Tech transfer
Excellence in Tech transfer
In accordance with VIB’s entrepreneurial spirit, we at CSB have an excellent track record in turning science into value for society, even though it has a strong focus on fundamental research. The prime example is the development of Nanobody® technology, which gave rise to three established spin-off companies: Ablynx, Biotalys (formerly Agrosafve) and Confo Therapeutics. In addition, the center’s expertise in nanopore technology has led to collaborations with leading nanopore sequencing providers. All this was achieved by promoting a healthy mix of scientific excellence and entrepreneurship, complemented by the strengths of VIB’s valorization team.
business development highlights
start-ups and spin-off companies building on intellectual property from CSB
ExeVir is a clinical stage company developing single-domain antibody-based therapies that help patients ward off viral infections. Their lead candidate XVR011 is in accelerated development as a COVID-19 therapeutic.
Animab, a venture spin-off from VIB, has successfully concluded a 3.4 M€ seed financing round. The company develops monoclonal antibodies for oral administration to ensure intestinal health of livestock. Animab offers a safe and sustainable way to protect piglets' intestinal health during the vital post-weaning stage. Their proprietary antibodies mimic secretory IgA, a type of natural antibody passed through colostrum and milk to protect nursing animals.
Augustine Therapeutics, a biotech company driven by a clear purpose: to transform the lives of patients suffering from severe peripheral nerve disorders, in particular the rare hereditary disorder Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), but also other axonal degeneration induced by chemotherapy (CIPN). Their driving force is to advance the knowledge of axonal protection, regeneration, and remyelination and its translation into effective therapies for patients with unmet medical needs.
In 2016, VIB concluded a deal with Oxford Nanopore Technologies, a company that uses biological nanopores to sequence DNA. Nanopore sequencing is a technology in which DNA strands are led through tiny pore proteins, called‘nanopores’, to determine the genetic code of the strands. The structure of the nanopore protein significantly influences many features of this sequencing process.
Confo Therapeutics is building a portfolio of first-in-class programs based on its proprietary Confo® technology. This technology makes use of VHHs named ConfoBodies to stabilize G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) in a particular conformation of interest as a superior starting point for drug discovery. The company was nominated as ‘one of the Fierce 15 Biotech companies of 2019’.
Biotalys explores the potential of VHHs (fittingly named Agrobodies®) to control plant diseases in agriculture. Crop protection products with Agrobodies® as formulation agents can be used at lower dosages, and have a longer lasting effect without repeat applications and thereby contribute to improved and more sustainable agricultural production.
Ablynx, now a Sanofi company, is focused on the discovery and development of Nanobodies® as therapeutics for a range of serious life-threatening human diseases. The company currently has more than 40 drugs in the pipeline and launched the first Nanobody®-based medicine in 2018: caplacizumab to treat aTTP, a rare blood-clotting disorder. Ablynx’s successful track record convinced Sanofi to acquire the Ghent-based company in 2018 for 3.9 B€.