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Discovery and research, Finance and Investment

From startup survivor to sector leader: MRM Health CEO’s advice for fellow entrepreneurs at BioWin Days

In the space of just a few years, MRM Health has transformed from a challenger in the emerging microbiome therapeutics field to a global forerunner. CEO Sam Possemiers has steered the Belgian company through the rollercoaster of scientific uncertainty and investor skepticism to reach what he calls the “slope of enlightenment.” Now, with late-stage clinical trials ahead and a new important funding round within reach, Possemiers is sharing his lessons-learned with other biotech CEOs.

A frozen conveyor belt: Solutions for the funding bottleneck in European biotech

European biotech is braving another turbulent cycle. IPOs remain scarce, M&A sluggish, and the lack of liquidity is leaving both innovators and Venture Capitalists struggling to raise funds. But new solutions—including stronger secondary markets—could help restore momentum and build a more resilient, thriving European ecosystem.

Europe’s biotech reckoning: turning disruption into opportunity

Just as European biotech began its post-COVID rebound, it now finds itself grappling with a fresh set of global challenges. The re-election of Donald Trump and his ‘America First’ agenda, alongside mounting economic uncertainty and geopolitical shifts have all sent shockwaves through the industry. With shifting capital flows, upended regulatory expectations, and deep insecurity among biotech entrepreneurs, VCs and LPs, we ask: can Europe turn these lemons into lemonade?

Belgian biotech retains its top position despite the turbulent times

Belgium’s biotech sector defied global headwinds in 2024, delivering growth and key milestones. The latest analysis compiled by KBC Securities and PMV for Biovia confirms Belgium’s leadership in European health innovation. But staying on top will demand continued resilience and strategic focus.

Biovia: the new health innovation cluster for human and planetary health

A fresh chapter in Flemish healthtech and life sciences has begun with the launch of Biovia: the health innovation cluster resulting from the merger of flanders.bio and MEDVIA. Unveiled at Knowledge for Growth, the flagship annual conference of the Flemish life sciences sector, this new industry-driven organization brings more than 450 members together in one unified ecosystem – cultivating connections and forging a path to a healthier future for people and planet.

A double-edged sword: VC timelines are getting longer in biotech

The biotechnology sector has always been characterized by long, uncertain timelines. But with increasing scientific, regulatory, and market complexities, biotech development is now taking longer and costing more than ever before. Investors are being faced with a growing gap between initial investment and successful exit, and it’s vital for entrepreneurs to know how to handle this shift.

Drug Repurposing: Finding New Roles for Old Medicines 

Drug repurposing describes the process where drugs originally designed for one condition turn out to be highly effective for another. Historically, drug repurposing has often occurred by chance. However, in the era of big data and artificial intelligence, new data-driven opportunities are arising to discover new roles for old medicines and help patients in unexpected ways.

From lab to market: the life cycle of a biotech startup 

From initial discovery to market-ready product, biotech development is a complex multi-phase process, where strategic partnerships, continuous innovation and careful navigation of regulatory landscapes are crucial for long-term success. Despite this complexity (or perhaps because of it), entrepreneurs and VCs seldom take a step back to consider the full trajectory of this journey. In this article, we’ll explore the typical life cycle of a biotech startup, examining the key milestones and hurdles encountered along the way.

Chairing is caring: how endowed chairs align industry and academia to build a better future  

Like two sides of the same coin, industry and academia are each aiming to progress science. On their own, they accomplish great results, but only together can they really drive innovation. One way to reap the fruits from this partnership are endowed chairs. By exchanging resources and independence for publicity and innovative insights, both can contribute to a happier and healthier society.

4Tissue secures an additional €1.5M in funding and appoints Dr. Katleen Verleysen as independent chair of the board.

Ghent, February 26, 2025 — 4Tissue, a pioneer in biotechnology that is revolutionizing regenerative medicine, has successfully completed an additional €1.5M funding round, consisting of €1M in equity investments and additional grants. This funding will support the further development of the company’s groundbreaking bioresorbable hydrogel technology, which has the potential to significantly improve breast reconstruction and other tissue regeneration applications. This represents an important step forward in the evolution of regenerative medicine, with a particular focus on women’s health.

Aiming for Europe, but starting with the world – how restrictive EU legislation drives biotech innovation in agrifood abroad

Meeting the needs of a growing global population while addressing the clear demand for a more sustainable food supply is challenging but not impossible. Innovative biotechnological tools are constantly being created, and they are increasingly available on the market. However, the industry is in desperate need of support, as EU legislation can act as more of a hurdle than a facilitator, hindering local advancement. flanders.bio is committed to advocating for the sector and highlights the most pressing challenges in their latest policy paper.

AstriVax Therapeutics shoots for the stars with impactful immunotherapies 

In line with its stellar name, AstriVax Therapeutics is a rising star in Belgian biotech. The company launched in 2022 with €30 million – the largest seed round ever raised by a KU Leuven spin-out – and rapidly became a clinical-stage company, using its plug-and-play platform to fast-track development of vaccines and immunotherapies.

ONTOFORCE and Rancho Biosciences Collaborate to Leverage High-Quality Data for Target Identification

Ghent, Belgium, 15 January 2025 – ONTOFORCE, a leader in semantic technology for life sciences, headquartered in Ghent, Belgium, and Rancho Biosciences, the leading data science services company headquartered in San Diego, California, have announced a joint collaboration. This partnership aims to transform high quality data-driven research and drug development, providing scientists with unparalleled insights that drive discovery and innovation in the life sciences.

Galapagos to Unlock Shareholder Value by Declaring its Intent to Separate into Two Publicly Traded Entities 

Galapagos intends to create a new company with approximately €2.45 billion in cash dedicated to building a pipeline of innovative medicines through transformational transactions. Galapagos will gain full global development and commercialization rights to its pipeline, focusing on accelerating cell therapies and building a global, decentralized manufacturing network. Galapagos to implement a strategic reorganization to position the Company for long-term growth and cell therapy leadership in oncology.

What a year…looking back at Benelux biotech in 2024 

As 2025 comes peeking around the corner, we invite you to look back with us at some of the most exciting science topics we covered this year. From advances in women’s health, organoids, and organ-on-a-chip models to the challenges of data science and innovations in animal science and sustainable biotech; let us walk you through the Benelux life sciences landscape of 2024 as we reflect on the vast amount of knowledge and know-how characteristic to this region.