EsoBiotec develops in vivo cellular therapies that genetically reengineer T lymphocytes and other immune cells inside patients using viral vectors. Its platform aims to replace ex vivo cell-manufacturing by performing genetic reprogramming directly in the body, addressing high costs and long production times. The company’s lead product uses a clinically validated antigen and preclinical data support the potential of its vectors to enable off-the-shelf treatments. EsoBiotec is expanding its pipeline to additional immune cell types and to indications including solid tumors. Founded in 2020 and based in Belgium, the company says it is preparing to bring its technology to patients within the next two years. Financially, Invivo Ventures has invested €2M as part of a Series A round expected to close in 2024; EsoBiotec previously closed an initial round in 2021 with UCB Ventures, Thuja Capital, Sambrinvest and Wallonie Entreprendre. EsoBiotec is a recently founded Walloon biotech focused on in‑patient cell engineering to upgrade immune cells’ capacity to identify and kill cancer cells. The company aims to develop cost‑effective, off‑the‑shelf therapeutics inspired by CAR‑T approaches but without isolating cells from patients. EsoBiotec will leverage technologies from VUB teams (ICMI and LMCT) to manipulate cells directly in the blood rather than in the lab. Founding CEO Jean‑Pierre Latere is collaborating with VUB researchers Nick Devoogdt and Karine Breckpot and their teams. The approach is intended to reduce the complexity and cost of current cell and gene therapies and to broaden applicability beyond blood cancers. Financially, EsoBiotec has secured a EUR 6 million pre‑series A round composed of non‑dilutive Walloon Government funding plus seed investments from Thuja Capital, SRIW Life Sciences, and Sambrinvest.

Total raised

$9M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Series A

Latest activity

Dec 2023