Epics prospers with $8.2m

Epics Therapeutics, a Belgium-based oncology spinout of Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), officially launched today with €7.2m ($8.2m) in funding from investors including ULB’s university venture fund Theodorus.
The round was led by Alain Parthoens of Newton Biocapital and included regional investment firms InvestSud and Regional Investment Company of Wallonia.
VC fund Sambrinvest also supplied Epics with funding, as did private investor Pierre Drion, chairman of the university’s nonprofit arm Fondation ULB, and angel investor Jean Combalbert.
Epics Therapeutics is studying modifications in ribonucleic acids (RNAs) that are linked to the onset of cancer with the aim of developing drugs to prevent these changes.
The approach is based on research by co-founder François Fuks, a professor at ULB’s medical school. It focuses on epigenetic outcomes, which are caused by changes in gene expression than mutations in the genetic code itself.
Combalbert, who once led ULB biotech spinout Ogeda, said: “We are excited about the prospect of developing a new class of cancer drugs based on this groundbreaking research on RNA epigenetics.
“Epics takes advantage of Professor Fuks’ expertise in research and the support of a series of experienced investors and their respective networks.”