SAVE Wins the First Drug Repurposing Venture Challenge

On 8 October 2025, the final of the pilot edition of the Drug Repurposing Venture Challenge, organised by FAST and ZonMw, took place. Five promising teams presented their business cases in front of an expert jury — with Team SAVE emerging as the winner. The €20,000 prize was awarded by Han van Krieken (ZonMw) and Paul Smits (FAST).

SAVE convinced the jury with their innovative approach to repurposing Sirolimus for the treatment of rare congenital vascular anomalies. The team demonstrated deep medical and pharmacological expertise, a strong understanding of the disease’s long-term effects, and a clear, patient-centred vision focused on affordable access. Their strategic plan for clinical application set them apart as the clear winner.

The Final Day

The jury — consisting of Arno de Wilde, Karel Stolper, Corné Baatenburg de Jong, Saharla Ahmed, and Stijn van Rompay — evaluated five high-quality pitches. Teams presented how they had analysed feasibility, risks, and market opportunities throughout the challenge, and how they planned their next steps towards implementation.

In addition to SAVE, the finalists Sherwood, Omnicin Therapeutics, Nephraxis, and SimpLEIGH showcased impactful projects with strong potential. Together, they embodied the mission of this venture challenge: to stimulate entrepreneurship and accelerate innovation in drug repurposing.

Why Drug Repurposing Matters

Drug repurposing — applying existing medicines to new indications — offers significant advantages:

• Faster and more cost-efficient development, as safety and toxicity data are often already available.

• Greater patient access, by enabling on-label rather than off-label use.

• Social responsibility and impact, particularly for rare diseases where commercial incentives are limited.

At the same time, challenges such as regulatory complexity, reimbursement issues, and limited market potential remain. The Drug Repurposing Venture Challenge helps teams address these barriers by developing a strong venture case, showing that drug repurposing is not only a scientific niche but a realistic pathway to patient-centred innovation.

Driving Responsible Entrepreneurship

Through this initiative, FAST and ZonMw aim to go beyond traditional research funding — helping scientists translate discoveries into socially responsible entrepreneurship and validated clinical solutions. The programme supports researchers in moving from academic proof-of-concept to viable venture development, strengthening the ecosystem around drug repurposing in the Netherlands and Europe.

Next Steps

With the award, Team SAVE will continue working on registration trajectories, validation studies, and partnerships with hospitals, patient organisations, and investors. The other teams will remain connected to the network and receive coaching and follow-up support.

FAST and ZonMw invite investors, healthcare institutions, policymakers, and patient groups to get involved in advancing drug repurposing innovation in the Netherlands.

The organisers look forward to the impact that SAVE will make — and to the continued growth of the Drug Repurposing Venture Challenge as a driver of meaningful innovation.

Photo: Michiel Heijmans Photography (October 2025)

Source: Zonmw