The Belgian-Danish biotech company Spica Therapeutics has raised 10 million euros to develop therapies targeting diseases in which macrophages play a key role, such as cancer, chronic inflammation, and autoimmune disorders. To achieve this, Spica will collaborate with the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the VIB (Flemish Institute for Biotechnology).
Central to the project is the VUB research group MITH (Molecular Imaging and Therapy), part of the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy at the VUB Health Campus. Led by Professor Nick Devoogdt, the team is developing radioactive tracers to non-invasively detect specific immune cells in the body. This technology helps Spica determine whether their candidate drugs reach the right cells, allows for the selection of suitable patients, and enables monitoring of treatment effectiveness—crucial steps in preparing for clinical trials.
The Brussels Center for Immunology (BCIM), led by Professor Jo Van Ginderachter, is also involved. Their research on macrophages as disease drivers forms a key pillar of the project.
The collaboration builds on previous research by both groups, which in 2024 developed an innovative nanobody tracer targeting CD163, a marker found on tumor-associated macrophages. This technology enables prediction of a patient’s response to immunotherapy—an important step toward personalized medicine.
The collaboration was initiated in part by Hilde Revets, a VUB alumna active in the Belgian biotech sector. The 10 million euro funding comes from Bioqube Ventures, PMV (via the Flanders Future Tech Fund), and Qbic.
The partnership once again highlights the role of the VUB Health Campus as a hub for translational medical research—from lab to patient.