor potential in cancer cells in vitro, which are involved with immunomodulatory activities and decrease in recurrence and metastases.

Our team combines scientific know-how, tech prowess, and a deep commitment of cancer and natural products. Marcela Camargo, founder and CEO, studied cancer therapy for over 20 years at Unesp, USP and UMBC (USA). Pedro Vannini is Management Science and specialized on Environmental management (at USP/Esalq). Our Lab responsible Giulia Gonzales is Biologist and Chemistry technician by Unesp. Nathália Pavan is PhD student in Chemistry of Natural Materials (Unesp) and the research assistant Emmanuelle Quagliato is also PhD, but on Medical Sciences (IDOR institute).The Advisor, Valdecir Ximenes is professor at Unesp and has decades of biochemistry of natural materials experience.

I (Marcela) study and work with the microorganism used in the technology for more than 10 years, however fighting cancer is my study object since 2003, so about 20 years. Undergraduation, graduation, Phd and pos-docs studies were based on cancer therapy with and without natural products. The development of this technology started in 2022, so the application is around one and a half year of development. The team is working on that around one year, including developing, laboratory tests  and profissional skills improvement. 

We believe that for all the team feel valued, respected, and have equal opportunities we can do some practices: At Sante Science, the leadership communicates their support for diversity and inclusion and ensure that it is a priority of the company's mission and values. The recruitment and hiring practices are based on evaluating compensation structures and flexible work arrangements and developing strategies to attract diverse talent, such as partnering with diverse organizations. At the same time, we are always looking for training and education on unconscious bias, cultural competency, and inclusive leadership for the team. This can help increase awareness, promote understanding, and build empathy within the organization. We encourage respectful dialogue, active listening, and the sharing of diverse perspectives, keeping a culture where feedback is welcomed and where employees feel safe speaking up. Here the mentorship and sponsorship with more senior employees are also supported, providing guidance, support, and advocacy for career advancement, encouraging even the personal qualification for that. We are always in continuous evaluation and improvement of the team, collecting feedback and doing the necessary adjustments. Diversity, inclusion and respect are present at all levels of the organization. We are a team!!

Our business model is primarily designed for B2G, with high social impact focused on low cost to achieve all cancer patients of the Brazilian government health system (SUS). The impact on the environment cannot be put aside, because our technology is designed to give the right destination for BSG (Brewer´s Spent Grain), avoiding water e soil contamination. Using sustainable raw materials and local production, we transform waste into value for health and the environment.

We also intend to run a B2B business model to sublicence our technology to both national and international clients once the B2G process demands a lot of time here in Brazil.

Our main product aims to provide quality of life for patients and their families, enhancing the efficiency of treatment, alleviating the chemotherapy side effects, and reducing hospital stays, costs, time and resources, for both patients and hospitals. Also, by reducing the chance of cancer recurrence, we reduce unnecessary duplicative costs.

In addition, through a circular economy, we can generate sustainable money for local breweries and a safe environment for the community.

At Sante Science, we developed goals to becoming financially sustainable.

First, we are applying for grants to bring us resources to run our pilot production. We already talked with a possible institute who will provide us their facilities to run it with all costs subsidized. With production ready, we plan run clinical trials.

Next step is already in progress, because we started the project to apply for second grant that will enable us to run all the needed clinical trials.

We aim to start the clinical trials soon with a reference public hospital for cancer treatment and to license the technology to an industry that can produce and sell it for doctors and patients. About technology licensing, we are looking for a partnership that could be interested on our technology by national and international accelerations and mentoring sessions.

At the same time, we agreed on an angel investment to structure Sante Science’s facilities and pay the total costs of R&D, personnel and inputs, for the next 24 months.

Also, for the next years, our goal is to expand the market internationally. To reach this, we have already started international accelerations and mentoring and we are looking for partners in other countries than Brazil.

By now, we received funds from angel investor that will allow us to keep running for the next 24 months. This money will provide us essential funding to pay people, structure, equipment, license and to keep improving our research.

We also started a project to raise all the necessary money, through The SãoPaulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) incentive project, to carry out clinical trials with a public reference hospital for cancer treatment (Hospital de Amor – Brazil). After that, the product can go to market.

Sante Science has formed partnership with other companies to develop two different products, based on our technology, which may generate revenue for the organizations.

We estimate that Hopills sales can also generate profit that should be reinvested in business marketing, new research areas and products. 20% of profits was drawn for selling Hopills and could be reinvest in marketing and new research areas.