Biotech receives public and private funding to accelerate research projects

Biotech company, BCI Pharma, has received €3.9 million in private and public funding, which will be used to accelerate and finalise its research projects in the fields of cancer, neuropathic pain, inflammation and neuro-inflammation.

The funding — comprising €1.9 million in public funding from Walloon region and €2 million from public-private investors — has already seen the company create a Belgian holding company and open a laboratory at the University Hospital of Liège.

Additionally, the investment and the subsidy will also enable BCI Pharma to initiate proof-of-concept studies and to work towards licensing first in-class or best-in-class pre-clinical candidates for new therapeutic approaches.

The company’s technology can identify highly active and selective kinase inhibitors that target major pathologies and have the potential to improve current therapies as well as provide therapeutic solutions for conditions with high unmet medical need. Its Bikin kinase libraries offer both innovative inhibitors with a new chemical structure and selective kinase inhibitors.

“We are delighted with this public funding and the investment we have received, proving that our kinase libraries have great potential,” said Dominique Surleraux, CEO of BCI Pharma. “We were able to attract investors from both the Flemish and Walloon parts of Belgium. We believe that our research can contribute to significant improvements in the treatment of neuropathic pain, inflammation and neuro-inflammation as well as certain cancer types. In addition to this, our new lab is located at the centre of the Liège hospital where it can benefit from the expertise of well-known scientists and clinicians and a number of technology platforms in the field of genomics, imaging.”

“Meusinvest is delighted to include BCI Pharma in its portfolio. With its great science, located in the hospital’s centre, everything is in place to boost BCI Pharma’s science, clinical outcomes and business revenues,” added Benoit Fellin, Meusinvest member.

“The private investors, brought together by and co-investing with TheClubDeal, are very positive about supporting BCI’s goals in finding innovative and improved treatment for major diseases,” stated Jean-Marc Legrand, CEO of TheClubDeal.