Confo Therapeutics – Unlocking the power of GPCRs
Confo Therapeutics, founded in 2015, has rapidly emerged as a leading force in Belgium’s biotech sector. The company originated from the pioneering work of Professor Jan Steyaert (VIB-VUB) and Nobel Laureate Professor Brian Kobilka (Stanford University), who were the first to stabilise a GPCR in its active state - a major breakthrough for this receptor class. Supported by VIB’s New Ventures team, this discovery set the stage for Confo’s foundation. Under the guidance of CEO Cedric Ververken, Confo has evolved from a small six-person start-up into a clinical-stage biotech with global ambitions, advancing innovative programs in pain, obesity, and endocrine diseases.
From academic breakthrough to biotech platform
Confo’s core technology, ConfoBody®, employs single-domain antibodies (VHHs) to lock GPCRs in pharmacologically relevant conformations, thus enhancing the ability to screen for both small molecules and antibodies. Although the underlying technology was revolutionary, extending its application to novel drug targets presented significant challenges. Initially, the platform was restricted to a few model GPCRs, making progress difficult for other targets, especially for those without known ligands.
To address these obstacles, Confo developed ConfoChimer®, a chimeric GPCR platform that integrates known intracellular loops from a donor receptor (where ConfoBodies bind) with a novel GPCR of interest. This innovation broadened the platform’s reach to a wider array of GPCRs, including orphan receptors with no known ligands, and unlocked new possibilities in drug discovery. Confo’s advancements have demonstrated the ability to target receptors that had previously eluded other researchers.
A pivotal call: preserving the platform vision
A defining moment in Confo’s history occurred in 2022, when new investors sought to narrow the company’s focus exclusively to its clinical-stage pain program and reduce development of the broader platform and pipeline.
Confo opted not to pursue this path and instead, the company chose to partner its clinical-stage pain program, centered on a novel AT2R (angiotensin type 2 receptor) antagonist, CFTX-1554 to Eli Lilly. Discovered and developed using Confo’s proprietary platform, CFTX-1554 exhibited a clean safety profile, setting it apart from previous compounds in its class that failed due to liver toxicity. The partnership not only generated non-dilutive capital but also validated the potential of Confo’s platform to discover novel therapeutics, and brought a top-tier pharma partner on board, allowing Confo to maintain its broader multi-program strategy.
“It was a calculated risk, but in hindsight, clearly the best decision for the company,” Cedric reflects. “In addition, through our partnership with Lilly, CFTX-1554 will be evaluated in multiple pain indications in parallel, potentially allowing more patients to benefit.”
Following the agreement with Lilly, Confo successfully completed a €60 million Series B round in the summer of 2024, providing further resources to advance its proprietary pipeline.
Strategic use of grants for long-term innovation
Despite reaching an advanced stage of financing, grant funding remains integral to Confo’s innovation strategy. The company has received multiple grants from Innoviris and VLAIO. From the beginning, Confo focused grant funding on technology development - areas less attractive to equity investors seeking short-term R&D returns. By centering grant proposals around long-term platform improvements with clear applicability to its R&D programs, Confo has generated lasting value and economic return for the region.
GPR75: A genetically-validated target in the fight against obesity
A standout example of the platform’s potential is Confo’s GPR75 program. GPR75 is a genetically-validated target in the obesity field, with extensive data from over 100,000 individuals linking its loss-of-function mutations to lower body weight and reduced risk of obesity. Targeting this receptor has been particularly challenging for researchers due to the absence of a known natural ligand and frequent screening artefacts in conventional assays.
Confo’s ConfoBody® and ConfoChimer® technologies allowed them to study GPR75 and overcome screening challenges, enabling successful identification of antagonists. While other companies are pursuing this target, Confo appears to be leading the field.
“Pharma knows our program is out there,” Cedric says. “Obesity is a hot space, and we’re in the right place at the right time with a technology that can truly deliver.”
A pipeline with a clear strategic focus
Today, Confo is advancing a robust pipeline structured around three key pillars:
- A partnered clinical-stage pain program (AT2R antagonist) with Eli Lilly. Confo is eligible for milestones and royalties, enabling ongoing value creation.
- Proprietary obesity programs including GPR75 progressing through lead optimization, with the goal of securing a high-value partnership at the right time.
- An in-house endocrine disease portfolio, where Confo aims to independently develop and commercialize therapies, focusing on orphan indications that support a leaner, targeted go-to-market strategy.
In addition to its technical edge, Confo’s ability to pursue both small molecules and antibodies against GPCR targets distinguishes it from competitors. This versatility enables Confo to develop products across a broad spectrum of diseases - from CNS conditions requiring brain penetration to long-acting biologics for chronic metabolic disorders.
Leadership reflections
Contrary to the common perception of biotech leadership as isolating, Cedric sees it differently:
“I’ve never found being CEO to be a lonely job. If you build the right team and foster real dialogue, you never have to carry the weight alone.”
His advice for first-time CEOs? Stay close to the science, be honest with your team and board, and always communicate openly - even when things don’t go as planned.
Looking ahead
With a strong scientific foundation, a differentiated platform, and a clear strategy spanning both partnered and proprietary assets, Confo Therapeutics continues to deliver value across multiple dimensions. For the pain program, value is realized through non-dilutive returns from milestones and royalties; for obesity, the focus is on forming the right partnership at the right time; and for endocrine diseases, it’s about building towards future independence by developing impactful medicines for rare indications.
“We’re at a stage now where we’ve proven the science. Now it’s about translating that into real value - with the right programs, the right partners, and the right deals.”
