Belgian biotech companies taking significant strides in hospital settings

Belgian biotech companies taking significant strides in hospital settings

In a 2025 article by Labiotech.eu, seven Belgian biotech companies were highlighted for their significant progress in clinical development. These companies are part of Belgium's strong life sciences clusters, notably BioVille, Brussels South Charleroi Biopark, and Ghent Bio-Energy Valley, which foster innovation particularly in areas such as oncology, immunology, gene and cell therapies, and rare diseases.

1. Amyl Therapeutics - This young biotech company, founded in 2020, is focused on immunotherapeutics. Its most advanced candidate, AGT-100216, is an HDAC6 inhibitor for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
2. ATB Therapeutics - Established in 2018, ATB Therapeutics concentrates on cancer and autoimmune diseases. No specific clinical candidates were mentioned in the article, but the company is undoubtedly making strides in these areas.
3. Santero Therapeutics - A relatively new entrant in the Belgian biotech scene, Santero Therapeutics started in 2021 and is working on antimicrobial resistance.

While the article mentions several other promising Belgian biotech firms, the three specifically recognized for advancing clinical programs are Amyl Therapeutics, ATB Therapeutics, and Santero Therapeutics. For a full, detailed listing, consulting the original Labiotech.eu article published in July 2025 would provide the complete roster and their pipeline focuses.

Another notable Belgian biotech company is AgomAb Therapeutics, founded in 2017. Its lead candidate, AGMB-129, is an ALK5 inhibitor for Crohn's disease. AgomAb Therapeutics secured $89 million in a series D financing in October 2024. The company's focus area is fibrotic disease therapies.

Augustine Therapeutics, a Belgian biotech company founded in 2019, focuses on small molecules. Its most advanced candidate, AGT-100216, is an HDAC6 inhibitor for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Galapagos, a Belgian biotech company founded in 1999, is making waves in the field of cell therapies. Its lead candidate, GLPG5101, is a CAR-T therapy for B cell blood cancers and is currently in phase 2 studies. Galapagos teamed up with the Blood Centers of America last year to provide decentralized manufacturing services for Galapagos' CAR-T product candidates close to cancer treatment centers. Galapagos' cell therapy platform includes a xCellit workflow management and monitoring software system.

In the ongoing study for GLPG5101, all eight patients with mantle cell lymphoma responded to treatment, and 20 out of 21 patients with marginal zone lymphoma and follicular lymphoma showed objective and complete responses. GLPG5101 is an anti-CD19/4-1BB cell therapy that is administered as a single fixed intravenous dose.

MRM Health, founded in 2020, focuses on microbiome-based therapeutics. Its clinical candidate MH002 is being studied in phase 1b/2a trials for ulcerative colitis and pouchitis. MH002 is a biotherapeutic that consists of six safe commensal strains and showed positive results in its phase 2a trial two years ago. The company is also engaged in the discovery of drugs for Parkinson's disease, type 1 diabetes, and an autoimmune disease called spondyloarthritis that affects the spine and the joints.

Hyloris Pharmaceuticals, founded in 2012, focuses on cardiovascular diseases. It bought the licensing rights to develop and commercialize intravenous aspirin from Rhoshan Pharmaceuticals in 2021. Recently, Hyloris Pharmaceuticals announced positive clinical results for atomoxetine, a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The company is also outlining the new drug application (NDA) to send to the FDA for atomoxetine.

Confo Therapeutics, a Belgian biotech company founded in 2015, focuses on endocrine and metabolic disease therapeutics. Its lead candidate, CFTX-1554, inhibits angiotensin II receptor for peripheral pain.

Belgium is Europe's second-largest biotech industry, with over 300 biopharmaceutical companies operating in the country. The country's supportive infrastructures such as incubators, research centers, and collaboration hubs enhance companies’ ability to progress clinical candidates through development stages, contributing to Belgium’s reputation as a notable player in clinical-stage biotech advances.

1. The biotech company, Confo Therapeutics, founded in 2015, is specialized in endocrine and metabolic disease therapeutics, with its lead candidate, CFTX-1554, inhibiting the angiotensin II receptor for peripheral pain.
2. Galapagos, established in 1999, is making advancements in cell therapies, particularly for B cell blood cancers, with its lead candidate, GLPG5101, currently in phase 2 studies.
3. Santero Therapeutics, a newer biotech company that started in 2021, is focused on antimicrobial resistance.
4. Amyl Therapeutics, founded in 2020, is a startup that specializes in immunotherapeutics, with its most advanced candidate, AGT-100216, an HDAC6 inhibitor for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
5. MRM Health, which began in 2020, focuses on microbiome-based therapeutics, with its clinical candidate MH002 being studied in phase 1b/2a trials for ulcerative colitis and pouchitis. Healthcare, biopharma, biotech, science, medical-conditions, cancer, health-and-wellness are some of the key areas these companies are working in.

Read also: