Dosing flash radiation for the future of cancer treatment
Flash radiation has the potential to become a revolution in radiation therapy. An incredibly promising cancer treatment that limits the damage to surrounding tissue, it is currently in the pre-clinical stage. MEDVIA-funded project eFlash2D is working to assure that dosing is ready when flash radiation enters clinical trials.
V-Bio Ventures portfolio company Confo Therapeutics Announces Global Licensing Agreement with Lilly for Peripheral Pain Candidate, CFTX-1554
Confo to receive upfront and milestone payments totaling $630M Company is eligible for up to $590M in additional milestones if Lilly proceeds with a second product candidate Tiered royalties payable to Confo on net sales Confo to have a co-investment option Ghent, Belgium – March 2, 2023 – Confo Therapeutics, a leader in the […]
CMT Research Foundation (USA) collaborates with Augustine Therapeutics on new therapy against Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
Leuven, Belgium, 02 March 2023 – Augustine Therapeutics announces a collaboration with the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Research Foundation (CMTRF) in the USA. CMTRF is a US-based, patient-led, non-profit focused on delivering treatments for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). With the financial support of CMTRF, Augustine Tx will investigate the efficacy and safety of their newly discovered class of selective HDAC6 […]
Coave Therapeutics: redecorating viral vectors for improved gene therapies
Coave Therapeutics is a French biotech developing gene therapies for neurodegenerative and ocular diseases. The company has developed a technology platform that can be used to redecorate the outer surface of viruses, creating gene therapy vectors that are better at accurately delivering healthy genes to the right target cells, including neurons in the deep brain tissue. By combining this vector technology with transgenes restoring natural cell cleaning pathways, the company has created a pipeline of therapies for both genetically and non-genetically defined neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
From multiple pills per day to one treatment per month: progress in HIV medication made possible by pharma collaborations
Unprecedented collaborations between different pharmaceutical companies have resulted in extraordinary progress for HIV patients over the past four decades. From the first ever treatments, to single pills and now even long-acting injections, treatment options have come a long way. In this interview, Dr. Theresa Pattery (Head of Disease Management Programs at Janssen Pharmaceutica) tells us of this long journey and talks about the role of drones and phones in the world-wide fight against HIV.
Rejuvenate Biomed’s newly appointed Clinical Advisory Board endorses Clinical Phase 2b strategy in sarcopenia
Diepenbeek, Belgium, 15 November 2022 – Rejuvenate Biomed NV (“Rejuvenate”), a biomedical company developing novel combination drugs for age-related diseases, organized a Clinical Advisory Board meeting to discuss the clinical development of lead candidate RJx-01 in sarcopenia. After a fruitful brainstorming session, the Clinical Advisory Board supported the Phase 2b trial design, which will be […]
Is Belgium becoming a hub for gene therapy?
Ghent, Belgium, 10 November 2022 – Gene therapy provides solutions to deadly diseases. Is the technology ready for a big breakthrough? The ´Science for health´ congress brings together global gene therapy pioneers and Belgian experts in Brussels on November 21 to take stock. A unique set of speakers and two debates will put the key […]
Intressa Vascular secures EUR 18 million in financing to support the development of its multilayer Allay™ Aortic Stent for the treatment of aortic dissection
Intressa Vascular is using its proprietary stent braiding technology to develop an innovative multilayer stent for the treatment of aortic dissection, a life-threatening cardiovascular condition affecting worldwide 300,000 patients annually. The company has secured EUR 18 million in financing with the support of new investors and the Walloon Region. Funds are aimed at clinical studies and product registration purposes.
Gene therapy challenges and the solutions in sight
Dr. Federico Mingozzi is the CSO of Spark Therapeutics, the company behind Luxturna – the world’s first FDA-approved gene therapy for a genetic disease. Though we like to focus on success stories like Luxturna, the reality is that gene therapy is a new modality, and the field is still developing. We spoke to Dr. Mingozzi about some of the technical challenges currently hampering progress in gene therapy, and how people are working together to overcome these hurdles.
V-Bio Ventures leads Sibylla Biotech’s EUR 23 million Series A to advance a novel therapeutic approach for undruggable diseases
Ghent, Belgium, 4 October 2022 – V-Bio Ventures announces the successful close of a EUR 23 million Series A financing round in Sibylla Biotech. The company is developing an innovative avenue for drug discovery by enabling the targeting of proteins while they are still folding. This paradigm shift in drug design opens the possibility of […]
From pattern to patient: microbiome research needs to bridge the gap to the clinic
The microbiome has been a trending scientific topic in recent years. Researchers have uncovered correlations between the human microbiome and a wide range of diseases and health states, ranging from digestive issues to mental wellbeing. But no matter how fascinating these academic findings may be, translating them into concrete clinical applications remains a challenge. How can we enable more efficient clinical valorization of microbiome insights, and pave the way from pattern to patient?
The inspiring potential of gene therapy in neurology
Dr. Monica Bennett is Head of Gene Therapy Unit at Novartis, the company behind the world’s only gene therapy approved for a neurological indication. Zolgensma treats children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic condition where infants with the most severe type rarely survive past their first few years of life. We spoke to Dr. Bennett about her experience working with SMA kids and their families, and the inspiring potential of gene therapy in other neurological diseases.
V-Bio Ventures portfolio company Biodol Therapeutics nominates its first preclinical candidate as a next-generation therapy for neuropathic pain
Ghent, Belgium, 31 August 2022 – V-Bio Ventures portfolio company Biodol Therapeutics, a French biotech company developing next-generation neuropathic pain treatments, announces the nomination of its first preclinical candidate. The company aims to advance into IND-Enabling studies, initiating Phase 1 studies in the second half of 2023. Neuropathic pain is a chronic condition with only […]
Augustine Therapeutics: time to reverse nerve damage in patients undergoing chemotherapy or with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
Augustine Therapeutics is a VIB and KU Leuven spin-off developing innovative therapies for peripheral and central nervous system disorders. The company initially focused on treating Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, and recently added a major indication to their lead program after finding strong evidence that their drug candidate can also reverse nerve damage caused by chemotherapy. Augustine Therapeutics aims to initiate clinical trials by 2024.
Gene therapy pioneer Dr. Katherine High on the past and future of the field
Dr. Katherine High is one of gene therapy’s pioneers, who has contributed to a long list of firsts in the field. As President of Spark Therapeutics, Dr. High led the team that developed Luxturna – the first FDA-approved gene therapy in the world and the first to be approved in both the US and Europe. Prior to that, her trailblazing clinical work with adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors helped paved the way for many subsequent gene therapies. Today, Dr. High continues her cutting-edge work as President of Therapeutics at gene therapy company AskBio, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bayer AG. We spoke with Dr. High about the evolution of this fascinating field, which has the potential to provide transformational therapies for so many people with otherwise untreatable genetic diseases.