EXO Biologics

EXO Biologics SA is a clinical-stage biotechnology firm, established in Liège, Belgium, in 2019. The company is centered on the research and development of therapeutic candidates derived from exosomes, which are extracellular vesicles that facilitate intercellular communication. These exosomes are being positioned as a potentially safer and more consistent alternative to stem cell-based therapies.

The company was founded by Sonia Montiel and works in close collaboration with Professor M. Muraca of the University of Padua. A significant milestone was achieved in April 2024, when EXO Biologics secured up to €16 million in a Series A funding round. This financing consisted of €9 million from investors like Noshaq and various Belgian Family Offices, supplemented by €7 million in subsidies from the Public Service of Wallonia. This capital is intended to support ongoing and future clinical trials, expand manufacturing capabilities, and advance strategic partnerships.

EXO Biologics' business model encompasses a dual strategy. The primary focus is on developing its proprietary pipeline of exosome-based biopharmaceuticals to address rare diseases with significant unmet medical needs. Its lead candidate, EXOB-001, is derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells and is currently in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial for the prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm newborns. The company's development pipeline also targets conditions in respiratory diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, neurology, and oncology. Secondly, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, ExoXpert, the company operates as a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO). ExoXpert offers its proprietary GMP-certified exosome manufacturing platform, ExoPulse, to other biotech companies, providing them with R&D-grade and clinical-grade exosomes. This B2B service addresses a significant market barrier related to the large-scale, cost-effective production of therapeutic exosomes.

The company's core product is its exosome platform technology. The ExoPulse platform is a fully automated, state-of-the-art system for the large-scale production of exosomes. A key feature is the platform's capability to be upgraded for loading exosomes with various therapeutic molecules, such as RNAs, proteins, and chemical drug compounds, effectively turning them into targeted drug delivery vehicles. This technology underpins both their internal drug development and their CDMO services. Notably, EXO Biologics was the first company to receive approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for a clinical trial using MSC-based exosomes. Keywords: exosome therapy, extracellular vesicles, biopharmaceuticals, clinical-stage biotechnology, rare diseases, drug development, contract manufacturing, CDMO, GMP manufacturing, ExoPulse, cell-free therapy, mesenchymal stromal cells, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, drug delivery systems, nanomedicine, biomanufacturing, regenerative medicine, inflammatory diseases, neurology, oncology