Latest news with #Ghent
Associated Press
5 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Cryptobiotix Announces Its Next Evolutionary Step with Its Biobank Initiative to Accelerate Microbiome Innovation
06/10/2025, Ghent, Belgium // PRODIGY: Feature Story // Cryptobiotix, a next-generation preclinical research organization pioneering microbiome modeling through its proprietary SIFR platform, announces the launch of its biobank, marking the next phase in its continuous evolution. Co-founders Aurélien Baudot and Dr. Pieter Van den Abbeele founded Cryptobiotix to solve a critical gap in the field: the dreaded Valley of Death. Traditional preclinical testing is still slow or inaccurate, this could lead not only to delays but ultimately threaten the overall product development and launch. Now, with the launch of its biobank, the company is not just optimizing that core mission. It's redefining what's possible in microbiome research. 'We've always focused on delivering actionable insights, with the highest standards of scientific integrity, all while keeping to the tight deadlines our clients require,' says Baudot. 'We already had a streamlined process, but the biobank takes it to the next level. It's a small internal improvement, but one that has an exponential impact on our clients' workflows.' The Cryptobiotix biobank is more than just a freezer. It is a storage solution where cryo-stabilized gut microbiome samples are sourced, characterized, and stored under proprietary conditions that preserve both structure and function. This allows clients to build or tap into pre-qualified, pre-characterized microbiome samples instantly, bypassing weeks (sometimes months) of sourcing delays. In typical studies, donor sourcing can extend project timelines by two to eight weeks. But now, with tailored microbiome 'vaults' built to client specifications, those timelines shrink dramatically. Beyond speed, the biobank dramatically improves data granularity. Instead of working with random microbiomes, Cryptobiotix clients can now access specific metadata, such as diet, delivery method, age, country of origin, and more, to correlate clinical results to individual microbiome traits. 'It gives us immediate access to not just a 'baby microbiome,'' explains Dr. Van den Abbeele. 'It provides us access to a C-section baby, breastfed, and born in a specific country. This kind of clarity allows our partners to refine their experiment to the specific needs of their own business.' This opens the door for better responder/non-responder analysis and more refined product design, all essential for consumer health companies, nutrition innovators, and pharma organizations. The biobank fits seamlessly into Cryptobiotix's ex vivo modular SIFR platform, which simulates the entire gastrointestinal tract to understand the interplay between test products and the gut microbiome across individuals. By combining high throughput with validated predictivity, the company reduces development time and risk for clients worldwide. Cryptobiotix's research and development have also expanded into disease-rate simulation, including antibiotic-induced dysbiosis, acute infections, and Clostridium difficile modeling, helping therapeutic developers understand how interventions behave in both healthy and disrupted microbiomes. The company's precision is unmatched, wherein clients get a clearer view of how interventions truly behave in humans. While the launch of the biobank is an exciting milestone for the Cryptobiotix team, it is a natural, incremental evolution in its long-term strategy. 'For us, this is a stepping stone,' the founders say. 'We're already leveraging the data generated to train smarter analytics because the real future lies in making sense of complex microbiome datasets in ways the industry hasn't seen before.' Cryptobiotix is already exploring how its biobank can support longitudinal sample tracking, enabling comparisons of the same microbiome over time, even as donors' diets or health statuses change. This could offer clients unprecedented insights into microbiome stability, intervention reproducibility, and formulation refinements. With its cryo-stabilization method, perfected through hundreds of iterations, Cryptobiotix ensures the microbiome samples stored in its biobank retain their identity, empowering clients to revisit, reuse, and retest on demand. Media Contact Name: Cryptobiotix Team Email: [email protected] There is no offer to sell, no solicitation of an offer to buy, and no recommendation of any security or any other product or service in this article. Moreover, nothing contained in this should be construed as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any investment or security, or to engage in any investment strategy or transaction. It is your responsibility to determine whether any investment, investment strategy, security, or related transaction is appropriate for you based on your investment objectives, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance. Consult your business advisor, attorney, or tax advisor regarding your specific business, legal, or tax situation.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Press release: Sequana Medical Secures Additional Convertible Financing of EUR 6.3 Million from SFPIM and Other Existing Shareholders
Sequana Medical Secures Additional Convertible Financing of EUR 6.3 Million from SFPIM and Other Existing ShareholdersGhent, Belgium, 27 May 2025 – Sequana Medical NV (Euronext Brussels: SEQUA (the "Company" or "Sequana Medical"), a pioneer in the treatment of drug-resistant fluid overload in liver disease, heart failure and cancer, announced today that SFPIM (previously known as SFPI-FPIM) and other existing shareholders have invested a further EUR 6.3 million in the 2025 Convertible Loan announced on 18th March 2025. Together with the previously announced investment from EQT and Partners in Equity, this brings the total of new capital invested in the 2025 Convertible Loan to EUR 10.3 million. This new investment, together with the Company's existing financial arrangements are expected to extend the Company's cash runway into Q1 2026 based on expected drawdowns of the initial EUR 20 million Capital Commitment of the GEM committed share subscription facility. The Company confirmed that it remains on track for first US sales of the alfapump in Q3 this year through its own specialty salesforce that will target liver transplant centers, and that it remains confident of strong demand based upon very positive feedback from US clinicians. Production of the alfapump systems for the launch remains on track and the necessary clinical, logistical and QA/RA arrangements for supporting the launch are underway. The alfapump system is approved by the US FDA for the treatment of recurrent or refractory ascites due to liver cirrhosis. PMA approval was received in December 2024, building upon the FDA breakthrough designation received in 2019. It is the first active implantable medical device in the US that automatically and continuously removes ascites from the abdomen into the bladder, where it is naturally eliminated through urination. To date, over 1,000 alfapump systems have been implanted. Céline Vaessen, Chief Investment Officer at SFPIM, commented: 'Since we invested in Sequana Medical at the time of the IPO, we have remained a loyal and supportive investor with the aim to bring the pump to the patient. We are very pleased with the strong progress the Company has made and are excited to continue supporting the team at this important time. We have high hopes that the company will build a successful commercial team to drive the roll-out of its pump. Our participation in this financing round further demonstrates SFPIM's commitment to making a meaningful difference in patients' lives for whom there are hardly any treatment options.' Ian Crosbie, Chief Executive Officer of Sequana Medical NV, added: "We are very grateful for the strong support from SFPIM and other existing shareholders, complementing the previous investment from EQT and Partners in Equity. With this additional significant investment, together with our existing financial arrangements, we can move forward with confidence for US commercial launch in Q3. Based upon the very positive feedback from US clinicians and particularly our initial launch centers, we are confident that we will be able to demonstrate the tremendous US commercial opportunity for pump to transform the treatment of recurrent or refractory ascites due to liver cirrhosis.' For more information, please contact:Sequana Medical Investor relationsE: IR@ T: +32 (0)9 496 17 27 About alfapump in recurrent or refractory ascites due to liver cirrhosis & the POSEIDON studyRecurrent or refractory ascites is a severe condition characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. The current standard treatment involves therapeutic paracentesis, an invasive and burdensome procedure that drains ascites from the abdomen using a large needle over an extended period. The alfapump is approved by the US FDA for the treatment of recurrent or refractory ascites due to liver cirrhosis. It is the first active implantable medical device in the US that automatically and continuously removes ascites from the abdomen into the bladder, where it is naturally eliminated through urination. To date, over 1,000 alfapump systems have been implanted. The US market of recurrent and refractory ascites due to liver cirrhosis is forecast to grow by an average of 9% per year, from approximately 70,000 patients in 2025 to 130,000 patients by 2032, primarily driven by the increasing prevalence of NASH / MASH1. The total market opportunity for alfapump is estimated at over $2 billion in 2025, and is forecast to reach over $5 billion by 2035. The FDA's approval of the PMA is based on the successful execution of Sequana Medical's pivotal POSEIDON study, a landmark study across 18 centers in the US and Canada with a total of 69 patients implanted with the alfapump. The primary effectiveness endpoints at six months post-implantation in the Pivotal Cohort2 exceeded the predefined thresholds with statistical significance, and primary safety endpoint data was in line with expectations3. Data at 12 months post-implantation continued to show a strong and durable clinical profile, virtually eliminating the need for therapeutic paracentesis and delivering an improvement in quality of life (as defined by subjective physical health (assessed by SF-36 PCS) and ascites symptoms (assessed by Ascites Q))4. At AASLD's The Liver Meeting in November 2024, key POSEIDON investigators reported that the alfapump virtually eliminated the need for large volume paracentesis at 24 months, with overall survival of 62%5. The POSEIDON manuscript published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology in January 2025 concluded 'the results from the literature indicate that the overall survival of patients with the alfapump was not worse as compared to TIPS and was higher than reported for standard of care (LVP)6'. Data from the patient preference study and a matched cohort analysis of the NACSELD-III registry with the POSEIDON Pivotal Cohort indicated that US patients have a strong preference for the alfapump vs standard paracentesis procedures and that the safety profile of the alfapump is comparable to standard of care7. About Sequana Medical Sequana Medical NV is a pioneer in treating fluid overload, a serious and frequent clinical complication in patients with liver disease, heart failure and cancer. This causes major medical issues including increased mortality, repeated hospitalizations, severe pain, difficulty breathing and restricted mobility. Although diuretics are standard of care, they become ineffective, intolerable or exacerbate the problem in many patients. There are limited effective treatment options, resulting in poor clinical outcomes, high costs and a major impact on their quality of life. Sequana Medical is seeking to provide innovative treatment options for this large and growing "diuretic resistant" patient population. alfapump® and DSR® are Sequana Medical's proprietary platforms that work with the body to treat diuretic-resistant fluid overload, and are intended to deliver major clinical and quality of life benefits for patients, while reducing costs for healthcare systems. The Company received US FDA approval for the alfapump System for the treatment of recurrent or refractory ascites due to liver cirrhosis in December 2024, following the grant of FDA Breakthrough Device Designation in 2019. Sequana Medical intends to start US commercialisation early in the second half of 2025 through a small specialty salesforce that it will establish to target the 90 US liver transplant centers that perform 95% of liver transplants. Results of the Company's RED DESERT and SAHARA proof-of-concept studies in heart failure published in European Journal of Heart Failure in April 2024 support DSR's mechanism of action as breaking the vicious cycle of cardiorenal syndrome. All three patients from the non-randomized cohort of MOJAVE, a US randomized controlled multi-center Phase 1/2a clinical study, have been successfully treated with DSR, resulting in a dramatic improvement in diuretic response and virtual elimination of loop diuretic requirements8. Sequana Medical is listed on the regulated market of Euronext Brussels (Ticker: and headquartered in Ghent, Belgium. For further information, please visit For important safety information regarding the alfapump® system, see The alfapump® System is currently not approved in Canada. DSR® therapy is still in development and is currently not approved in any country. The safety and effectiveness of DSR® therapy has not been established. Note: alfapump® and DSR® are registered press release may contain predictions, estimates or other information that might be considered forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. These forward-looking statements represent the current judgment of Sequana Medical on what the future holds, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Sequana Medical expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release, except if specifically required to do so by law or regulation. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of Sequana Medical only as of the date of this press release. 1 Based on US and Canada market assessment conducted by highly experienced international consulting group2 The Pivotal Cohort is used for the primary effectiveness endpoints and consists of 40 patients implanted with the alfapump3 Data reported in press release of 25 October 2022 4 Data reported in press release of 19 October 20235 Based upon the pivotal cohort of the POSEIDON study, data reported in press release of 18 November 20246 The Effects of alfapump on Ascites Control and Quality of Life in Patients with Cirrhosis and Recurrent or Refractory Ascites' American Journal of Gastroenterology7 Data reported in press release of 19 October 2023; Patient Preference study conducted by RTI Health Solutions, and matched cohort analysis presented by Dr. Bajaj at EASL Congress 2024.8 Data reported in press release of March 25, 2024; mean increase of 326% in six-hour urinary sodium excretion at 3 months follow up vs baseline, and 95% reduction of loop diuretics over same period Attachments 250526 Press release_FPIM CLA investment (ENG) 250526 Press release_FPIM CLA investment (NL)
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Biotalys Appoints Luc Van fraeyenhoven as Chief Financial Officer
Seasoned Financial Executive Will Lead Finance Operations as Biotalys Pushes Product Pipeline Toward Commercialization Ghent, May 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Press release Ghent, BELGIUM – 26 May 2025, 07:00 CEST – Biotalys (Euronext - BTLS), an Agricultural Technology (AgTech) company developing protein-based biocontrols for sustainable crop protection, today announced the appointment of Luc Van fraeyenhoven as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He succeeds Douglas Minder, who will pursue other career opportunities. Mr. Van fraeyenhoven will transition into the role over the next few months. With more than three decades in financial roles, Mr. Van fraeyenhoven brings significant experience as a CFO in the biotechnology and medtech industries, with a strong background leading finance operations and strategy in addition to partnering closely with the boards of various companies throughout his career. He has served as the CFO for Arseus Medical, ActoBio Therapeutics, the Akkermansia Company, and most recently with the Kebony Group. He also has extensive prior finance leadership experience with Volvo Cars, serving in roles of increasing responsibility including as CFO for the commercial entity in Europe. Simon Moroney, Chairman of the Board at Biotalys, commented: 'Luc joins us at an important juncture in the company as we continue to advance our innovative product pipeline, and we look forward to his engagement in providing financial guidance on both long-term strategies and day-to-day operations. We are grateful to Douglas for his many contributions to Biotalys, particularly as we streamlined operations and extended our financial runway. We wish him all the best as he pursues new opportunities.' Kevin Helash, CEO of Biotalys, noted: "Luc will be a valuable partner for the management and board as we continue to best position the company for the commercialization of our first products while being prudent stewards of our resources. His extensive experience with other companies in the biotechnology arena is an outstanding fit for Biotalys, and we will leverage his considerable leadership as we execute our long-term global strategy.' Luc Van fraeyenhoven, newly appointed CFO of Biotalys, said: "I am delighted to join the Biotalys team and am eager to be a partner with and resource to the entire organization. Biotalys occupies a unique position in the agricultural and biotech space, and I look forward to contributing to the advancement of this novel, sustainable technology.' Mr. Van fraeyenhoven, a native of Belgium, holds degrees in commercial engineering and transport economics from the University of Antwerp, and a master's in financial management from VLEKHO in Brussels. About Biotalys Biotalys is an Agricultural Technology (AgTech) company developing protein-based biocontrol solutions for the protection of crops and aiming to provide alternatives to conventional chemical pesticides for a more sustainable and safer food supply. Based on its novel AGROBODY™ technology platform, Biotalys is developing a strong and diverse pipeline of effective product candidates with a favorable safety profile that aim to address key crop pests and diseases across the whole value chain, from soil to plate. Biotalys was founded in 2013 as a spin-off from the VIB (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology) and is listed on Euronext Brussels since July 2021. The company is based in the biotech cluster in Ghent, Belgium. More information can be found on For further information, please contact: Toon Musschoot, Head of IR & CommunicationT: +32 (0)9 274 54 00E: IR@ Important Notice Biotalys, its business, prospects and financial position remain exposed and subject to risks and uncertainties. A description of and reference to these risks and uncertainties can be found in the annual report on the consolidated annual accounts published on the company's website. This announcement contains statements which are "forward-looking statements" or could be considered as such. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words 'aim', 'believe', 'estimate', 'anticipate', 'expect', 'intend', 'may', 'will', 'plan', 'continue', 'ongoing', 'possible', 'predict', 'plans', 'target', 'seek', 'would' or 'should', and contain statements made by the company regarding the intended results of its strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are warned that none of these forward-looking statements offers any guarantee of future performance. Biotalys' actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. Biotalys makes no undertaking whatsoever to publish updates or adjustments to these forward-looking statements, unless required to do so by in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Sunday World
25-05-2025
- Sunday World
Alleged burglar mounted footpath as kids were on way to school, court hears
'DRIVING AT SPEED' | Vladislavs Jukums, 28, of Highfield Crescent, Swords, Co. Dublin, was arrested on Friday and charged with motor theft, two counts of burglary, and criminal damage on May 23 in his locality Dublin District Court Vladislavs Jukums, 28, of Highfield Crescent, Swords, Co. Dublin, was arrested on Friday and charged with motor theft, two counts of burglary, and criminal damage on May 23 in his locality. The father of one appeared before Judge Catherine Ghent, who set his bail at €300, requiring a €100 lodgement from him and approval of a €500 independent surety. However, she stipulated that the bail, with various conditions, including a curfew and a bar from returning to Swords, cannot be taken up until he gets an appropriate new address. Judge Ghent remanded him in custody to appear again next week. Garda Shane Murphy told a contested bail hearing at Dublin District Court on Saturday that at just 7.41 am, he responded to a vehicle driving recklessly and dangerously in Applewood estate, Swords. On arrival, he said, he saw a 2022-reg Toyota C-HR driving at speed with a flat tyre. Garda Murphy said that he activated his lights and sirens to indicate this vehicle to stop, but the Toyota continued at speed towards the patrol car before it "mounted the kerb and drove along the footpath to evade gardai". The court heard that pedestrians and young schoolchildren had to move to avoid being struck. The car still failed to stop for gardai and subsequently lost control and crashed on the roundabout at the end of Brackenstown Road, Swords, Co. Dublin, where it hit a signpost on the footpath with pedestrians present. Garda Murphy alleged the accused was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, which was confirmed to have been subject to an unauthorised taking during a burglary at Castleview Park, Swords, Co Dublin. Judge Ghent was told the owner woke to a man entering her bedroom before taking her car keys. It was claimed that the accused carried out a second burglary at nearby Ashton Broc, Swords, Co. Dublin on the same date. The accused attempted to break into the front door of the address by smashing a rock several times against the glass pane of the front door, causing damage. The accused allegedly walked towards a vehicle and attempted to smash the front driver's window with a rock. According to the garda, the accused then walked around the side of the house and gained access to his address through the back door, but nothing of note was removed from the address. The garda raised concerns that unemployed Mr Jukums was not residing at his stated address, his mother's home and that he was staying with his partner, who lived close to the two burgled houses. Defence solicitor Carol Slattery queried whether young children would have been on their way to school at the time, and the garda contended that it was in a built-up area where people started early. The solicitor stressed that Mr Jukums, who has yet to enter a plea, had the presumption of innocence and could face a lengthy period in custody on remand while the Director of Public Prosecutions prepared the case. Ms Slattery said her client would obey strict conditions. The accused, who is on social welfare, was granted legal aid. The judge warned him that he must sign on at his new local garda station when he is released, provide gardai with a contact phone number and have no contact with witnesses. Dublin District Court News in 90 Seconds - May 25th 2025
The Independent
25-05-2025
- Science
- The Independent
How to tell if a seagull is going to steal your food
A seagull eyeing your lunch or ice cream is unlikely to try to steal it if not part of a flock, scientists have found. Due to an instinct known as neophobia, which means a fear of the unknown, scientists have discovered that herring gulls are mostly reluctant to attack when on their own. But, according to researchers at Ghent University, this fear diminishes when seagulls are part of a flock – potentially putting your food at greater risk. In a study published in the Royal Society Open Science journal, scientists carried out experiments involving a group of 54 seagulls they had reared from hatching. In order to gauge how quickly the gulls would take to approach their food if faced with an unfamiliar object nearby, the scientists placed a range of items – a multicoloured ball, a bucket, brush, folder and jerrycan – next to the gulls' food supply. Some of these objects were familiar to the birds and others were new to them. They found that, when alone, the gulls took an average of 9.81 seconds to approach their food bowl when faced with an unfamiliar object – compared with just 3.52 seconds when in a group. Notably, 24 of the gulls did not eat at all when alone and faced with an unfamiliar object. The scientists also found that the birds were willing to spend more time near their food when in a group than those on their own. Lone gulls spent an average of just 38.8 seconds near their food, compared with 111.8 seconds when in a group – while 16 birds did not approach their food at all. The study states: 'Individuals tested in groups were quicker to eat and spent more time near a novel object than individuals tested alone. 'The results of our study suggest that the presence of group members reduces perceived individual risk, allowing individuals to behave less cautiously.' Noting that 'each bird likely perceives the risk to be shared by the group', the authors said their findings were consistent with previous studies showing that social animals often rely on the presence of the group to make quicker decisions and engage in potentially risky situations. An accompanying release from the Royal Society added: 'When confronted by a gull after your chips it might be best to catch them one-on-one.' While there may be some comfort in the findings that a lone seagull could pose less of a threat of theft, a previous study has suggested that gulls actually prefer food that they have seen being handled by humans, as opposed to food left lying unattended. Although in a further possible line of defence, an earlier study suggested that staring at a seagull could help to deter it from trying to take your food. Scientists at the University of Exeter found that gulls took an average of 21 seconds longer to approach a bag of chips if they could see they were being watched, with just 27 out of 74 birds observed being too cautious to take a chip when a human was nearby.
