Mirko Buchholz, PerioTrap

In this episode of Careers in Discovery, we’re joined by Mirko Buchholz, Co-founder and Managing Director at PerioTrap Pharmaceuticals, a Biotech company on a mission to revolutionize oral health by tackling one of the most widespread and underestimated diseases in the world - periodontitis.

Mirko shares how a passion for chemistry and biology sparked his journey into drug discovery, and how his training in pharmacy gave him the unique ability to translate across scientific disciplines. He takes us through the ups and downs of building PerioTrap, from the science behind their microbiome-preserving approach to gum disease, to winning funding competitions, to a chance investor encounter that doubled their seed round.

We also talk about resilience in Biotech, the realities of raising money for an overlooked therapeutic area, and why Mirko believes patience, curiosity, and adaptability are the essential traits for any scientist considering the leap into entrepreneurship.