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The fast track designation would allow caplacuzimab to enter the market 6 to 10 months earlier

Ablynx announced that it has entered into a research collaboration and global exclusive licensing agreement with Sanofi initially focused on developing and commercialising Nanobody®-based therapeutics for the treatment of various immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

SHRINK study to evaluate the synergetic effect of the concurrent administration of CYAD-01 (CAR-T NKG2D) with standard chemotherapy in patients suffering from metastatic colorectal cancer.

MDx Health gains market access of the Middle East via partner IPS Genomix.

Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research will develop the new assay while Biocartis will be responsible for commercialisation.

Aphea.Bio focusses on plant-bacterial interactions for the development of biopesticides and biostimulants based on naturally occurring microorganisms.

Methylation specialist MDx Health brings its third assay to the market. The AssureMDx liquid biopsy assay is able to detect bladder cancer in a urine sample.

The anti-inflammatory molecule enters yet another phase II trial.

The Belgian developer of the DropSense system Trinean is being acquired by American lab devices developer Unchained Labs.

Belgium again attends the BIO International Convention 2017 with a stunning 74 companies and organizations and 135 delegates on one of the most vibrant pavilions at the conference. The Belgian delegation comes together in one of the most vibrant pavilions at the conference. 

Genetic engineering specialist Delphi Genetics announced that it has received the certificate of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) for plasmid DNA production. The GMP productions will be realized in clean rooms located in Delphi Genetics’ own facilities.

An excerpt from the BioVox White paper on Cancer Immunotherapy.

Over the years, the perception of inflammatory diseases has changed drastically. The advent of cytokine inhibitors meant great improvement to many patients, especially those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. However, these treatments remain symptomatic. Together with Janssen Pharmaceutica, world-renowned rheumatologist Lars Klareskog is ready to take the research and treatment of inflammatory joint disease to the next level.

KWS SAAT SE and Bayer AG have given access to a long-term license for their new CONVISO®SMART cultivation system for sugarbeet to the Belgian sugarbeet seed breeding company SESVanderHave. The technology is based on the breeding of sugarbeet varieties that are tolerant to herbicides in the ALS inhibitor class with broad-spectrum weed control.

MDx Health has launched its new prostate cancer test. SelectMDx is designed to detect prostate cancer in urine samples, avoiding painful prostate biopsies when cancer is suspected.

Together with MRC Technology, Biocartis has announced a collaboration for the development of a liquid biopsy test for hormone treatment-resistant breast cancer.

At the 8th edition of MATWIN’s annual international board meeting PDC*Line Pharma was awarded with the prize of Most Promising Project in the start-up category.

With production GMP approved, Mithra's Myring contraceptive is well on schedule to storm the markets within less than a year.

To also serve geographies where BRAF testing is not reimbursed, Biocartis launches a new NRAS test next to their combined NRAS-BRAF assay.

With its Nasdaq debut, argenx raises $100 million, a significantly greater amount than the $60 million previously planned.

Biocartis CSO Geert Maertens gives an overview of the progress and future prospects of the company.

Many biotech management teams fail to reach out to investors in a clear and appealing way.

Five entirely synthetic yeast chromosomes were created this year. By 2018 every chromosome is expected to have a synthetic couterpart, resulting in en entirely synthetic genome.

The first nanobody from the Ablynx-Merck collaboration reaches clinical development, triggering a €15m milestone payment to Ablynx.

While C-Cure had failed an essential phase 3 clinical trial in June last year, the trial identified a subgroup of patients where the drug was effective nonetheless. Based on this fact, C-Cure now receives Fast Track designation from the US drug policy maker.

Biocartis has revealed its pick for its vacant top function.

Galapagos and development partner Gilead set out to explore filgotinib applicability even futher. This time, the molecule's anti-inflammatory capacity will be tested in cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

Kiadis Pharma asks permission to the EMA to bring its lead product to the market. ATIR101™ protects blood cancer patients receiving a stem cell transplant from vulnerability to infections and disease relapse.

It has long been known that exposure to microbes can play a protective role against the subsequent development of asthma. Researchers from GIGA of the University of Liège provide an explanation and propose to use this discovery to set up a strategy of cell therapy to treat asthma in humans. Their discovery is published in Immunity.

Up to 1 billion people in the world suffer from neurological disorders. Currently, many brain scans are still evaluated by visual inspection. Quantification of different biomarkers in these brain scans can improve diagnosis, patient monitoring and, eventually, patient outcome. The Leuven-based company Icometrix provides software to bring quantification of brain scans into clinical trials and clinical practice. We should stop eye-balling images of brain scans and step into the world of quantitative analysis.

Despite the initial intent of charitable foundations to be not-for-profit, some of them tend to morph into organizations with bigger aspirations.

ARGX-115, an antibody targeting to inhibit the release of TGF-beta from regulatory T-cells in an innovative way, reaches its first preclinical milestone. This triggers a $10 million payment from development partner AbbVie.

argenx starts a new phase II clinical trial with ARGX-110, a SIMPLE antibody targeting CD70. ARGX-110 will be evaluated as a monotherapy for relapsed/refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL).

MDxHealth today announced BJU International published a study demonstrating that its SelectMDx for Prostate Cancer test can reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment of men at risk of prostate cancer versus PSA testing alone, leading to a reduction in total cost per patient and a quality of life improvement.

First dosing triggers $10 million milestone payment from Gilead

VIB-UGent researchers unravel the functioning of what is believed to be the master protein that drives a range of allergic diseases, TSLP. These insight allowed the researchers to develop a first protein-based inhibitor of TSLP.

Although ASIT's drug against house dust mite allergy has proven to be safe, little clinical efficacy has been detected.

The japanese pharma enterprise Astellas has come to an agreement with Belgian biotech Ogeda, specialised in the development of small molecules targeting GPCR's.

Galapagos, together with partner Gilead, sets out to expand the applicability of its flagship molecule Filgotinib. Three new phase II trials are initiated to assess the effect of Filgotinib in Sjögren’s syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis.

Biocartis opens doors in the US and appoints US General Manager Vishal Sikri to delegate outrol of Idylla in the states.

MDx Health and Ghent University have signed licensing and collaboration agreements for the development of biomarker visualisation technology in prostate and bladder cancer.

The BioBase4SME project, co-financed by Europe’s Interreg NWE programme, is now providing start-up companies working in the bioeconomy with €7,000 worth of specialist training, fully funded by the project.

Kiadis Pharma N.V., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative T-cell immunotherapy treatments for blood cancers and inherited blood disorders, today announces that the Pediatric Committee (PDCO) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted the Company’s Pediatric Investigation Plan (PIP) for ATIR101™ for the adjunctive treatment in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for a malignant disease. In addition, the PDCO has agreed that the Company may defer conducting the studies defined in the PIP until after it files a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) in Europe for the use of ATIR101™ for the treatment of blood cancers.

VIB and DNAlytics are proud to announce their partnership to develop a data-driven, high-performance and non-invasive Colorectal Cancer screening test, the ColonoKit.

The Massimiliano Mazzone group (VIB-KU Leuven) has recently demonstrated that PP2A/B55α promotes the growth of colorectal cancer, by dephosphorylating PHD2 and modifying its enzymatic properties.

Novosanis today announced that it signed an agreement with MDxHealth to supply UrNCollect™, a customized version of the Company’s patented urine collection device called Colli-Pee™. The medical device facilitates accurate sample collection for urine-based tests.

argenx announces its new collaboration with Broteio Pharma. Broteio will perform preclinical research using argenx' SIMPLE antibody platform after which argenx has the exclusive option to license the program for clinical development.

Scientists from Belgium, the UK and the US have identified new processes that form protein “clumps” that are characteristic of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD).

On 15 March Ghent University officially launched a prestigious research project on precision agriculture, led by the Syrian-Belgian top scientist Abdul Mouazen.

Investing in biotech companies is a capital-intensive and risky business, and it’s no secret that more money and less risk-averse investors are available in the US than in Europe. To keep innovations, companies, and their economic benefits from being transferred to regions outside Europe, many national and international European initiatives are in place. The question remains whether this is sufficient to fundamentally improve Europe’s currently underfunded biotech ecosystem. The biotech investment specialists of V-Bio Ventures take us through Europe’s biotech investment landscape.

Grail has vowed to change the field of cancer diagnostics via simple blood tests and ctDNA analysis. Their Big Data approach, in which the company will build an atlas of DNA found in the blood, convinced major investors, such as Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, of the technology’s potential. A whopping $1 billion was gathered in the company’s series B financing round. Yet, do Grail and its technology deserve this huge ticket?

Belgian diagnostics producer receives grant from Flemish government to develop microsatellite instability (MSI) test in collaboration with VIB-KULeuven. Not only will the test offer prognosis estimates for colorectal cancer patients, it will potentially be able to indicate whether certain immunotherapeutic approaches are advisable.

To address the challenges of drug development, solid strategic partnerships are needed. On the Janssen partner day, the company showcased an ongoing partnership with the University of Antwerp in mental health and how this partnership leads to better outcomes.

EU-LIFE, the alliance of European research centres in life sciences, urges politicians to unequivocally support the ERC by raising its budget in FP9 and endorsing its guiding principles. 

TiGenix, stem cell specialist focused on developing novel therapeutics from its two proprietary platforms of donor-derived expanded adipose derived stem cells (eASC) and donor-derived expanded cardiac stem cells (AlloCSCs), today announced top-line one-year results from the CAREMI clinical trial, an exploratory Phase I/II study of AlloCSCs in acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Galapagos NV announced two new Phase 2 studies investigating filgotinib in small bowel Crohn's disease as well as in fistulizing Crohn's disease. These studies are being led by filgotinib collaboration partner Gilead Sciences, Inc.

Celyad announced that the U.S. FDA authorized the initiation of the THINK trial in the U.S. THINK evaluates NKR-2 CAR-T cells in seven indications, five solid cancers and two hematological malignancies.

TiGenix NV, an advanced biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel therapeutics from its proprietary platform of allogeneic stem cells, announced today that it has received positive feedback from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on an improved protocol for its global Phase III trial for the treatment of complex perianal fistulas in Crohn's disease patients. 

Data from a phase Ib study reveal the Ablynx-developed bi-specific nanobody targeted against IL-17A/F as a promising new therapy to treat psoriasis. Patients in the highest dose group achieved 90% skin clearance and skin biopsies showed complete reversal of disease pathology. 

Ghent-based antibody developer argenx has announced that Staten Biotech has exercised its exclusive option to license ARGX-116, an anti-ApoC3 SIMPLE AntibodyTM with therapeutic potential in dyslipidemia.

In a press release stating strong annual results for the cancer diagnostic producer, Biocartis also announced a change in its top management position. Its current CEO, Rudi Pauwels, has expressed his preference to focus on the longer term strategy of Biocartis

argenx, the llama antibodies developer looking to treat severe autoimmune diseases and cancer, announced today that it has confidentially submitted a draft registration statement on Form F-1 to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the proposed registered public offering of its ordinary shares in the United States.

Confo Therapeutics is awarded EUR 2.6M in non-dilutive funding for the discovery of new fibrosis treatments and for expanding the use of its unique Confo® technology

​In the human body, so-called dendritic cells are responsible for activating our immune system. While researchers previously believed that tumors could repress these dendritic cells – blocking an adequate natural cancer defense mechanism – a new study has painted a more positive picture. 

Following successful trials demonstrating bioequivalence to Nuvaring, Mithra Pharmaceuticals sets in motion the next steps to bring its Myring to the market.

Aratana Therapeutics, a pet therapeutics company focused on the licensing, development and commercialization of innovative biopharmaceutical products for companion animals, won Animal Pharm's Best Company in North America 2016.

MDxHealth Announces Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Issues Positive Coverage Policy on ConfirmMDx. The decision provides access to more than 3.8 million members.

PharmaFluidics NV, a game-changing innovator in the field of analytical chromatography, announced today that it has raised 2.7 million euro of additional funding.

Ebola Tx is the largest clinical study ever performed with blood plasma of people that survived Ebola, to treat the disease. The study was performed in Guinea by the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) in Antwerp. The results of the study, which took place in 2015 during the  Ebola epidemic, not only show that this treatment is feasible, but also that it presents no risk.

Mosquitoes are carriers of a range of crippling diseases, posing an enormous global health burden. Because current methods based on insecticides are inadequate, new tools are urgently needed. Widely different companies are tackling the problem of mosquito control from very different angles; who will be successful in getting a grip on these tiny flying terrors? A view by V-Bio Ventures.

CRISPR start-up Synthego raises $41 million

Bone cell therapy company Bone Therapeutics receives 2.3 million in funding from the Wallonian Government.

Celyad commences THINK trial with its cell-based CAR-T/NKR-2 immunotherapy 

Ablynx will present at the 35th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Thursday 12 January, at 1.30 am CET (Wednesday 11 January 2017 at 4:30 p.m. PST).

Call for research grants by Fund Alphonse & Jean Forton, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, and Belgian Cystic Fibrosis Association.

Some of the biggest CRISPR-using companies have created an IP-sharing alliance on their technology. CRISPR Therapeutics, Intellia, Caribou Biosciences and ERS Genomics have banded together in an effort to protect their IP as a team. 

After being the first European university to receive the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certification for the quality control of drugs in 2014, ULg is now also the first university in the world to be prequalified by the WHO (World Health Organization). 

GPCR drug designer Confo Therapeutics has announced that John Berriman was appointed as Chairman of the Board. Berriman is a known biotech veteran and has served on the boards of many biotech companies, including stem cell play ReNeuron and immunotherapeutics specialist Autolus. 

TiGenix will issue 55 million new shares at the current share price, accounting for a capital injection of 50 million euros.

The cooperation between Pfizer and IBM concerning Watson, an artificial intelligence system, was announced on the Forbes Healthcare Summit following a pilot project during the past year and a half.

From October 1st onwards, Confo Therapeutics will be led by their new CEO Dr. Cedric Ververken. Ververken joins Confo Therapeutics from Ablynx, where he most recently acted as Vice President Business Development.

Today UGent spin-off company Biogazelle announced their collaboration with Isis pharmaceuticals. Being the leading company in the development of pharmaceutical products directed towards RNA targets, Isis is the ideal partner for Biogazelle. In this collaboration, Biogazelle will identify and validate potential RNA targets for a variety of cancers.

The University Hospital Center in Liège is expanding. The new comprehensive cancer center will be ready in 2018. The center focuses on high quality integrated care, and a large part of the building will be dedicated to outpatients in consultation and day-care without overnight hospitalization. The center will offer multidisciplinary care, focused on the overall wellbeing of the patient.