Synerkine Pharma raises EUR 3.5 million in an extended Series A financing

Naarden, The Netherlands, December 16, 2021 -- Synerkine Pharma B.V. announced today that it has added EUR 3.5 million to its Series A funding. The extension was led by Flerie Invest, with support from existing investors Thuja Capital and Utrecht Holdings.

Synerkine Pharma is a preclinical stage biotech company, developing a new class of powerful cytokine fusion proteins aimed to treat disorders such as chronic pain, osteoarthritis, and chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, which are all disease with a high unmet need. The socioeconomic burden of chronic pain is greater than of most other health conditions and patients are waiting for new, innovative and effective, non-opioid alternatives. These cytokine fusion proteins have the potential to change the landscape of analgesics by providing long-term relief of chronic pain and reverse progression.

“Since the closing of the initial Series A financing, we have made significant progress in the development of our novel proteins, including the manufacturing of our lead compound and the addition of a second fusion protein to our pipeline. The funds of the Series A extension round will be used to accelerate the development of the lead compound SK-01 to complete non-clinical studies, the scale up of the manufacturing process and get it ready for clinical development” says Hans Preusting, CEO of Synerkine Pharma.

Ted Fjällman, partner at Flerie Invest, comments: “Synerkine Pharma’s technology allows for a new class of fusion proteins to interact with the immune system and modulate disease in a wholly novel way. We’re excited to help on this journey and develop the platform to clinical Proof-of-Concept and expand to new patient needs.”

In conjunction with the closing of the Series A extension round, Ted Fjällman, PhD joined the board of Synerkine Pharma.

About Synerkine Pharma
Synerkine Pharma B.V. focuses on development of novel fusion proteins that combine the immunoregulatory activity of different cytokines. These fusion proteins have unique benefits over the individual cytokines and modulate a broad number of targets including key elements in the pain pathway. This provides treatment options for chronic pain conditions that clearly differentiate from the mechanism of action of current analgesic drugs holds tremendous therapeutic and commercial potential. Synerkine Pharma B.V. was founded in 2018 and is a spin-off of the University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU), the Netherlands.

About Flerie Invest
Flerie Invest is a biotech and pharma investor managing a portfolio of 20 companies in Sweden, the UK, the US, the Netherlands, Iceland, and Israel. The investment focus is on drug development and tools for drug development. The company was founded in 2010 by Thomas Eldered, who also co-founded and built Recipharm to be one of the top five CDMOs globally. Flerie Invest, with offices in Stockholm and London, is an active member of SwedenBIO and the British Venture Capital Association (BVCA).

 

For further enquiries:
Hans Preusting, PhD, MBA
Chief Executive Officer
+31 (0) 620 783 355
hans@synerkinepharma.com

 

ATRO Medical closes a new financing round for the Trammpolin® meniscus prosthesis

Today ATRO Medical announces the successful closure of a €1,9 million financing round. The funding provided by a syndicate led by Lumana Invest includes Thuja Capital Healthcare (Seed) Fund II, Innovatiefonds Brabant, Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Oost Nederland, Cascara Ventures and DSM Venturing.
ATRO Medical will use the funds to complete the AIR2 clinical study that started last October. AIR2 is the second clinical study and the first study with an improved design and performance.

Please read full press release here.

Thuja will be at CSI D-HF on December 10 and 11

Thuja will be at CSI D-HF in Frankfurt on December 10 and 11. Florian Ludwig will participate in the Device Development Workshop. This workshop aims to share insights and perspectives of a group of investors with starting and serial medical device entrepreneurs. As part of a panel of seasoned medtech innovators and investors, this year Florian will discuss “How Innovators Adapt” to challenges and opportunities created by COVID.

https://www.csi-congress.org/conferences-courses/focus-workshops/csi-focus-d-hf-frankfurt/scientific-program/dhf-program-details

Thuja Capital Healthcare Fund III invests in Pan Cancer T

Today, Pan Cancer T BV announced a seed extension financing which was led by Thuja Capital. Pan Cancer T is a spin-off company of Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, developing novel adoptive T cell therapeutics aimed to treat cancer.

The company aims to contribute significantly to the treatment of solid tumor indications that currently have a poor prognosis. With this investment, Thuja’s third fund has now added a third company to its portfolio.

For more information on the seed extension financing in Pan Cancer T, we refer to the press release.

EsoBiotec ready to transform cell therapy cancer treatments

EsoBiotec ready to transform cell therapy cancer treatments

  • EsoBiotec, a recently founded biotech company, announces a EUR 6 million pre-series A round comprised of non-dilutive funding from the Walloon Government combined with seed investments from venture capitalist Thuja Capital and regional funding agencies SRIW Life Sciences and Sambrinvest.

  • EsoBiotec is developing next generation cell therapy cancer treatments and offering previously unattainable treatment options to the largest possible number of patients.

  • Paul Rennert, President, CSO and co-founder of Aleta Biotherapeutics in the USA, and renowned strategist of cancer-immunotherapeutic therapies, joins the Board of Directors:

    “EsoBiotec’s disruptive approach holds the potential to transform the current standard of cell and gene therapies for cancer treatment. I look forward to supporting the team to bring these transformational therapies to patients worldwide.”

Gosselies, Belgium, 30 September 2021 – EsoBiotec’s mission is to empower the human body to fight cancer by bringing in vivo engineering of cells to patients. The company aims to develop cost-effective and off-the-shelf therapeutics, providing these state-of-the-art cell therapies to the largest number of patients possible.

 EsoBiotec has developed the ENaBL platform, which tailors viral vectors for in vivo cellular engineering to produce CAR T and other cancer fighting cells inside the patient’s body. These off-the-shelf lentiviral vectors will safely and specifically deliver lifesaving genetic material to cells of interest for long-term expression. This approach is superior to those used in current cell therapies and allows EsoBiotec to circumvent the challenges of ex-vivo cell products, such as scalability, host rejection, prohibitive cost, and product variability. The use of the proprietary engineered lentiviral vectors also reduces the complexity of manufacturing and simplifies the procedures for patients and hospitals.

 Jean-Pierre Latere, EsoBiotec CEO: “The potential of cell and gene therapies is clinically and commercially proven, but the current therapies face multiple accessibility challenges associated with manufacturing and delivery to cancer patients. EsoBiotec’s in vivo engineering approach has the potential to bypass these obstacles and provide safe, specific, and durable engineering of cancer-fighting cells in patients. We are thrilled with this initial financial support and vote of confidence, allowing us to launch our activities and build towards a Series A round.”

 Philippe Parone, EsoBiotec VP of R&D: “Over the last weeks, we have been able to recruit a top-notch team of scientists actively working to further expand our pipeline in hematological malignancies and solid tumors. We focus on safety, targeting specificity and affordability of our products. We plan to test our first products in patients over the next few years. As we develop these products, our ongoing research collaboration with Professors Karine Breckpot and Nick Devoogdt from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) ensures we can tap into their deep expertise in cutting edge technologies for cancer research.”

 Michel Briejer, Thuja Capital: “The ENaBL platform focuses on empowering patients’ cells to fight cancer. EsoBiotec’s off-the-shelf products fit perfectly within the scope of our new Thuja Capital Healthcare Fund III. Co-investing with Sambrinvest and SRIW further demonstrates our commitment to supporting early-stage innovative companies developing best-in-class therapeutic products in Belgium and beyond.”

 Helena Pozios, Sambrinvest: “These are exciting times for cell and gene therapies, and Belgium has become a key player in research and development in this field. The launch of EsoBiotec and its establishment within Brussels South Charleroi Biopark is further proof of the attractiveness of the Belgian biotech ecosystem."

 Christina Franssen, SRIW Life Sciences: “We are thrilled to join this exciting adventure and support a pioneering company like EsoBiotec, with its game-changing approach to tackling cancer. Oncology is an area in desperate need of innovation and it is great to see EsoBiotec joining other innovative players in the Walloon region.”

 EsoBiotec will use its proceeds to expand from Charleroi, Belgium; accelerate its pipeline development activities; build more collaborations with leading academic centres; and prepare for its clinical development program, initially targeting Europe and the USA.

Media contact:
Jean-Pierre Latere, CEO of EsoBiotec
Email: info@esobiotec.com

About EsoBiotec
EsoBiotec is a young biotechnology company developing innovative therapeutics to fight cancer. Our mission is to empower the human body to tackle cancer by bringing in vivo engineering of cells to patients. We aim to develop cost-effective and off-the-shelf therapeutics and providing state-of-the-art cell therapies to maximise accessibility. Our disruptive approach holds the potential to transform the current standard of cell and gene therapies for cancer treatment. EsoBiotec was founded in 2020 and backed with non-dilutive funding from the Walloon Government combined with seed investments from venture capitalist Thuja Capital and regional funding agencies SRIW Life Sciences and Sambrinvest. Follow us: LinkedIn  

About Thuja Capital
Thuja Capital Management (Thuja) manages several venture capital funds aimed at building and scaling companies in the fields of (bio)pharmaceuticals, medtech and digital health. In addition to generating a financial return for its investors, Thuja’s investments positively impact the health and well-being of patients. Thuja serves physicians and patients worldwide by providing capital to daring entrepreneurs with ground-breaking product concepts locally. For more information visit www.thujacapital.com.

About Sambrinvest
With over 35 years of experience working alongside companies and entrepreneurs, close to 300 portfolio companies and more than 180 million euros under management, Sambrinvest is a major venture capital player in Wallonia. More than an investment fund, Sambrinvest is also a catalyst for the development of local ecosystems, such as biotech, digital and engineering.

Visit www.sambrinvest.be for more info.

About SRIW Life Sciences
By relying on the traditional strengths of Wallonia, SRIW Life Sciences invests in ‘local heroes’: scientists and entrepreneurs who want to leverage their innovation to build a sustainable and equitable global economy with roots in Wallonia. 

SRIW Life Sciences focuses on diversity and cross-fertilization in its broadest sense. We invest in life sciences companies at diverse stages of development across a wide range of technologies and disease areas.

We are an early and patient investor; we invest in the most promising early-stage companies and can act with a long-term view – longer than the average VCs.

The role of SRIW as a risk capital provider in the life sciences sector support empowering innovators to explore areas they might hesitate to venture into alone. And by supporting innovative start-ups, we aim to strengthen the economic health of our region.

More information: http://www.sriw.be

 

Podcast: Florian Ludwig about venture capital in the Benelux

Listen to Florian Ludwig with host Giovanni Lauricella on Medtech Money powered by Project Medtech.

In this episode, Mister MedTech and Florian discuss how venture capital works in BENELUX, going from Medtech entrepreneur to a VC, new European hubs that are forming in Medtech, and more.

You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify or any major podcasting platform. You can also listen to the podcast at one of the following links:

Spotify: https://lnkd.in/dWEvmcV3
Apple Podcast: https://lnkd.in/dUdpDWVE
Google Podcast: https://lnkd.in/d8N7d7XK

Digital Poster --- Florian Ludwig.jpeg

Rigaku Acquires MILabs

Thuja announces the acquisition of MILabs (Houten, the Netherlands) by Rigaku Corporation (Tokyo, Japan). Founded in 2006, MILabs provides high-performance SPECT and PET equipment with higher efficiency and accuracy than conventional alternatives and unique capabilities to image nuclear therapeutics and multiple tracers simultaneously. MILabs has developed a unique multi-modal system that enables fully integrated high performance X-ray CT, PET, SPECT, and Optical Imaging, which addresses customer needs in terms of flexibility at lower costs. The company has experienced rapid growth across various imaging modalities over the last few years.

 MILabs emerged from the academic-entrepreneurial ecosystems of Utrecht and Delft, spinning out of University Medical Center Utrecht and TU Delft, both in the Netherlands. MILabs attracted first venture capital investment from Thuja Capital Healthcare Fund II and Value Creation Capital in 2016. The investment was largely based on MILabs’ commercial potential and the promise its best-in-class imaging technology holds for the development of new therapies by elucidating fundamental disease biology. The company’s successful growth and acquisition by Rigaku provides an outstanding example of academic entrepreneurship, and underscores the potential and the strength of the European innovation landscape.

“We are very excited about the sale of MILabs to Rigaku and the growth potential this acquisition creates for MILabs as part of the Rigaku/Carlyle family. We are also very pleased with the successful growth of MILabs and the excellent return we have been able to realize from the sale of this great imaging technology company”, says Willem van den Berg, managing partner Value Creation Capital.

 “MILabs technology is contributing to the quest for new therapies and new insights into disease biology in research labs around the world every day. Novel treatments emerging from this research have the potential to impact the lives of millions of patients worldwide. We are therefore very excited about the accelerated growth prospect that the acquisition of MILabs by Rigaku creates for this outstanding technology”, says Florian Ludwig, partner at Thuja.

 “We are very proud of what Dr. Beekman and the MILabs team have achieved, and are thrilled to see its next steps. Since its inception, we have been supporting MILabs and have witnessed their growth into a world leader in preclinical imaging. They exemplify our mission to bring world-class research to societal and economic impact”, says Jaap de Bruin from Utrecht Holdings, the Tech Transfer Office of UMC Utrecht.

“TU Delft not only conducts ground-breaking research, but wants to make an impact for a better society as well. That is why we support the development of a spin-off company like MILabs, which has the potential to impact the lives of patients through better imaging. We congratulate Professor Beekman with the acquisition of MILabs by Rigaku Corporation and look forward to continuing our research cooperation,” says Paul Althuis, director of Delft Enterprises, the investment arm of TU Delft. 

Please read full press release here.

About Thuja
Thuja Capital Management (Thuja) manages several venture capital funds aimed at building and scaling companies in the fields of (bio)pharmaceuticals, MedTech and digital health. In addition to generating a financial return for its investors, Thuja’s investments positively impact the health and well-being of patients. Thuja serves physicians and patients worldwide by providing capital to daring entrepreneurs with ground-breaking product concepts locally. For more information visit www.thujacapital.com.

About Value Creation Capital
Value Creation Capital (VCC) invests in companies that are active in Deep Tech: High-Tech and AI (via Deep Tech Fund and TechNano Fund) en Cybersecurity (via Security of Things Fund). VCC was founded in 2005 by serial entrepreneurs who started, built and sold several interesting fast-growing IT and Tech companies. VCC differentiates by combining “Intellectual Capital”, sector experience & expertise and an extensive network with active value creation of their portfolio companies “to the next level”. The focus of VCC TechNano Fund is in high-tech companies, with especially optical applications. See www.valuecreationcapital.com.

About University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht Holdings
University Medical Center Utrecht (UMC Utrecht) is one of the largest public healthcare institutions in the Netherlands. UMC Utrecht is a leading international healthcare provider, medical school and research institute and its 11,000+ employees are dedicated to prevent disease, improve healthcare, develop new treatment methods and refine existing ones, with patient safety and quality as cornerstones. Strategic research programs are Brain, Child Health, Circulatory Health, Infection & Immunity, Personalized Cancer Care and Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cells. UMC Utrecht is embedded in a vibrant and entrepreneurial science community where knowledge about health, disease and healthcare is generated, validated, shared and applied. Utrecht Holdings, as its TTO, invests in promising spin-offs and intellectual property originating from scientific research. For more information, visit www.umcutrecht.nl and www.utrechtholdings.nl.

 About TU Delft
TU Delft has a strong foundation. As the builder of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and a pioneer in biotechnology, TU Delft is a leading international university that combines science, development, and design. As the oldest and largest technical university in the Netherlands, TU Delft provides world-class education, research, and innovation. Generations of its engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem solvers in business and social contexts. TU Delft’s eight faculties offer 16 bachelor’s and more than 32 master’s courses. More than 25,000 of its students and 6,000 of its employees share a fascination with science, design, and technology. Their shared mission: impact for a better society.

About MILabs B.V.
Since its foundation in 2006, MILabs has provided leading-edge In-Vivo imaging devices with the development of novel PET, SPECT, CT, and Optical Tomography technologies. MILabs’ devices have been installed worldwide at universities, CROs, and pharmaceutical companies.

MILabs’ U-SPECT delivers sub-quarter-mm resolution images of radiolabeled tracers. MILabs’ VECTor enables sub-mm PET, simultaneously with SPECT imaging. In 2015, MILabs launched micro-CT with outstanding performance, available as integrated modules in multi-modal systems. More recently, MILabs launched 3D automated and various Optical 2D and 3D modules. In addition, a clinical SPECT scanner (G-SPECT) with unmatched performance is currently under development.

MILabs’ single and multi-modal systems are built in more than 15 different base configurations to best meet the researcher’s application needs, offering exceptional performance and cost-effectiveness. Whether offered as stand-alone units or in multi-modal configurations, MILabs is truly pushing the performance limits in terms of image quality and In-Vivo imaging functionality. Imaging with an MILabs system is guided by a simple, intuitive and user-friendly operation to ensure highly efficient workflows. For more information, please visit www.milabs.com

Please read full press release here or link to Rigaku.

CardiacBooster and founder Daniel van Dort featured in Innovation Origins article

CardiacBooster and her founding physician inventor, Daniel van Dort, were recently featured in an Innovations Origins article. The article describes nicely how it all started, what motivation stands both behind founder and company and what the ambition is for the future – improving the lives of patients in need of cardiac support by bringing impactful innovation to the clinic.

Image credit: ©LifeTec Group

Salvia Bioelectronics mechanism of action clinically validated in international multi-center study

Salvia Bioelectronics mechanism of action clinically validated in international multi-center study led by a member of Salvia’s clinical advisory board.

Salvia Bioelectronics aims to provide relief to migraine sufferers by electrically stimulating peripheral cranial nerves. As there is some commonality in the underlying disease physiology and associated signaling pathways, Salvia’s device technology also lends itself to treatment of other headache disorders, in particular cluster headache, also called suicide headache due to its severity.

A recent Lancet Neurology publication of the ICON study now further validates Salvia’s approach. The study investigated the off-label use of electrostimulation devices designed for treatment of chronic lower back pain for stimulation of the occipital nerve in cluster headache patients. The study results show marked and clinically meaningful reduction in attack frequency and attack intensity in medically intractable cluster headache patients when their occipital nerve is electrically stimulated. The study not only confirms the effectiveness of occipital nerve stimulation but it also made the limitations of existing devices painfully obvious, with a large portion of patients experiencing device- and procedure-related complications. Salvia Bioelectronics addresses these issues with the design of its proprietary device which allows for minimally invasive implantation. In addition, Salvia’s technology may be more effective by providing more extensive stimulation.

The ICON study was initiated and sponsored by one of the world’s leading neurologists, Prof. Ferrari of the Leiden University Medical Center. Prof. Ferrari is also a member of Salvia’s advisory board. The tremendous public interest in finding a solution for cluster headache sufferers is reflected in the reporting of the study in public news outlets, e.g. LUMC and the Volkskrant. Interestingly, even though the study was conducted with devices designed for a different indication, the severity of the disease and the pronounced clinical improvement prompted the Dutch health insurers to provide reimbursement for the treatment.

All in all, we expect the results of the ICON study to further the field of bioelectronics for primary headache disorders and provide a positive context for Salvia.

Nutrileads appoints Erik Dam as CEO

Nutrileads appoints Erik Dam as CEO to propel the company towards successful commercialization of its lead ingredient BeniCaros

3 June, 2021

Dutch health ingredients innovator, NutriLeads, announces the appointment of Erik Dam as CEO to lead the company’s transition from a health ingredients innovator to a commercial health ingredients company based on a strong science foundation.
Erik Dam has been appointed as CEO as of June 1st, 2021. The leadership team will further consist of Ruud Albers (CSO), Annick Mercenier (CIO) and Jan Jongsma (COO).

To put this change in context of Nutrileads’ successful development, Ruud Albers explains: “Since founding Nutrileads with Erik and Annick, I combined the roles of CEO and CSO. I am delighted that we have now reached the time for Erik, who has been the CBO and CFO since 2014, to take over as CEO. With his background in marketing and general management, I am convinced that Erik will catalyze the further evolution of Nutrileads from a R&D-driven organization to a company that develops, produces and sells clinically proven health ingredients. Together with Annick and the rest of the R&D team, I will continue to follow my passion and focus on the exciting science behind our unique ingredients, supporting production and sales to bring substantiated health benefits to consumers.”

Prior to joining Nutrileads as co-founder in 2014, Erik started his career at Andersen Consulting before entering the life sciences industry in 1993 at Baxter where he held international marketing and general management roles. In 2005 Erik joined the Medical Nutrition division of Numico/Danone where he held global VP roles in strategy and general management. He started his own consultancy company in 2013 with a focus on commercialising Nutrition & Life Sciences innovations.

”The last 7 years at NutriLeads have been an exciting journey and we have accomplished a lot with the team under the leadership of Ruud. I’m thrilled to lead the next phase during which we will establish NutriLeads as a commercial health ingredient company with leading ingredient brands starting with BeniCaros for immune health,” Erik adds.

Sanne Melles, chairman of the supervisory board of NutriLeads comments: “The board is thankful for Ruud Albers’ leadership of NutriLeads since its establishment and wishes Erik Dam all the best in his new role aimed at transforming NutriLeads into a health ingredient company and driving the business forward.“

Sanquinnovate and Thuja announce collaboration

Amsterdam and Utrecht, 15 June 2021 – Today, Sanquinnovate and Thuja announce that they signed a 5-year collaboration agreement. Sanquinnovate is Sanquin’s technology valorization and business development arm, creating new value-adding therapeutics and diagnostics to tackle challenges in the fields of hematology, immunology and oncology. Thuja is a venture capital fund manager investing in early stage life sciences innovations with high healthcare impact potential. Under the agreement, Sanquinnovate and Thuja will jointly evaluate projects and business plans regarding novel therapeutics and diagnostics, combining insights and experience. The aim of the collaboration is to progress excellent scientific projects into start-up companies, to develop important novel medicines and diagnostics.

Michel Briejer, Managing Partner at Thuja comments: "We are extremely pleased with the closer collaboration with Sanquinnovate. Sanquin has a long and strong scientific track record in blood based science, specifically in the fields of hematology, immunology and oncology. Sanquin Research employs numerous top-notch scientists and doctors, who made and are still making many important inventions. We are honored to be placed in a position to help and leverage our expertise, and for the best opportunities invest capital to create value for patients."

Pieter de Geus, General Manager Sanquinnovate

Pieter de Geus, General Manager Sanquinnovate

“Formalization of the collaboration with Thuja is an important step for us," says Pieter de Geus, General Manager of Sanquinnovate. "With the more than 200 scientists working within Sanquin, we are conducting great science that can translate into important innovations for new medical applications. With Thuja's early input and help, we believe we can promote the best projects to become successful."

In the past years, Sanquinnovate and Thuja have already worked together to create Alveron Pharma which was incorporated in 2019. Alveron develops novel drugs to enable doctors to treat life-threatening bleeding events in patients who are using anticoagulant drugs.

About Thuja
Thuja Capital Management (Thuja) manages several venture capital funds aimed at building and scaling companies in the fields of (bio)pharmaceuticals, medtech and digital health. In addition to generating a financial return for its investors, Thuja’s investments aim to positively impact the health and well-being of patients. Thuja serves physicians and patients worldwide by providing capital to daring entrepreneurs with ground-breaking product concepts locally. For more information visit www.thujacapital.com.

About Sanquinnovate
Sanquinnovate is a daughter company of Sanquin Health Solutions BV, and is Sanquin’s valorization arm, creating new value-adding products and services/assets based on the science of blood to tackle challenges in hematology, immunology and oncology. Sanquinnovate fosters projects and collaborations with innovators and financial sponsors, to turn ideas into tangible products for healthcare.  Sanquinnovate actively scouts and evaluates these ideas with the focus on their added value for patients, patentability, competitive advantage, and of course scientific excellence. Once ideas have met these criteria and are matured to a pre-clinical proof-of-concept phase Sanquinnovate goes on the quest to find the right partner. Sanquinnovate works with both companies and investors that can advance our technologies, therapeutics and devices into IND-enabling development, clinical trials and beyond.

About Sanquin
Sanquin provides life-saving blood products, therapeutics, services, diagnostics and knowledge for health care. Sanquin Foundation is a knowledge-driven not-for-profit organisation that, by law, supplies life-saving blood derived transfusion products, and scientific/medical support in this area to Dutch hospitals. Through scientific research, and its commercial branch Sanquin Health Solutions BV, Sanquin finds, develops, and implements new solutions, products and services for medical/diagnostic problems in the fields of transfusion medicine, hematology, oncology and immunology.

Please read Dutch pressrelease here.

Indigo Diabetes appoints Paul Moraviec as Chairman of the board

Harrold van Barlingen has been involved as chairman and boardmember of portfolio company Indigo Diabetes from the very beginning. Now it is time to pass the baton.

We’re delighted to welcome Paul Moraviec, former CEO of ConvaTech with decades of leadership experience in the global #MedTech sector, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Indigo Diabetes. His experience will be invaluable as Indigo continue to develop our subcutaneous continuous multi metabolite monitoring (CMM) device.

Harrold van Barlingen will continue to retain his position as board member.

Indigo Chairman - Paul.jpg

NUTRIGUT consortium, coordinated by NutriLeads, wins Eurostars grant to develop next generation gut health ingredient

A consortium comprising Nutrileads (NL, coordinator), Ambiotis (FR), ProDigest (B) and Örebro University (SE) won a 3 years Eurostars grant for their innovative NUTRIGUT project.

NUTRIGUT will deliver a new RG-I based food ingredient with protective effects on gut health, one of the top properties sought by consumers. The ingredient is derived from common crops or a side stream of crop processing, will be 100% natural and will display technological properties that make it easy to incorporate in food and beverage matrixes. By project end, the consortium will have performed in vitro and in vivo characterization of the new ingredient and established the capacity of the ingredient to protect the gut barrier. During the project, novel assays will be developed and optimized to study the effect of functional ingredients on the host.

The project has been kicked off on April 1st, 2021 as an online event, with 15 participants and 2 National project coordinators.

Annick Mercenier (Nutrileads` PI): Winning this grant is further validation of the relevance of the RG-I platform. I am looking forward to working with this consortium of partners that bring together complementary expertise with the aim of developing novel assays and a new ingredient in order to establish its beneficial effect on different components of the gut ecosystem”.


Source: www.nutrileads.com

Scientific paper by NutriLeads shows that its plant-based RG-I food ingredients support immune function and modulate the microbiota

  • First scientific data showing immune supportive properties of plant-based RG-I derived from bell pepper and carrot

  • Study published in the “Nutrition, Immunity and Viral infection” special issue of the peer-reviewed journal, Nutrients

  • Immune health is a top priority for today’s consumers with six in ten people looking for functional foods and beverages to support their immunity [1]

25 March 2021, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Dutch health ingredients innovator, NutriLeads, announces the first peer-reviewed publication of data proving the immune modulating properties of its proprietary pectin-derived rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I) polysaccharides in the journal Nutrients.[2]

RG-I are natural, plant-derived compounds (polysaccharides), that interact with the gut bacteria (microbiota) and the host innate immune system. In selected traditional plant extracts, such pectic polysaccharides have previously been shown to have immunostimulatory effects. However, these traditional remedies are often expensive, derived from non-renewable sources, and could face regulatory challenges.

In this recent publication, NutriLeads shows that RG-I can be extracted from affordable and renewable crops, namely carrots and bell peppers, and even obtained from side streams of crop processing, allowing for sustainable and scalable production. RG-I from both carrot and bell pepper showed immune stimulating and microbiota modulating activity in vitro. Furthermore, bell pepper RG-I was shown to enhance innate immune responsiveness in a proof-of-concept trial in humans.

Please read full pressrelease here.
Please read scientific paper here.

Indigo Diabetes Initiates First Clinical Study of its Continuous Glucose Monitoring Sensor

BELGIUM - Ghent, March 18, 2021 – Indigo Diabetes N.V. (‘Indigo’ or the ‘Company’), a pioneering developer of medical solutions using nanophotonics, announces that its continuous multi-metabolite (‘CMM’) sensor has been successfully implanted subcutaneously in the first three participants of its first clinical study, designed to evaluate the device. Indigo’s CMM sensor is in development for the continuous measurement of glucose, ketone and lactate levels in people living with diabetes.

Indigo is developing its CMM sensor as part of a next generation of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (‘CGM’) systems, designed to give people living with diabetes access to information on their glucose and other metabolite levels at any given time, without requiring them to wear an external device on their body.

The GLOW study (listed on clinicaltrials.gov under the identifier NCT04782934), will be conducted at the Antwerp University Hospital, Belgium, and will enroll seven participants. It is a prospective, singlecenter early feasibility study designed to evaluate the safety of the sensor and the short-term integration into the tissue.

Please read the full pressrelease here.

Reuma Nederland supports further development of synthetic meniscus from ATRO Medical

Orthopedic start-up ATRO Medical is entering into a partnership with ReumaNederland for further development of their synthetic meniscus. The Nijmegen start-up is working on a meniscal prosthesis for people with knee osteoarthritis. As an official partner ReumaNederland supports this development with its expertise in the field of osteoarthritis.

Please read the full pressrelease here. *The pressrelease is in Dutch language.

Cristal Therapeutics and Intravacc Announce Strategic Collaboration to Advance Novel Vaccine Platforms

• First joint CriVac® vaccine candidate to target receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2
• Evaluation of Cristal’s CliCr® and Intravacc’s OMV technology

Bilthoven and Maastricht, The Netherlands, 6 January 2021 – Intravacc, one of the leading translational research and development vaccine companies with an extensive track record in developing infectious disease vaccines, and Cristal Therapeutics, a technology leader in enabling safer and more effective therapeutics, today announced a strategic collaboration to develop novel vaccine programs against human diseases with the initial candidate targeting COVID-19.

Under the terms of the agreement, Cristal Therapeutics and Intravacc will collaborate with an initial focus on generating a CriVac® vaccine candidate based on the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. In addition, Cristal Therapeutics will provide its powerful copper free click chemistry reagent, CliCr®, for evaluation with Intravacc’s proprietary outer membrane vesicles (OMV) technology. OMV vaccines allow for the native conformation of immunity-stimulating antigens. After completion of the evaluation period Intravacc and Cristal will jointly explore next steps to further advance the program.

Dr. Jan Groen, CEO of Intravacc, said:
“Intravacc shares the believe that no one should be suffering from diseases that can be prevented by vaccines. We have a track record in translational vaccinology and an established infrastructure that allows for the accelerated development of promising vaccine candidates such as Cristal’s CriVac approach. Combining Cristal’s technologies with Intravacc’s proprietary LPS and OMV technologies holds great promise. We look forward to working closely with the Cristal team to advance the program through preclinical evaluation.”

As part of this agreement, Intravacc will also provide access to its proprietary, detoxified LPS technology to enhance immune activation. All technologies represent innovative approaches to vaccine development enabling an efficient presentation of antigens to the immune system. Combining the technologies will further allow swift development of vaccine candidates against a broad range of human diseases. This is particularly driven by a scalable GMP manufacturing process.

Axel Mescheder, M.D., CEO and CMO of Cristal, commented:
“Over the past year, it has become evident that vaccines play a crucial role in protecting us, our families and those at high risk for infectious diseases. We have put great effort in optimizing our unique CriVac platform based on our CriPec nanoparticles and CliCr conjugation technology. Our CriVac technology platform mimics features of a live virus, inducing immunity in a safe and efficient way, providing a solid foundation for the development of novel vaccine approaches. We look forward to collaborating with Intravacc to develop novel therapeutic candidates for vaccine-preventable diseases.”

Please read entire press release here.

New fund to impact tomorrow's healthcare: launch of Thuja Capital Healthcare Fund III

Utrecht, 11 November 2020. Thuja Capital Management (Thuja) today announces completion of a first closing of its third investment fund, Thuja Capital Healthcare Fund III (TCHF III). TCHF III will invest in early-stage innovative companies and daring entrepreneurs developing best-in-class products with clinically proven benefits for patients to impact the healthcare of tomorrow.

Intensive collaboration with universities and regional development agencies
The products of the companies Thuja invests in are deeply rooted in science and clinical practice. In close collaboration with universities and university medical centers (in particular those of Utrecht, Maastricht (Brightlands), Nijmegen and Leuven) Thuja will be scouting for projects to build new ventures focusing on novel therapeutics, medical devices, nutraceuticals or digital health solutions with high impact potential. In addition, Thuja is deeply involved with important innovation ecosystems through its relationship with a number of regional development agencies and investment funds (BOM, Oost NL, LIOF, NOSHAQ and Sambrinvest).

Oscar Schoots, Utrecht Holdings (representing both Utrecht University as well as Utrecht University Medical Center): "We are participating in a Thuja fund for the third time in a row now. Over the past decade we have found a valuable investor and partner in Thuja, committed to providing not only the financial resources but also broader strategic and practical support to get our spin-off companies going and facilitate their way to success."

Over the next years, Thuja will invest in 10 to 15 companies mainly in The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Thuja’s relationship with NOSHAQ, Sambrinvest and KU Leuven further cements Thuja’s engagement in the innovation-rich Belgian ecosystem.

European Investment Fund as Thuja’s cornerstone investor
Initial capital providers to TCHF III include the European Investment Fund (EIF), under the Innovfin mandate.

Alain Godard, Chief Executive of the EIF: "Thuja has been performing very well since we joined as a cornerstone investor in their second fund. We recognize their role in nurturing a vibrant innovation ecosystem and value their relationships with universities to create and nurture novel companies. Our decision to join Thuja’s third fund also shows the importance of the support from European institutions to boost innovation around Europe."

In addition to EIF, mentioned universities and regional development agencies also committed to TCHF III, supplemented with a number of family offices and private individuals. At this time, the fund has a starting capital of EUR 43M but expects to raise EUR 75M to EUR 100M once fully completed.

With the first closing of TCHF III completed, Thuja is expanding its team. Aartie Nanda has recently joined Thuja as an office and communications manager, and further hires to reinforce the investment team are in progress.

ESG and Impact investing in healthcare
As an investor in healthcare companies, Thuja aims to positively impact the lives of patients and promote health. In order to optimize the impact potential of portfolio investments, Thuja will implement ESG factors alongside financial risk management. Thuja has appointed an Impact and ESG officer to the team to support this ambition.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­About Thuja

Thuja Capital Management BV (Thuja) manages several venture capital funds aimed at building and scaling companies in the fields of (bio)pharmaceuticals, medtech and digital health. In addition to generating a financial return for its investors, Thuja’s investments positively impact the health and well-being of patients. Thuja serves physicians and patients worldwide by providing capital to daring entrepreneurs with ground-breaking product concepts locally. For more information visit www.thujacapital.com.

About EIF

The European Investment Fund (EIF) is part of the European Investment Bank Group. Its central mission is to support Europe's micro, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) by helping them to access finance. EIF designs and develops venture and growth capital, guarantees and microfinance instruments which specifically target this market segment. In this role, EIF fosters EU objectives in support of innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, growth, and employment.

About Noshaq

Noshaq is a Belgian investment fund and project developer with a portfolio of 464 companies and 600 million euros of resources. Noshaq is the reference financial partner for the creation and development of SMEs in the Liege Region (Wallonia). Over the years, Noshaq has developed a range of financing vehicles in line with the needs and trends of the market and its strategy. Each service offered by Noshaq (capital - loan - leasing) is always determined according to the demand and needs of the owner-investor. The objective is always to have a leverage effect on the company's development. Further information is available at: www.noshaq.be.

About Sambrinvest

With 35 years of experience alongside entrepreneurs, more than 270 companies in portfolio and €160 M under management, Sambrinvest is a major player in venture capital in the region of Charleroi Métropole, Wallonia, Belgium. More than an investor, Sambrinvest is the catalyst for local ecosystems development, such as Biotech, Digital, Engineering. For more information, please visit: www.sambrinvest.be.

About BOM

BOM (the Brabant Development Agency) works together with businesses to create a robust, sustainable, and future-proof economy for the Dutch province of Brabant. We share knowledge, create networks and provide investment capital to innovative Brabant companies and sustainable energy projects. We also encourage innovative foreign companies to settle in Brabant and we assist Brabant companies to extend their reach abroad. We aim to enhance economic growth, increase employment, solve social issues, and create a leading role for Brabant on the world stage. www.bom.nl.

About Oost NL and Topfonds Gelderland

Oost NL (East Netherlands Development Agency) is an agency that focuses its activities and projects on strengthening and stimulating the economy of the provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel, the Netherlands. Oost NL plays an important role in executing the economic policies of the Dutch government and the Provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel and its various city governments. To achieve this it is necessary to encourage a close cooperation between businesses, regional institutes, knowledge institutes, and intermediaries. Oost NL acts as a bridge between government, companies and knowledge institutes. We do this partly with risk capital from various revolving innovation funds. In addition, Oost NL stimulates and supports public and private investors. The result: growth through financing.

Topfonds Gelderland is a revolving investment fund of the province of Gelderland, managed by fund manager Oost NL. Through Topfonds Gelderland Oost NL invests capital from the province in innovative enterprises and projects. This takes place, in cooperation with co-investors, in the form of direct investments in companies and through investments in market funds.

About LIOF

LIOF supports innovative entrepreneurs in Limburg with advice, network and financing. Together with the entrepreneur, a team of professionals determines the optimum mix of instruments for each individual entrepreneur based on his needs. LIOF helps small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) with innovative ideas, business plans and financing requests, and aids entrepreneurs who want to establish themselves in Limburg. We also help entrepreneurs with cross-border cooperation and international trade. Our goal is to make Limburg Ltd., and therefore Limburg as a whole, economically stronger. www.liof.nl/en

About Utrecht Holdings

Utrecht Holdings (UH) is the Knowledge Transfer Office of and is active as an investor for Utrecht University and University Medical Center Utrecht (UMC Utrecht). UH is focused on the utilization and commercialization of academic research. UH supports scientists in creating, building and investing in innovations with a particular expertise in biotech, medtech, education and ICT. Since 1996, UH has assisted Utrecht University and the UMC Utrecht in attracting significant amounts of research money, filed over 175 patents, closed many license agreements, and established over 45 spin-off companies. www.utrechtholdings.nl.