DROIA Ventures

Actio Biosciences (San Diego, US) is developing a portfolio of drugs to modulate the activity of proteins responsible for rare diseases with the potential to translate these findings into common diseases – actiobio.com

Ambagon Therapeutics (Eindhoven, NL and San Francisco US) is developing first-in-class cancer drugs through targeted stabilization of 14-3-3 protein complexes – ambagontx.com

Arcus Biosciences (Hayward, California; NYSE:RCUS) develops small-molecules and antibodies to compose proprietary immune-oncology combinations. The company targets tumor related immune suppression, enhanced APC function and immune cell efficacy. — Arcusbio.com

Aura Biosciences (Cambridge, Massachusetts; NASDAQ: AURA) develops tumor targeted viral-like nanoparticles which can encapsulate a wide range of payloads. Aura’s lead product is in clinical trials against ocular melanoma. — Aurabiosciences.com

Cristal Therapeutics (Maastricht, The Netherlands) develops a polymeric nanoparticle drug delivery platform enhancing the PK properties of chemotherapeutic or nucleotide payloads and improving their uptake in the tumor microenvironment. — Cristaltherapeutics.com

Cyteir Therapeutics (Lexington, Massachusetts; Nasdaq:CYT) is developing the next generation of synthetic lethal therapies to treat cancer and autoimmune disease. — Cyteir.com

Frontier Medicines (South San Francisco, California) leverages chemoproteomics and machine learning to accelerate the development of medicines that drug the “undruggable” protein targets that drive human disease. — Frontiermeds.com

Highlight Therapeutics (Madrid, Spain) develops nanocomplexes of synthetic dsRNA that target PAMP receptors and TLRs to induce powerful immune responses. Bioncotech is clinically evaluating several immune-oncology combinations with its lead product. — Highlighttherapeutics.com

Hummingbird Bioscience is developing highly differentiated biotherapeutics against specific targets in cancer and autoimmune disease through its unique antibody discovery platform. — Hummingbirdbioscience.com

Mahzi Therapeutics’ (California, United States) research and development efforts are focused on rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorders – mahzi.com

Montis Biosciences (Leuven, Belgium) develops novel immuno-oncology therapeutics targeting the intersection between perivascular macrophages and tumor vasculature — Montisbiosciences.com

Muna Therapeutics (Copenhagen, Denmark & Leuven, Belgium) pioneers the development of CNS penetrant small molecules aimed to slow down the progression of several neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD)). — Munatherapeutics.com

Octimet (Beerse, Belgium) is developing a new generation of highly selective MET kinase inhibitors with augmented therapeutic index. The lead compound was licensed from J&J and is being clinically tested in specific MET mutated patient populations. — Octimet.com

PACT Pharma (Hayward, California) develops neoantigen-specific adoptive TCR T-cell therapies. PACT’s proprietary neoantigen identification technology advances the feasibility, potency and affordability of personalized cell therapy for cancer. — Pactpharma.com

QurAlis (Cambridge, Massachusetts) develops new therapies against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of adult motor neuron disease. – Quralis.com

Tusk Therapeutics (Stevenage, UK – acquired by Roche) is developing novel immune modulating antibodies based on an in-depth understanding of the innate and adaptive immune system. — Tusktherapeutics.com

Vicinitas Therapeutics (San Francisco, US) is developing the Deubiquitinase Targeting Chimera (DUBTAC) platform to therapeutically stabilize aberrantly degraded proteins in genetic diseases and cancer. — vicinitastx.com

Vico Therapeutics (Leiden, The Netherlands) works on RNA modulating therapies for rare neurological disorders, developing antisense oligonucleotide against spinocerebellar ataxia, Huntington’s disease and RETT syndrome. – vicotx.com

Volastra Therapeutics (NY, USA) targets chromosomal instability to tackle metastases and therapeutic resistance. — Volastratx.com

Droia Labs is the scientific arm of Droia Ventures and validates novel ideas for young drug development companies Droia Labs provides state-of-the-art facilities to deliver cutting edge science on groundbreaking ideas With our team of seasoned scientists and entrepreneurs we make our contribution to ultimately deliver life-changing medicines to patients in need

• M
• Sc
• Engineering, University of Leuven
• representing Wepaven BV
• Pharm
• D
• , University of Leuven
• MBA, Vlerick Management School
• Independent board member Erytech, Pharvaris
• representing Primix Bio Ventures BV
• M
• Sc
• Bio-Engineering, University of Leuven
• Founder / former owner of Verelst real estate group
• Seasoned investor in small and big biotech, venture capital