The Tecnimede Open Innovation Competition aims to foster collaboration between Tecnimede Group and innovators in the field of pharmaceutical technologies, including academic scientists, startups, and biopharmaceutical companies.

Launched in collaboration with HiSeedTech, the competition attracted a highly competitive pool of applications from across the European ecosystem. After a rigorous evaluation process by the Selection Jury, 10 outstanding projects have been selected.

Meet the 10 Finalists:

• AAV-Based Gene Therapy for PPMS – A novel Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy for Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS). Its intravenously injected delivery system efficiently crosses the blood-brain barrier, offering a new treatment for this currently untreatable neurodegenerative disease.

• Glioblastoma Treatment Innovation – A novel glioblastoma treatment using a patient-tailored stent (gliomaSTENT) and hybrid nanoparticles. This platform delivers targeted chemotherapy and localized heat therapy to improve drug retention and patient outcomes

• GnRHope – A novel cognitive-enhancing treatment approach for neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. It aims to improve patient autonomy, aid workforce integration, and relieve caregiver burden.

• iPLUS – A disruptive technology for biomanufacturing that doubles therapeutic protein yield. It easily integrates into vectors without altering coding sequences, simplifying regulatory compliance, seamlessly integrating into current biopharma manufacturing and boosting production.

• mFibro – a polymeric carrier system for targeted mRNA delivery to fibroblasts. This technology aims to treat fibrotic diseases by enhancing stability and creating an efficient delivery platform.

• NEXOLIVAD – An exosome-based therapy for Alzheimer’s, targeting the liver-brain axis. Its engineered exosomes cross the blood-brain barrier, restoring metabolic health and reducing neuroinflammation to slow disease progression.

• Optomics® Technology – A photonics and AI platform creating digital libraries of nano-biomarkers for rapid, label-free blood analysis, advancing Alzheimer’s diagnostics.

• PURR.AI’s AGELESS Platform – An AI-powered platform accelerating drug discovery for brain diseases by predicting blood-brain barrier permeability and reducing failure rates in Central Nervous System drug development.

• Reventus Pharma – Repositioning REV-604 to target MELAS syndrome, accelerating development for this severe mitochondrial disorder using AI-driven selection and strong preclinical data.

• Targeting VGF Receptor Signalling for Brain Metastasis – A dual-action small-molecule therapy designed to block key signaling pathways, preventing tumor cells from entering the brain and stopping metastasis progression at its origin.

The teams behind these projects will now pitch their solutions to a distinguished jury composed of academic, and business leaders at the final event, which will be held on September 17 at the Ordem dos Farmacêuticos in Lisbon. The final event will be private, and during this occasion, the jury will select one winning project to receive the €100,000 Jorge Ruas Award.

We invite you to follow our LinkedIn page, where we will launch a dedicated campaign featuring videos introducing each finalist team.

Join us to learn more about their groundbreaking solutions and get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the future of pharmaceutical technologies.