T-Guard is a Biotech Booster project addressing a significant unmet medical need in systemic sclerosis, a severe and debilitating autoimmune disease.
Systemic sclerosis is a rare rheumatic condition characterized by inflammation and excessive scarring of the skin and internal organs. It is driven by an overactive immune system can lead to serious complications and dramatically reduce quality of life.
Currently, there is no cure. In the most severe cases, patients may undergo stem cell transplantation, a complex and high-risk procedure that is not suitable for everyone. This creates a pressing need for safer, more effective treatment options.
Philikos – an innovative spin-off from Radboud UMC – is developing a novel therapy designed to selectively eliminate the overactive immune cells responsible for the disease. This approach holds the potential to offer a less invasive and more widely applicable alternative to stem cell transplantation. Last year they were granted with the Biotech Booster level 1 subsidy, which played a key role in helping the project secure additional investments from Health-Holland, Essential Investments, and OostNL. With this support, the team is now ready to launch first-in-human trials.
In February the trial was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Radboud UMC. The trials will begin later this year, with four systemic sclerosis patients receiving treatment. The outcomes of this trial could pave the way for broader clinical development and, ultimately, a new therapeutic option for patients in need.
Read more about T-Guard here.
