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More good drugs than ever: a boon for society but a challenge for company coffers

In recent decades, the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors have experienced unprecedented progress, reshaping patient care through the introduction of cutting-edge therapies. A stream of novel drugs has emerged at an increasingly rapid pace, for conditions lacking approved treatments or as improved treatments where existing drugs fell short in terms of efficacy, safety, or convenience. But is the health innovation industry falling victim to its own burgeoning success?

Tumor’s new photographers: multiplex imaging in the fight against cancer

Precision oncology, which tailors cancer treatments to an individual’s specific biological characteristics, has advanced significantly in recent years. Doctors are now using more targeted therapies that focus on specific cues or biomarkers in tissues, making treatments more personalized. Nevertheless, cancer is still a tough disease to fight, and many treatments do not consistently eliminate tumors. This is where the power of multiplex imaging comes in.

Zapping weeds: RootWave’s herbicide-free weed control solution 

RootWave’s technology kills weeds using electricity, offering farmers an eco-friendly alternative to chemical herbicides. The eWeeding solution supports our transition towards a more sustainable agricultural industry, protecting the health of both people and the planet.

Genetic counselors: the heroes behind closed curtains

Would you like the opportunity to explore your genetic predispositions? Genetic testing can be empowering, helping you to make informed decisions about your healthcare. But using DNA analysis to diagnose and predict certain health conditions calls for trained genetic professionals to explain complex results, answer lingering questions and provide emotional support to people, especially when they’re receiving unexpected news. Genetic counselors are an important link in this chain, but their crucial healthcare role is yet to be recognized in Belgium.

Efficient yet accurate life sciences writing, can we AIm for the right balance? 

With the advancements in AI (artificial intelligence) streamlining everything from dentistry to traffic congestion, people in all professions are feeling both excited and uneasy about this increasingly prevalent technology.

Belgium leads the way in advancing ATMPs

ATMPs (advanced therapy medicinal products) are expected to reach a global value of 80 billion euro in 2032. While it can be tempting to try to go it alone, the fastest and most intelligent way to advance is by advancing together. The event, Advanced Therapies in Belgium, presents such an occasion, offering a space for innovative ideas and featuring speakers from the forefront of the Belgian and international ATMP innovation.

The rise and recalibration of sustainable agrifood investments: lessons for us all

There has been an unprecedented surge of investments in sustainable agriculture and food technologies in the last decade, but that trend now appears to have reversed into a free fall in funding. This pattern of promise-to-disillusionment perfectly matches the hype cycle previously demonstrated by breakthrough technologies in other sectors. Can we forge a path forward for sustainable agrifood start-ups?

Antibiotic guidelines for food might underestimate the risk for bacterial resistance

Even ‘safe’ levels of antibiotics in food might fuel the next generation of superbugs. Even tiny traces of antibiotics in the meat and fish we eat could contribute to antibiotic resistance. According to research by the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) in Antwerp, as little as one tenth of the amount of antibiotics currently regarded as ‘safe’ by regulators is enough to trigger resistance in bacteria. Now, the scientists are expanding their research, initially performed on wax moth larvae, to mice and humans.

Belgium’s ‘Positive for the Planet’ evolution through agritech

Our current food system is responsible for around a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, extensive deforestation, unsustainable water usage, and an unprecedented loss of biodiversity. Currently, the processes used to produce our food represent an obstacle to limiting average global temperature increases to the levels set out in the Paris Agreement. But are these damaging effects of our current food production landscape an unavoidable cost of feeding humanity or can smart investments in sustainable agritech be part of the solution?

Incorporating sustainability into healthcare

In a hospital, numerous single-use masks, gloves, syringes, and more are thrown away every day to safeguard patients. However, this linear supply chain leaves a large footprint and can have negative effects on our environment and public health. It seems that the road to achieving sustainable healthcare is not straightforward, but circular.

Mutually beneficial success: the importance of the founder-VC partnership

The adage ‘teamwork makes the dream work’ rings especially true in the dynamic realm of biotech startups. Most successful biotech companies have a foundation built on a robust relationship between their founders and venture capital (VC) partners. This founder-VC partnership represents a symbiotic relationship between a venture capital firm and the founding team of a biotech startup. But what are the key factors for a successful partnership?

Luxembourg’s Vision for a Digital HealthTech Future

Luxembourg may be one of the smallest nations in the world, at just over 2,500 square kilometers and around 670,000 inhabitants, but it packs a punch in the global life sciences ecosystem. With world-class research institutes, startup accelerators, and the country’s growing digital prowess, Luxembourg is attracting global talent and putting digital healthtech solutions front and center. So, how did the Grand Duchy establish and grow its thriving research and startup landscape, and what is the vision for the future?

The gut and the bad: How technology can help us uncover the links between our food, gut microbiome, and human health

In our overfed yet undernourished modern society, we must understand how the things we eat contribute to our gut microbiome and overall health. Analyzing how the friendly and not-so-friendly communities of microbes in our gut respond to our daily intake of food, additives, supplements, and pharmaceuticals will help companies formulate more nutritious products while providing us with crucial insights to help us all be healthier for longer.

Human brain organoids for Parkinson’s disease research – A helping hand from Luxembourg

Could we ever recreate the complexity of the human brain in the lab? Over ten years ago, researchers aimed to do just that by developing a three-dimensional cell culture method to grow the first ever miniaturized versions of the human brain, so-called ‘brain organoids.’ Innovation in this field continues at a rapid pace, with researchers in Luxembourg and around the world refining methods to grow organoids that resemble specific brain regions. These advances can help us understand the effects of Parkinson’s disease on cells while driving the discovery of novel therapeutics beneficial to those in need.

On our way to saving minds: the current status of Alzheimer’s disease drug discovery

An ageing population comes with multiple challenges. Diseases affecting older populations are becoming more prevalent shifting the focus of our healthcare systems. One of the most debilitating is Alzheimer’s disease. Although there is currently no cure, groundbreaking research is expanding our knowledge, giving hope to patients.