Venture Challenge alumnus BIMINI Biotech secures €2.2M Eurostars funding

BIMINI Biotech, alumnus of the Venture Challenge Fall 2019, has secured €2.2 million in Eurostars funding for the MYELO-WASP project, aimed at developing a new class of targeted therapies for leukemia.

Advancing first-in-class therapeutics

The international project focuses on small molecule therapeutics targeting the Wiskott–Aldrich Syndrome Protein (WASp), a key regulator in cancer cell biology. By targeting this protein, BIMINI aims to open a new therapeutic avenue for patients with limited treatment options.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains one of the most challenging blood cancers, with high relapse rates and limited long-term survival. Innovative approaches are urgently needed to improve patient outcomes.

Strong European collaboration

The MYELO-WASP project brings together a consortium of leading partners:
• BIMINI Biotech (Netherlands)
• Institute of Oncology Research (IOR) (Switzerland)
• Navegador Biosciences (Portugal)

Together, the partners will:
• Advance translational preclinical development of proprietary WASp modulators
• Identify responsive leukemia subtypes and predictive biomarkers
• Build a comprehensive data package to support first-in-human clinical trials

From discovery to clinic

The project aims to deliver a robust preclinical data package, enabling the next step towards clinical development and bringing this innovative approach closer to patients.

The funding was awarded through the Eurostars program, part of the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs and co-funded by the European Union through Horizon Europe.

This milestone highlights how Venture Challenge alumni continue to translate scientific discoveries into impactful innovations in oncology.

Source: Bimini