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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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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.

How the Chair of the Board can empower a first-time biotech CEO

Stepping into the role of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the first time can be a daunting prospect. In the biotech industry, the journey is marked by a unique set of hurdles, from scientific complexities, to regulatory intricacies, finance, HR, and interactions with a wide range of stakeholders. In this dynamic landscape, the role of the Chair of the Board of Directors becomes pivotal. The Chair is well-positioned to empower and support first-time CEOs, but good synergy between the duo is paramount for success.

V-Bio Ventures-funded Tanai Therapeutics develops first-in-class therapeutics for obesity

VIB, Flanders’ leading life sciences institute, together with lead investor V-Bio Ventures has launched a new spin-off company based on research at the VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research. With an initial seed financing round supported by V-Bio Ventures, Qbic and VIB, the spin-off company is entering the obesity space with an entirely novel therapeutic approach.

The rise of women’s health

It’s been a Barbie world this summer with crowds of pink-clad moviegoers flooding the cinemas. Simultaneously, we’ve been witnessing a rush of ‘pink’ fundraising for women’s health start-ups. From pre-clinical to clinical: more companies are entering the field and developing solutions for women’s unique needs. But is their focus broad and innovative enough? And are pharma companies paying attention?

Muna Therapeutics: hopeful solutions for memory loss

Muna Therapeutics is developing transformative therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. These drugs aim to preserve cognition and enhance the brain’s resilience in diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, providing much-needed hope for millions of patients and their loved ones.

V-Bio Ventures portfolio company Agomab raises $100 million Series C to advance fibrosis-focused pipeline

Agomab Therapeutics NV (‘Agomab’) today announced the closing of a $100 million (€94.9 million) Series C financing round led by Fidelity Management & Research Company, with participation from new investors EQT Life Sciences (EQT), Canaan, Dawn Biopharma, a platform controlled by KKR, and existing investors.

Lean years for company creation in Europe?

After an exceptional sequence of socio-economic shocks over the past few years, the number of new companies being formed in key European biotech hubs has stalled. Early-stage investors need to roll up their sleeves and help to crank the engine of EU innovation back to life.

V-Bio Ventures portfolio company Orionis Biosciences announces collaboration with Genentech to discover and develop molecular glue class medicines

September 20, 2023, BOSTON, MA and GHENT, Belgium – Orionis Biosciences, a privately held life sciences company with an integrated drug discovery and chemical biology platform, announced today a multi-year collaboration with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, to discover novel small molecule medicines for challenging targets in major disease areas, including oncology and neurodegeneration. Orionis will receive an upfront payment of $47 million, as well as future milestone-related payments. Orionis will leverage its Allo-GlueTM platform for discovery of small molecule monovalent glues.

V-Bio Ventures portfolio company Corteria Pharmaceuticals raises EUR 65 million to advance its transformational medicines for cardiovascular diseases

Ghent, Belgium, 7 September 2023 – Corteria Pharmaceuticals, a V-Bio Ventures portfolio company, is a biopharmaceutical company specialized in the development of transformative therapies for unaddressed heart failure subpopulations. Corteria today announced an oversubscribed EUR 65 million Series A co-led by US investment firm OrbiMed and EU-based leading investment firm Jeito Capital, with the participation of all existing seed investors (V-Bio Ventures, Kurma Partners, Fountain Healthcare Partners, Invivo Capital, and Omnes Capital). The funding will be used to advance Corteria’s cardiovascular pipeline into the clinic.

Fermenting a more sustainable future

In the battle against the climate crisis, precision fermentation presents a hopeful aid. Using microbes to create valuable materials, we can help to transform the global economy and shift away from harmful agricultural and industrial practices. However, despite the support of industry and Venture Capital cash, this field still faces many challenges. Though promising, we need further investment in this innovative technology before it can fully deliver on its potential for sustainable solutions.

The obesity revolution: will new drugs bring about big changes?

The recent approval of the obesity and diabetes drugs Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro has brought about big headlines, but are these treatments also leading to a shift in our perception of obesity? Obesity has long been seen as a failure of individual willpower, but it is becoming increasingly apparent that losing and keeping off the kilos is a more complex, biological challenge. These new drugs offer a first, rather simplistic solution to a complicated problem, yet perhaps they will lead to a much-needed revolution in how obesity is viewed and treated.