Infectious diseases
Biogazelle initiates large-scale testing of COVID-19 in Belgium
Ghent, Belgium, April 2, 2020 – Biogazelle NV, a CRO specialized in RNA analytics, has announced the initiation of large-scale testing of patient samples for SARS-CoV-2. [...] April 2, 2020 · Turnstone Communications
University Hospital Ghent and VIB are testing medication to treat COVID-19-associated respiratory illness
University Hospital Ghent and VIB are assessing a drug called Leukine® to treat patients with respiratory illness associated with COVID-19. Major medical centers in [...] March 25, 2020 · BioVox
ElmediX wants to stop coronavirus by heating patients in a controlled manner
Mechelen, Belgium, 24 March 2020 – The coronavirus has brought the whole world to a standstill. The Belgian company ElmediX wants to contain the virus with intensive [...] March 24, 2020 · Turnstone Communications
Janssen Pharmaceutica and Filliers Distillery make disinfectant hand gel
Pharmaceutical company Janssen Pharmaceutica and gin distillery Filliers Distillery are making disinfectant hand gel from Sunday. They will distribute it among the Belgian hospitals. March 24, 2020 · Janssen Pharmaceutica
Professors of Product Development from UAntwerp are looking at emergency production of mouth masks
At the University of Antwerp, twelve product developers are working day and night to develop oral masks. “Together with industrial partners, we try to set up an [...] March 24, 2020 · BioVox
The long-distance race for a corona vaccine
Developing a vaccine takes a long time and occurs in different phases. A virus spreads quickly and unpredictably. Therefore, the outcome is a gamble for anyone in the race for the corona vaccine. March 24, 2020 · BioVox
Gates Foundation commissions large coronavirus study from KU Leuven
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is to provide samples of 15,000 therapeutic molecules to the Gasthuisberg hospital at the University of Leuven, to aid research into therapies to combat the coronavirus COVID-19, De Standaard reports. March 24, 2020 · BioVox
VIB achieves important milestone in the development of a COVID-19 drug
Earlier this year, the lab of Xavier Saelens (VIB-UGent) announced the discovery of a unique antibody that is capable of binding the virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2). [...] March 24, 2020 · BioVox
Augustine Therapeutics: bridging the valley of death with VIB Discovery Sciences
Augustine Therapeutics is one of VIB’s latest spinoffs, developing a first-in-class drug for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. The company recently announced a seed-funding [...] February 26, 2020 · V-Bio Ventures
Battling antibiotic resistance: new strategy targets bacterial slime
Researchers have developed a new antibacterial strategy that weakens bacteria by preventing them from cooperating. The method involves attacking the protective biofilm [...] January 22, 2020 · BioVox
HIV breakthrough at UZ Gent leads to new hope for a cure
When patients take HIV medication, a small amount of the virus nonetheless stays hidden in the body, preventing a cure. […] September 23, 2019 · BioVox
Edible antibodies to prevent and treat gut diseases
Belgian researchers have developed edible antibodies that can prevent gut bacterial infections. Normally antibodies need to be injected, but the […] June 27, 2019 · BioVox
Deadly mosquitoes are invading Europe
Due to climate change, two species of tropical mosquitoes are spreading into Europe at increasing rates. Their presence is linked to a range of tropical viruses [...] April 3, 2019 · BioVox
Battling antibiotic resistance: a new protein powered solution
The discovery of antibiotics fundamentally changed healthcare in the 20th century. Deadly infections suddenly became treatable and millions of lives […] November 27, 2018 · BioVox
CD3 as co-creator of drugs with academia and pharma
The Center for Drug Design and Discovery (CD3), based in Leuven, bridges the gap between innovative biomedical research emerging from […] May 28, 2018 · Turnstone Communications
The biggest killer after malaria - How to tackle RSV?
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) annually threatens many babies and there is currently no drug or vaccine to combat the disease. […] February 19, 2018 · Turnstone Communications
WHO report ranks deadly diseases in need of drugs
The World Health Organization recently released a report outlining the imminent threat of antimicrobial-resistant diseases. In the midst of such […] February 19, 2018 · BioVox
Watch out for Lyme disease!
Summer is coming, it’s getting warmer, and you’re planning on outdoor activities. Unfortunately, ticks are getting out there as well, […] May 22, 2017 · BioVox
Coris Bioconcept diagnoses antibiotic resistance
With almost 20 years of experience, Coris BioConcept knows the world of infectious disease diagnostics inside and out. Their straightforward chromatography-based [...] January 16, 2017 · BioVox
V-Bio feature: Mosquito Wars
Mosquitoes are carriers of a range of crippling diseases, posing an enormous global health burden. Because current methods based on insecticides are inadequate, new tools are urgently needed. Widely different companies are tackling the problem of mosquito control from very different angles; who will be successful in getting a grip on these tiny flying terrors? A view by V-Bio Ventures.
January 12, 2017 · V-Bio Ventures
Jeroen Pollet in Texas - Belgian scientist living abroad
Houston (Texas, USA) has been home to Jeroen Pollet since August 2011. He arrived as a Fulbright scholar; now he is an assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) [...] October 14, 2016 · BioVox
Colistin: breaking the last line of antibiotic defense
A first case of colistin resistance has been described in the US. This is troubling news, since colistin is used as a last-resort drug in combating infections [...] June 21, 2016 · BioVox
Mosquitoes, the Zika virus and the threat for pregnant women: the buzz continues
Over the past months, the Zika virus has been spreading across Middle and South America. Zika has long been considered […] February 1, 2016 · BioVox
Tuberculosis - The Hidden Disease
Pott’s disease, consumption, scrofula, white plague; tuberculosis (Tb), a disease almost as old as civilization itself, has had many names […] December 14, 2015 · BioVox
RSV or the flu? Now you know it immediately
Janssen Diagnostics has developed a molecular diagnostic test which will be used with the Biocartis’ Idylla™ platform, to determine Influenza […] December 7, 2015 · Janssen Pharmaceutica
Preventing cervical cancer: vaccinating or freezing?
The group of human papillomaviruses has over 100 types, of which at least thirteen can cause cancer. The virus is […] November 9, 2015 · BioVox
A perspective of the future - Towards a cure for cancer and much more
‘Within 10 years we will be able to cure cancer’. A bold statement? Paul Stoffels (CSO J&J) doesn’t think so. […] August 24, 2015 · Janssen Pharmaceutica
The Ebola Vaccine: a work in progress
Maria Grazia Pau has more than 15 years of experience in vaccine research and is currently working at Janssen Vaccines […] August 21, 2015 · Janssen Pharmaceutica
Ebola diagnostics – faster, safer, and more accurate
“Last year the Ebola outbreak kick-started the development of a fast and accurate Ebola test to be used with Biocartis’ […] July 28, 2015 · Janssen Pharmaceutica