The Flemish Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology (IWT) is awarding Galapagos a €2.3 million ($3.1 million) grant to create a new fibrosis research platform that will help the firm develop novel fibrosis drug candidates. Galapagos plans to build this platform—the focus of a two-year project—by integrating data obtained from clinical and preclinical research on several fibrotic diseases with similar root causes, including lung, kidney, liver, and skin fibrosis.

Galapagos says the primary aim of IWT’s grant is to deliver a comprehensive fibrosis research platform combining tools and knowledge from Galapagos and several academic labs that will create a research environment allowing for better selection of targets and molecules for drug discovery. Researchers from KU Leuven, the University of Ghent, and VU Brussels will also be participating in the project. 

Back in September, Galapagos’ experience with fibrotic diseases also caught the attention of AbbVie, who announced a pact with the firm to develop and commercialize new oral therapies for cystic fibrosis. This deal, AbbVie’s second with Galapagos, is said to be worth up to $405 million.

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