Seven Belgian biotech companies pushing boundaries in clinical advancements

Seven Belgian biotech companies pushing boundaries in clinical advancements

Belgium's vibrant biotech scene is making significant advancements in cancer immunotherapy, as evidenced by the recent progress of several innovative startups.

EsoBiotec, a Belgian biotech company, has announced promising results from its Phase 1 clinical trial for its in vivo CAR-T therapy, ESO-T01, targeting multiple myeloma. All four treated patients responded, with two achieving complete remission. The therapy uses lentivirus vectors to deliver mRNA directly to T cells, reprogramming them to attack cancer cells expressing BCMA. The trial was conducted in Wuhan, China [1].

LiFT Biosciences, an early-stage Belgian biotech, has secured €12 million in funding to advance its IMAN (immuno-modulatory alpha neutrophil) cell therapy platform into Phase I trials for solid tumors. This therapy aims to replace dysfunctional pro-tumor neutrophils with functional anti-tumor ones, potentially overcoming treatment resistance and tumor relapse through a non-antigen-specific immune reconstitution approach. Preclinical data suggest its IMAN approach outperforms established therapies like pembrolizumab in organ-on-chip models [2].

Galapagos, an established Belgian biotech, is making strides with its CAR-T candidate, GLPG5101, targeting B-cell malignancies such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The drug, currently in Phase 2 trials, has shown high response rates in mantle cell lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, with many patients achieving complete remission [3]. Galapagos has also developed a cell therapy workflow platform and is collaborating with U.S. Blood Centers for decentralized manufacturing to support its CAR-T treatments.

These developments highlight Belgian biotech startups' strength in novel cancer immunotherapies, spanning in vivo T-cell editing, neutrophil-based immune modulation, and CAR-T approaches targeting blood cancers. Clinical progress includes encouraging patient responses in hematologic malignancies and the initiation of trials against solid tumors, supported by strategic funding and partnerships with global health organizations [1][2][3].

In addition to these trailblazing startups, Belgium is home to over 300 biopharmaceutical companies, making it Europe's second-largest biotech industry. The country's healthcare sector is largely thanks to the various clusters that Belgium houses, including BioVille, the Brussels South Charleroi Biopark, and the Ghent Bio-Energy Valley.

References: [1] EsoBiotec. (2022). First clinical data for in vivo CAR-T therapy ESO-T01 targeting multiple myeloma. Retrieved from https://esobiotec.com/first-clinical-data-for-in-vivo-car-t-therapy-eso-t01-targeting-multiple-myeloma/

[2] LiFT Biosciences. (2022). LiFT Biosciences secures €12M to advance IMAN cell therapy platform into Phase I trials for solid tumors. Retrieved from https://www.liftbiosciences.com/lif-biosciences-secures-12m-to-advance-iman-cell-therapy-platform-into-phase-i-trials-for-solid-tumors/

[3] Galapagos. (2022). Galapagos reports positive interim results from Phase 1b/2a trial with GLPG5101 in mantle cell lymphoma. Retrieved from https://www.glpg.com/news/galapagos-reports-positive-interim-results-from-phase-1b2a-trial-with-glpg5101-in-mantle-cell-lymphoma/

1. The Belgium biotech industry, home to more than 300 biopharmaceutical companies, is a significant player in the global healthcare scene, particularly with regard to novel cancer immunotherapies.
2. The promising progress of startups like EsoBiotec, LiFT Biosciences, and Galapagos underscores Belgium's vibrant biotech scene and its focus on advancing cell therapy and immunotherapy treatments for various health-and-wellness conditions, including cancer.
3. EsoBiotec's in vivo CAR-T therapy, ESO-T01, has shown significant potential in treating multiple myeloma with four out of four treated patients responding, and two achieving complete remission.
4. LiFT Biosciences' IMAN cell therapy platform has secured €12 million in funding, positioning it to advance into Phase I trials against solid tumors, potentially offering new options for health-and-wellness management in the biotech and healthcare sectors.
5. Galapagos' CAR-T candidate, GLPG5101, is proving effective against B-cell malignancies such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with many patients achieving complete remission in Phase 2 trials.

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