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2025 was a year of strong momentum across VIB’s spin-off portfolio and partnering activity, while policy and AI developments continued to reshape the European biotech landscape. This edition is a curated recap of the signals that mattered most – a quick scan, not a full archive. 

This edition marks the start of VIB Innovation & Business SignalS: a simple way to stay connected to what’s moving across our spin-offs, partnerships and the wider ecosystem. We’ll share updates selectively, with purpose. More on this forum is outlined in What's next at the end of this edition. 

In 2025, Trends launched its Summer of Biotech series – a multi-part editorial feature exploring the strength and diversity of the Flemish biotech sector. Spanning around nine episodes published across July, August and early September, each story highlights a discovery, enabling technology, or entrepreneurial journey, with every episode anchored in one of VIB’s research centers. 

VIB experts were featured prominently throughout the series – a reminder that the ecosystem increasingly looks to VIB for context and credibility.

Across the VIB spin-off landscape, 2025 was defined by momentum becoming concrete: new ventures took shape, leadership teams were strengthened, first clinical and regulatory milestones were achieved, and significant capital and partnerships secured. The highlights below capture the year's key signals.

► Tanai Therapeutics - Pieter Rottiers appointed CEO and Josua Jordi appointed CSO to reinforce leadership for growth

► Rainbow Crops – launch of a new VIB spin-off in climate-resilient agriculture

► Augustine Therapeutics – first patients dosed in Phase 1 clinical trial (HDAC6 inhibitor; Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease)

► Biotalys – first protein-based biofungicide of its kind (EVOCA™) approved by the US EPA; a pivotal validation of Biotalys’ platform and a strong signal of regulatory readiness

► Confo Therapeutics – first antibody-based GPCR agonist to enter development, for Post-Bariatric Hypoglycemia

► Muna Therapeutics – first subjects dosed in Phase 1 clinical trial (TREM2 agonist; early Alzheimer’s)

► Aphea.bio – first large-scale field confirmation of ACTIV® impact in Poland, delivering yield and resilience gains in wheat and barley

► Augustine Therapeutics – €78M Series A to accelerate its lead program AGT-100216 in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease)

► MRM Health – €55M Series B to advance a Phase 2b clinical trial of its lead program MH002 in ulcerative colitis

► Orionis Biosciences × Genentech – strategic partnership ($105M upfront + milestones) to discover and develop molecular glue class medicines for cancer, signaling strong partner conviction

► Animab – €10M Series B to support EU commercial rollout of Nanoprotec for ETEC protection in piglets

Partnerships are key to bringing discoveries to applications. Our Business Development colleagues build and support collaborations between VIB research centers and industry partners to accelerating the translation of research into impactful products and technologies for patients and society. The highlights below show long-standing partnerships and collaboration signals in 2025.

► argenx x VIB-UGent – enduring research collaboration in airway inflammation disease

► Janssen Pharmaceutica x VIB – continuous collaboration since 2018 to derisk single-cell technologies 

► LeverBio x VIB-KU Leuven – strategic partnership to advance four novel immune-oncology assets; LeverBio also announced a €9M seed round

► Spica Therapeutics x VIB x VUB – strategic partnership and closing of a €10M seed round to advance macrophage-targeted therapies

► SpringWorks Therapeutics x VIB-KU Leuven - long-term research collaboration to develop TEAD inhibitors for solid tumors

► AB InBev x VIB-KU Leuven – long-term partnership to improve beer brewing processes and develop non-alcoholic beer

► EuroChem x VIB-UGent – continued research collaboration developing innovative fertilizer additives to enhance nutrient uptake, resulting in multiple active patents

► ILVO x VIB-UGent – renewed and strengthened commitment to launch joint research projects in agri-biotech

VIB’s 'Spotlight on innovation' is a quarterly deep dive into the innovative work of our growing portfolio of spin-offs and partnerships. Each quarter, we highlight one story, what they're building, their milestones, and real-world impact. If you missed any of the 2025 spotlights, a recap is below.

► Biocartis – Road to PMA approval of the Idylla™ CDx MSI test

► Confo Therapeutics – Unlocking the power of GPCRs

► MRM Health – Redefining microbiome therapeutics

► Protealis – Revolutionizing protein crop cultivation in Europe

► The independent BiGGAR Economics study confirmed VIB’s strong return for society, quantifying its contribution to economic activity, jobs, and long-term innovation capacity. For every €1 of core funding from the Flemish Government, VIB returned €12 in economic impact to Flanders.

► Part I of the EU Biotech Act was published, reflecting priorities long advocated by VIB and other research-driven innovation stakeholders, such as stronger early-stage funding, empowered universities/RTOs and TTOs, effective regulatory sandboxes and deeper European capital markets.

► Provisional agreement on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) was reached, introducing the NGT-1 category and a more proportionate, science-based path for genome-edited crops to reach the market. Through its role in EU-SAGE, VIB has long advocated for a framework that recognizes precision breeding tools, such as CRISPR to support climate resilience, food security, biodiversity, and reduced reliance on chemical inputs. 

VIB addresses evolving societal challenges by focusing on healthcare and agriculture, all while responding to new geopolitical realities. At the Flemish Government’s request, VIB applied its expertise within the VISD framework (Flemish Innovation and Industry Strategy for Security and Defense) and developed an orientation roadmap to connect the expertise of the Flemish biotech ecosystem with defense needs. VIB remains committed to strengthening this ecosystem and fostering closer collaboration among its stakeholders. ► Read about the program

Innovation is driven by people – and 2025 also brought moments of reflection and sadness.
We remember Johan Cardoen, whose vision and dedication left a lasting mark on VIB and the broader biotech ecosystem. Johan was a dear friend to many people on the I&B team, at VIB and beyond. He will be missed.

We will share VIB Innovation & Business SignalS regularly – selected updates, shared with purpose. This is not another newsletter. It is a lightweight forum to showcase VIB and its role in the growing biotech ecosystem, and connect the people building it: our spin-offs, partners, investors, policymakers, cluster organizations, and colleagues.
Each edition will follow a similar format: focused highlights, clear context, and signals that matter – shared when there is something worth telling.

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