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V-Bio Ventures

We are a life sciences fund investing throughout Europe in start-up and early-stage companies with high growth potential. Our articles cover investment-related topics in life sciences, including innovation trends, the latest business themes and exciting updates on our portfolio companies.
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Picture of V-Bio Ventures

V-Bio Ventures

We are a life sciences fund investing throughout Europe in start-up and early-stage companies with high growth potential. Our articles cover investment-related topics in life sciences, including innovation trends, the latest business themes and exciting updates on our portfolio companies.
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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?

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.

The intertwined nature of human and animal health

The world is more interconnected than ever. But our global network goes beyond humans: the health of all people on Earth is intimately dependent on the wellbeing of our ecosystems – our animals, plants, microbes, and the atmosphere that sustains us all. In this article, Belgian veterinary scientist Jan Spaas shares his thoughts on the ‘One Health’ approach from the WHO, and the bi-directional link between human and animal health.

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.

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.

Human-first drug discovery: how start-ups can stay ahead of the game 

Every start-up team ponders the all-important question: how to convince investors to fund their idea? Currently, the fundraising landscape is particularly challenging for most early-stage biotech ventures. A fortunate few are raising exorbitant rounds, allowing them to advance their products through preclinical development, but many others are struggling to find the funding they require. In this article, we share our investor perspective on what can help companies to stand out from the crowd, given recent advancements in drug development.

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?

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.

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?

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?

V-Bio Ventures leads €20 million Series A financing of Precision oncology company Flindr Therapeutics to advance first-in-class small molecule inhibitors

Will the looming pharma patent cliff start driving a super cycle of biotech deals?

After several years of dismal market activity, 2024 is already looking up for deals in the pharmaceutical industry, with a recent flurry of billion-dollar mergers and acquisitions. Is this trend being driven by the impending loss of revenue caused by soon-to-expire blockbuster drug patents? And what does it mean for earlier-stage biotech startups?

Fraud in scientific institutes: a crack in the fabric of science

The pursuit of scientific knowledge is at the heart of human progress – it leads to ground-breaking discoveries that have transformed our understanding of the world and our place within it. However, this noble pursuit is not without its blemishes. Scientific fraud – the deliberate misrepresentation of data or results to deceive the scientific community – poses a serious threat to the integrity of the scientific enterprise in both academia and industry. So, what can we do about it?

Bridging the immunity gap: improving animal welfare without antibiotics

Antibiotic resistance is a major concern for humans and animals. Increasing pressure to move away from antibiotics has created space for new solutions for disease management. Animab’s oral monoclonal antibody platform is a promising alternative, effectively guarding against infection during a vulnerable period in an animal’s development.

V-Bio Ventures portfolio company Protealis secures EUR 22 million in oversubscribed B round funding to propel sustainable plant protein seed solutions

Protealis, a leading innovator in seed solutions for sustainable plant proteins based in Ghent, Belgium, proudly announced today the successful completion of its B-Round funding, raising a substantial EUR 22 million.