Galapagos, a promising future for Flemish biotech
Based in Mechelen, in Flanders, Galapagos is a clinical-stage biotechnology company specialising in the discovery and development of medicines to combat inflammatory diseases.
Due to the encouraging results of several of its drugs, it is now one of the most promising Flemish biotech companies.
Since its creation in 1999, its mission has been to develop small molecule medicines with novel modes of action for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases and fibrosis. More specifically, the company seeks to discover which proteins play a key role in causing certain diseases, and then aims to develop small molecules that inhibit these proteins and mitigate the effects of the disease. Currently, three of these molecules, including their flagship product, Filgotinib are in advanced development and show very encouraging results in terms of their effect on patients.
By focusing on the discovery, development and marketing of innovative medicines and by forming partnerships with international actors, the group is clearly demonstrating its ambition to become a leading global biopharmaceutical company. In 2019, it entered into a 10-year partnership with the American pharmaceutical company Gilead.