First FIRST-fund Investment in Potential Medicine for Stroke

The Utrecht-based company TargED Biopharmaceuticals receives the first start-up funding from the FIRST fund, co-founded by the DCVA. With the support of this new investment, the company can conduct follow-up research into a drug (Microlysis) that dissolves blood clots. The possible beneficial effect of this drug in strokes was discovered during a study at UMC Utrecht with the support of the Young Investigator Award voucher 2019 from the CVON-program CONTRAST.

TargED's research builds on the work of the CDL Research department of UMC Utrecht by scientists Coen Maas and Steven de Maat. Industry is needed to develop a medicine based on research results. But the results of scientific research are often not sufficient enough for large investments by companies. With the new investment, TargED Biopharmaceuticals can perform the necessary follow-up tests. TargED will receive a total of €1.3 million start-up funding. In addition to the FIRST fund, Utrecht Health Seed Fund, Curie Capital and a public-private partnership with UMC Utrecht are also investing, supported by Health~Holland.

Follow-up steps after the research project

"The main goal of DCVA is that promising research results will lead to new treatments for patients as quick as possible to reduce the disease burden caused by cardiovascular disease," said Wiek van Gilst, chair of the DCVA Management Team. "This is a beautiful concrete success of the taskforce Valorisation, that assists our researchers in the next steps after the research project."

About the cooperation and investment

FIRST stands for Fonds InvesteringsRijpe Starters and was founded earlier this year by RegMed XB and DCVA to bridge the gap between research and business. The fund is supported by the government by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). DCVA impact officer Margien Boels is actively looking for opportunities within the DCVA consortia and guides researchers through the next steps. Independent experts determine in which projects the FIRST fund invests.

Bron: Hartstichting