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Biomedical/pharma

Biomedical/pharma, Healthcare technology, Personal/public health, Public health

Betting on the best egg: Aurora test doubles pregnancy chances in assisted conception

Assisted conception techniques have matured in the last few decades, with Belgian scientists playing a big part in the progress. The Aurora test, developed by the Belgian start-up Fertiga, now further improves the odds for couples wanting to be parents: the test doubles the chances of becoming pregnant after just one fertility treatment.

Ardena’s success leads to major €35 million investment for expansion in Belgium, Sweden and The Netherlands

Newton Biocapital invests in EditForce to support development of a unique DNA/RNA editing platform based on PPR protein technology

Moderna: from secretive platform company to vaccine superstar

Moderna Therapeutics has never really been a typical biotech. Sure, nowadays it is world famous thanks to its COVID-19 vaccine, which has resulted in an $80 billion market cap and projected sales of $18.4 billion for 2021. But the path to success has not been that of a standard biotech’s journey. Through ups and downs, controversies and triumphs, here’s the fascinating story behind the rise of Moderna and the creation of its COVID-19 vaccine.

Newton Biocapital invests in NeuVasQ: EUR 20 million Series A to develop unique blood-brain barrier therapy

Malaria vaccine candidate shows promise for African children

Montis Biosciences Awarded VLAIO Grant to Expand its Pipeline of Novel Immune-Oncology Therapeutics

Trusting gut bacteria: MRM Health develops microbiome treatments for IBD and more

In the last decade, there has been a growing interest in the potential of microbiome-based therapeutics: using gut bacteria as a medication to battle a wide array of diseases. Ghent-based start-up MRM Health is an important innovator in this growing field, building on the expertise of sister company ProDigest and of prominent partners such as VIB and DuPont Nutrition Biosciences. In the coming months, MRM Health is starting clinical trials for a drug candidate for ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Droia Ventures raises a new fund of EUR 220 million to target genetic diseases and expands leadership team with George Golumbeski

Pulsify Medical closes second round Series A funding of EUR 6.35 million for wearable ultrasound heart monitor patch

Leuven, Belgium, 4 May 2021 - Pulsify Medical is a digital medical technology company developing wearable ultrasound patches which will monitor vital organs in real-time. The new and disruptive technology will address a serious unmet need for continuous cardiac monitoring in ICUs, hospitals, and homes across the world

Belgian pharma industry among the EU’s strongest despite pandemic setbacks

How did the Belgian chemical and pharmaceutical sector fare during the first year of the pandemic? A report from essenscia gives insight into the financial downturn caused by the global crisis in 2020, but also showed strong positive trends in job creation and innovation. There were record investments in research and development, particularly in the healthcare sector, which continues to score among the best in Europe.

Proteomics PharmaFluidics Launches Next Generation µPAC™ Technology for Routine Proteomics

Microfluidic chips for use in high-resolution nanoLC/MS workflows Ghent, Belgium, 27 April 2021 - PharmaFluidics NV, innovative life sciences instruments player, is excited to announce a step change in its product offering, extending the range with its next generation µPAC™ nano-LC chips, preferred workhorses for routine proteomics. The news was revealed at a broadly attended user-community meeting held on Friday, April 23rd.

AgomAb’s journey of growth in regenerative medicine

Ghent-based AgomAb Therapeutics recently raised a Series B of $74 million, the largest round ever for a Belgian biotech in pre-clinical phase. Based on argenx’ technology, the company is developing HGF-mimetic antibodies for regenerative medicine. AgomAb has come a long way since it’s foundation in 2017 and has been pegged by many as one of the future stars of Belgian biotech.

Augustine Therapeutics developing new medicines for neuromuscular diseases

Augustine Therapeutics had a lot of announcements this month: the VIB spin-off just appointed Dr. Sylvain Celanire as CEO, strengthened its Board of Directors, set up a Scientific Advisory Board and received a €1.2 million VLAIO grant. All of the above is going to help the company to develop therapies for rare peripheral neuropathies and neurodegenerative disorders, starting with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Backed by some major players in the Belgian life sciences ecosystem, this start-up is accelerating fast!

Montis Biosciences appoints René Hoet as Chief Scientific Officer

Leuven, Belgium, 31 March 2021 - MONTIS BIOSCIENCES, a discovery stage biotech company focused on the development of novel immuno-oncology therapeutics targeting the interactions between perivascular macrophages and the tumor vasculature, appoints René Hoet, Ph.D. as its Chief Scientific Officer. Dr Hoet brings extensive experience in antibody drug discovery and development, through his international career in Biotech and Pharma.