12 September, 2023
Droia invests globally in young drug development companies that use novel science and innovative approaches to bring promising therapies to patients. We are specialists, investing exclusively in therapeutics for oncology and genetic disease.
Our focus and our in-house team of drug development experts and biotech professionals allow us to accelerate our companies’ progress by actively supporting them from company creation through clinical proof of concept. We are hands-on investors and entrepreneurs, fully dedicated to making an impact and saving patient lives.
Breakthrough focus
For biotech companies, ultimate success is measured in effective patient benefit. Promising therapies should have a material impact on patient prognosis, measured as a function of the severity of the unmet medical need addressed and the improvement in therapeutic benefits as compared to (expected) standard of care.
We only invest in companies that are able, through their technology platforms or scientific insights, to go after previously unsolvable clinical problems. Companies should differentiate not only by way of innovation, but also in the way this innovation translates to clinical breakthrough.
Getting it done
Droia actively scouts for the best science and the best teams. Whether investing in an existing company or creating a new company, we actively participate in our portfolio companies’ development. Our team has deep and specialized experience in disease biology, translational science, clinical development and company building.
We have built many companies from the ground up, supporting and complementing founders and management teams. Our team members dedicate their time to helping their companies, and will take on interim roles within companies to help them get off the ground faster. Our whole organization is geared towards doing what we do best: building great drug development companies.
Portfolio
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
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.
People
- M.Sc. Engineering, University of Leuven
- MBA, INSEAD
- McKinsey & Company
- Waterland Private Equity
* representing Wepaven BV
Janwillem Naesens *
Managing Partner, Oncology & Droia Group
- Pharm.D., University of Leuven
- MBA, Vlerick Management School
- Arthur D. Little
- TiGenix
- Prosensa
- Tusk Therapeutics
- Independent board member Erytech, Pharvaris
* representing Primix Bio Ventures BV
Luc Dochez *
Managing Partner, Genetic Disease
- M.Sc. Bio-Engineering, University of Leuven
- Founder / former owner of Verelst real estate group
- Seasoned investor in small and big biotech, venture capital
- Founder of the Anti Cancer Fund and the Verelst Uterine Cancer Fund
Luc Verelst
Founder & Chairman
- BA in Biology, University of Virginia
- PhD in Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Novartis
- Celgene (Bristol Myers Squibb)
- Arch Venture Partners
- Board member Acceleron Pharma, Sage Therapeutics, Carrick Therapeutics, Shattuck Labs and others
George Golumbeski
Partner
- Master of laws, University of Leuven
- M.Sc. law and finance, Oxford University and Saïd Business School
- Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
- Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
- Etex Group
* representing MARA Consulting BV
Matthias De Witte *
Partner, CFO and General Counsel
- M. Sc. Biomedical Sciences, University of Leuven
- PhD Biomedical Sciences – Angiogenesis and Metabolism, University of Leuven
- Starter Fellowship Emmanuelle van der Schueren, VLK
- PhD fellow IWT & Post-doc fellow FWO
* representing Sascon BV
Sandra Schoors *
Partner
- M. Sc. Biomedical Sciences, University of Leuven
- PhD Biomedical Sciences – Tumor Immunology, University of Leuven
- PhD Pharmaceutical Sciences – Polymers, ULB
- PhD fellow IWT
- Recipient VCU RDD Peter R. Byron Graduate Student Award
- Belgian Brain Tumor Support
* Representing KinCon BV
Matthias Van Woensel *
Partner
- BA in Biochemistry, Catholic University in Chile
- PhD in Cell Biology, UCSF
- Medivation
- Praxis Biotech
- Merken Biotech
Sebastian Bernales
Venture Partner
- Group leader at the Netherlands Cancer Institute
- Head of the NKI Robotics and Screening Center
- Expert in large scale functional genomics
- Pioneer of pooled screening technology
- Co-founder of Qameleon Therapeutics
Roderick Beijersbergen
Investment Advisory Board
Sophie Bernier
Compliance Manager
- Bachelor Pharmaceutical and Biological Techniques Ghent
- Senior labtechnician at Center for Cancer Biology (CCB), VIB, Leuven
Katleen Brepoels
Research Associate – Droia Labs
- Master in pharmaceutical sciences, UGent
- PhD Biochemistry, UGent
- MBA, Vlerick School for management
- Founder of VIB
- Managing Director VIB 1995-2022
- Non executive director of companies and research institutions
Jo Bury
Investment Advisory Board
- Master of applied economic sciences KULeuven
- First laureate BIBF awards
- Deloitte M&A
- Finance director CRANIUM
* representing Consillis BV
Sven Collin
Director of Finance
Nathalie De Blieck
Director of Accounting
- PhD Biomedical Sciences, University of Leuven
- Doctoral Research at Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism lab (VIB) and Woman & Child unit, Cystic Fibrosis lab (KU Leuven/UZ Leuven)
- MSc Biochemistry-Biotechnology, University of Leuven
- MSc Management, University of Leuven
Mathias Declercq
Associate
- Master of Laws, University of Ghent and University of Copenhagen
- LL.M in International Financial Law, King’s College London
- Lydian
- De Cronos Groep
* representing ADP Ventures BV
Alexander Depauw
Legal Counsel
- MSc Cancer, University College London
- PhD Biomedical Sciences, University of Leuven
- Doctoral research in Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism lab, VIB
- FWO PhD Fellowship
- The UCL Cancer Institute Research Trust and Athena SWAN award for Excellence in Science 2014
Pauline De Zeeuw
Associate
- PhD, signaling pathways in disease, Imperial College London
- Postdoctoral Fellow, translational proteomics, Kings College London
- Group Leader Target and Pathway Discovery and Validation Group at Galapagos NV
- Expertise in target and pathway discovery across therapeutic areas
Athanasios Didangelos
Director Translational Science – Droia Labs
Bujana Dragjoshi
Accountant
- PhD in Medical Sciences, KU Leuven
- FWO postdoctoral fellow
- Postgraduate Business Administration, KU Leuven
- Former senior staff, Center for Cancer Biology (CCB), VIB, Leuven
Guy Eelen
Director of Biology – Droia Labs
- Bachelor’s Degree in Biotechnology at University of Oviedo
- Master of Bioinformatics at KU Leuven (Summa cum laude)
- PhD in Biomedicine (KU Leuven)
- FWO PhD fellowship at Stein Aerts lab
- Publications in Nature Methods and MSB
Carmen Bravo
Bioinformatician – Droia Labs
- PhD, Biochemistry, Newcastle University
- Novartis
- Mass General Brigham Ventures
- MSD (Merck & Co)
- RA Ventures
Rez Halse
Partner
- PhD in Biomedical Sciences, KULeuven
- Full Professor, Center for Human Genetics, KULeuven
- Director, VIB Center of Cancer Biology
- Expert in big data, omics and computational biology
- ISI highly cited researcher
Diether Lambrechts
Investment Advisory Board
- BS Biochemistry, Boston College
- MBA, MIT Sloan
- Novartis
- Deloitte Consulting
- Third Rock Ventures
- Goldfinch Bio
Thomas Martz
Entrepreneur In Residence
- M. Sc. Biochemistry-Biotechnology, University Leuven
- PhD Biomedical sciences-Angiogenesis Vascular Metabolism, VIB
- Postdoctoral Fellow - Immuno-Oncology, VIB
- Postdoctoral Fellow - Tumor metabolism, University Pennsylvania
- B.A.E.F. Postdoctoral Fellowship
Rindert Missiaen
Associate
Sara Morren
PA Managing Partner & HR Manager
- Professor of Chemical Biology and Molecular Therapeutics at the University of California, Berkeley
- Director of the Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute
- Co-Founder of Frontier Medicines
- Founder of Vicinitas Therapeutics
Dan Nomura
Investment Advisory Board
- PhD, Oncobiology, University of Leuven
- Postdoctoral fellow, Translational Autoimmune Disease, University Hospitals Leuven
- Medical Affairs (MSL), Rare Diseases, Shire
- Drug Discovery Project Leader & Translational Research Head, Immune-inflammation, Galapagos
* representing Lizalias BV
Kris Nys
VP R&D – Droia Labs
- M.Sc. in Genetics & Biotechnology, Complutense University of Madrid
- M.Sc. in Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, ISCIII
- Doctoral researcher, Spanish National Cancer Research Center
- Ph.D. in Molecular Biosciences, Autonomous University of Madrid
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Heidelberg University & RWTH Aachen University
Javier Perales-Patón
Bio-informatician – Droia Labs
- PhD in Biomedical Sciences, University of Leuven
- Doctoral Researcher in Alzheimer's disease, VIB
- M.Sc. Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Antwerp
- Master Thesis, MolGen department, VIB
- Internship Master, diagnostic tests for breast cancer, Multiplicom NV Niel
Dieter Petit
Associate Genetic Diseases
- M. Sc. Biomedical Sciences, Hasselt University
- PhD Biomedical Sciences, VIB – University of Antwerp
- PhD Fellow FWO
- Postdoctoral Researcher Mayo Clinic Florida
- Postdoctoral Researcher Indiana University
Stéphanie Philtjens
Bioinformatician – Droia Labs
- Professor of Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy at UCL Cancer Institute
- Group Leader of the Immune Regulation and Tumour Immunotherapy Laboratory
- CRUK Senior Cancer Research Fellow
- Co-leading scientist CRUK Cancer Immunotherapy Accelerator
- CSO at Achilles Therapeutics
Sergio Quezada
Investment Advisory Board
- Executive Chairman of RGenix, Inc
- Board Member at Biogen, Navidea, Fortress Biotech, Verastem
- Chief Medical Office/Scientific Advisor: Hummingbird Biosciences, Oncotartis, Lokon
- Oncology Advisor, Everest Medicines
Eric Rowinsky
Investment Advisory Board
- M.D. University of Tübingen
- Professor and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel
- Founding and Scientific Director of the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB)
- Retinal specialist with expertise in translational research in ophthalmology, especially gene therapy
Hendrik P.N. Scholl
Investment Advisory Board
- M.sc. in Bioengineering (cel and gene biotechnology), KU Leuven
- Ph.D. in Bioengineering, Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven
- Former senior scientist at Galapagos NV and Aelin Therapeutics
- (Antimicrobial, Cystic Fibrosis and lung fibrosis drug development experience)
Kathleen Sonck
Senior Scientist – Droia Labs
- M.Sc. Biology Ghent University
- Labtechnician at Center for Cancer Biology (CCB), VIB, Leuven
Joris Souffreau
Research Associate – Droia Labs
An Steensels
Labmanager – Droia Labs
- Professor in the Department of Neurosciences at KU Leuven
- Group leader at the VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research.
- Head of the Laboratory of Neurobiology at VIB
- Scientific Founder of Augustine Therapeutics
Ludo Van Den Bosch
Investment Advisory Board
- Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Associate Director of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research
- Institute Member of the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT
- Instructor of Medicine at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School
Matthew Vander Heiden
Investment Advisory Board
- M.Sc. Biomedical Sciences KU Leuven
- Former senior scientist at Galapagos NV and Augustine Therapeutics
Nele Vandervoort
Senior Scientist – Droia Labs
- M. Sc. Biomedical Sciences - University of Leuven
- PhD Biomedical Sciences - VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research
- IWT Fellowship
- Recipient of the PJ Dyck Price in 2015, awarded by the Peripheral Nerve Society
- In vitro Project Lead - CoBioRes
- Associate - Fund+ NV
- Corporate Governance Executive Education - Columbia Business School
Lawrence Van Helleputte
Associate
- PhD Medical Sciences, DNA damage in cancer, University of Cambridge, UK
- Postdoctoral Fellow, novel drug targets in a rare cancer, New York University Langone Health, USA
- Scientific analyst, Droia Ventures
- Recipient Cancer Research UK Ph.D. Fellowship
- Scientific publications in e.g. JNCI, Oncotarget, Eur J Hum Genet
Elke van Oudenhove
Director of Scientific Operations – Droia Labs
- M.Sc. Biochemistry & Biotechnology Ghent University - VIB
- Postgraduate Corporate Finance University of Leuven
- Turnstone Communications
- KBC Securities - Equity Research
- KBC Securities - Associate Director Corporate Finance
* Representing Moira Thread Management
Lenny Van Steenhuyse *
Principal
Evelien Verdrengh
Office Manager & Executive Assistant
- Bioengineer, KU Leuven
- IBD research group, KU Leuven
- Labmanager at Flamingo Therapeutics
Willem-Jan Wollants
Scientist – Droia LabsNews
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12Sep
Droia Ventures welcomes Dr. Rez Halse to the partnership
Droia Ventures is delighted to announce the appointment of Rez Halse to its partnership. Rez joins Droia from RA Capital, where he served as Partner of RA Ventures and as President of RA’s company creation incubator, leading early-stage investments i...
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08Dec
QurAlis Receives Health Canada Clinical Trial Application Authorization for QRL-201, a First-in-Class STATHMIN-2 Precision Therapy for ALS
“The authorization of our CTA in Canada is a significant milestone for our company, representing our first program to receive clearance by a regulatory body to enter the clinic and the first ever clinical trial to evaluate a therapy that rescues STMN...
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11Oct
Muna Therapeutics Awarded $4.9M Grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
“We are very pleased to receive this significant funding from The Michael J. Fox Foundation to fund this promising research which has the potential to significantly improve the lives of people with Parkinson’s," said Rita Balice-Gordon, Chief Executi...
Careers
Droia is currently recruiting for its investment and development team. The team scouts for new opportunities, evaluates companies and projects, manages the investment and exit process, and works with the portfolio companies on their progress.
Team members work closely with the portfolio companies at management or board level, and play a hands-on role in all aspects of the drug development process.
Droia is an entrepreneurial environment, where everyone is above all committed to making things happen.
Applicants should have relevant experience in biomedical science, drug development and/or life science investing.