SpectaCell launches with €6 million to transform drug development and bring better immune therapies to patients faster
SpectaCell, the first spin-off resulting from a collaboration between imec, VIB and Ghent University (UGent), launches today with €6 million in seed funding. The Belgian company, based in Ghent, is developing a cell analysis platform that enables biopharmaceutical companies to better evaluate promising drug candidates and make faster decisions about which ones to advance. While existing analytical methods can take days, SpectaCell’s platform aims to provide insights into how drug candidates affect individual cells within just a few hours. This will help bring better treatments for conditions including cancer and immune system disorders to patients faster.
The international funding round was led by imec.xpand, with participation from PMV’s Flanders Future Tech Fund, InnovationQuarter Capital, Qbic and VIB. SpectaCell will use the funding to further develop its platform towards commercialisation in collaboration with pharmaceutical and biotech companies. In doing so, the company will connect its technology development and cell analysis activities in Ghent with further validation and application within Leiden’s strong biotech ecosystem.
“The latest medicines have the potential to save lives, but today they still reach too few patients,” says Tony Montoye, CEO and co-founder of SpectaCell.
“The latest medicines have the potential to save lives, but today they still reach too few patients”
Seeing directly how treatments affect cells
SpectaCell focuses on emerging immunotherapies, including cell therapies and T-cell engagers that help immune cells recognise and attack cancer cells. For these treatments, it is crucial to measure whether they achieve the intended effect, such as killing cancer cells. Current tests only measure indirect signals or provide an average picture of what is happening within a sample. SpectaCell’s technology combines chip-based imaging and data analysis to track large numbers of individual cells and their interactions in detail. This reveals differences between individual cells that are hidden by average measurements. The platform is being developed to make these measurements quick and easy, delivering results within hours rather than days.
“The Netherlands, and South Holland in particular, are rightly placing greater emphasis on biotechnology and life sciences as drivers of future prosperity,” says Lieke Hamoen, Investment Manager at InnovationQuarter. “Achieving this ambition requires capital and collaboration to help breakthrough innovations in Europe grow into companies with a global impact. Through our investment in SpectaCell, we aim to connect Flemish technological expertise with South Holland’s strong biotech ecosystem. In doing so, we are helping to bring better medicines to patients faster, while also creating opportunities for collaboration and economic growth in our region.”
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Flemish expertise as a foundation for international growth
SpectaCell brings together imec’s chip technology, VIB’s biological expertise, and the scientific and clinical knowledge of Ghent University (UGent) and Ghent University Hospital (UZ Gent). This collaboration turns years of research into a commercial venture focused on applications for the global pharmaceutical industry.
“When we combine world-class expertise in fundamental research with advanced technology platforms and entrepreneurship, we create innovations with the potential to make a global impact,” says Jérôme Van Biervliet, Managing Director of VIB. “The fact that this first joint spin-off from VIB, imec and Ghent University focuses on one of the most promising fields in medicine makes this a particularly significant milestone for us.”
“This spin-off demonstrates the power of collaboration between different Flemish innovation hubs,” adds Patrick Vandenameele, CEO of imec. “By combining imec’s technological expertise with VIB’s biological knowledge and the clinical experience of Ghent University Hospital, we are creating a unique environment in which new applications can reach patients faster. SpectaCell is a strong example of how groundbreaking research can translate into tangible benefits for society.”
