Sam Possemiers, CEO of MRM Health, will be one of the speakers at BioWin Days, where he will be taking part in a fireside chat with Henri de Romrée, Deputy CEO of IBA. The two will share advice from the dual perspectives of a start-up based in Flanders and a multinational based in Wallonia. Ahead of the event, Possemiers spoke with BioVox about MRM Health’s journey and his personal advice for other leaders navigating the biotech business landscape.
Building from the ground up
Founded in 2020 as a spin-out from Possemiers’ previous company ProDigest, MRM Health develops live bacterial therapeutics to treat inflammatory and immune-associated diseases. The company’s lead program targets ulcerative colitis and pouchitis, with a unique platform that combines multiple carefully selected bacterial strains into a single active ingredient that is encapsulated and designed to deliver the product directly to the large intestine for safe and effective treatment.
Unlike many early players in the microbiome field, MRM Health bided its time before launching. “The first microbiome companies had relatively premature technologies,” Possemiers explains. “They tried things, often failed, and we were all able to learn from it. Before launching MRM Health, we took the time to develop the right technology so that when we entered the market, we had a solid platform that could really be successful.”
Read this article to learn more about the hype cycle in life sciences investments!
Possemiers’ patience paid off. Within two years of incorporation, MRM Health was already running clinical trials in patients, quickly progressing from a would-be challenger to what can today by considered as one of the most advanced companies in its niche. But leadership status came with its own hurdles—especially when it came to financing.
Finding a strong lead investor
Biotech fundraising has been tough across the board in recent years, but for novel modalities like microbiome therapeutics, the challenge has been especially acute. “Investors are continuously weighing risks,” Possemiers says. “To do so, they want a reference point, and when you’re the most advanced in your field, there’s no commercial example to compare to. You need to identify a strong lead investor to validate your case and create confidence for other investors to join your investment round.”
“When you’re the most advanced in your field, there’s no commercial example to compare to.”
For MRM Health, securing that investor base meant pivoting away from traditional biotech funds and toward strategic backers—large family offices with strong biotech experience, and others with a long-term view and a strong belief in the microbiome as a therapeutic modality. “You have to focus on investors who are open to your field, or have invested in it before without getting burned by earlier companies,” Possemiers advises.
In today’s tougher biotech funding climate—especially for companies working with new modalities—this type of patient, strategic capital can be the most natural initial fit. But it also lays the groundwork for a broader investor base later on. Once the science matures and clinical validation accumulates, the story will become easier to underwrite for more traditional venture players.
Persistence—or “stubbornness, in a positive way”—is crucial. “Being a CEO is often a lonely job,” he says. “You have to keep going, even when the timing or environment isn’t in your favor.”
Advice for fellow CEOs
Asked for his top tips for other biotech leaders, Possemiers doesn’t hesitate:
1. Be the best at what you do.
“In today’s climate, you need the best technology and science, no matter your field. If you don’t have that, investors won’t jump.”
2. Keep your long-term goal in sight.
“Don’t get distracted by quick wins that don’t align with your big picture. Break your journey into realistic steps, but always pursue them in service of the long-term strategy.”
3. Surround yourself with the right people.
“You can’t do everything yourself—partner with other companies, seek advisors, and learn from experienced people. Sometimes an indirect route through a trusted advisor can open doors you can’t unlock on your own.”
4. Think internationally from day one.
“In biotech, you’re developing something for the world, not just for your local market. Building an international network early will make future fundraising and partnerships much easier.”
Possemiers also points to Belgium’s strong scientific base and entrepreneurial spirit as fertile ground for a startup. “We have excellent academic groups, supportive structures, and biotech hotspots where companies can learn from and collaborate with each other,” he says.
Paving the way for further success
MRM Health’s journey from quiet incubator project to sector leader is far from over. With new funding poised to support Phase IIB and Phase III trials, the company is under more scrutiny than ever. “We’ll probably be one of the best-funded companies in our field—at least for a while,” Possemiers says. “That comes with responsibility and accountability. If we don’t make it happen, we fail not only ourselves, but the whole field. But we believe we have the right technology, the right people, and the persistence to get there.”
BioWin Days—23-24 September 2025—connects Belgian health professionals, innovators, and industry leaders in the life sciences sector. The event will take place across two days: BioWin Day (23/9), a conference with talks, workshops, and B2B partnering sessions; and BioWin on Tour (24/9), a visit to local ecosystems and innovation hubs in Wallonia. Don’t miss out; register today!
