Investor News

VIB spin-off MRM Health reports positive preclinical results in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

MRM Health is a VIB spin-off founded in 2020 by Sam Possemiers in a joint venture with VIB. Using a 9-strain bacterial consortium, MRM Health’s laboratories led by Dr. Salvador Augustin and Dr. Maria Martell of the University Hospital of Vall d’Hebron were able to slow down disease progression in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Preclinical results show that a live bacterial consortium of 9 rationally selected gut commensal strains were able to improve portal hypertension, insulin signaling, and NAFLD activity score. Additionally, the consortium helped prevent fibrosis development in two different in vivo disease models of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), improving endothelial functions and rebalancing the gut microbiome.

Lies Vanneste

Lies Vanneste

Investor Relations Manager, VIB

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Spectacular Breakthrough in Sepsis Research: Vitamin B1 Stops Deadly Lactate Production and Opens the Door to a New Treatment
Ghent, July 29, 2025 – Scientists in Ghent have achieved a major breakthrough in sepsis research. In a study on mice, the researchers demonstrate that vitamin B1 (thiamine pyrophosphate, TPP) restores mitochondrial energy metabolism, drastically reduces lactate production, and increases survival rates in sepsis. The study results were published in Cell Reports.
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Scientists discover brain switch that controls freeze-or-flight survival instincts
Leuven, Belgium, 23 July 2025 – Researchers have identified a key neural switch that controls whether animals instinctively flee from a threat or freeze in place. By comparing two closely related deer-mouse species, they found that this switch is calibrated by evolution to match the animal's habitat. This neural circuit is hypersensitive in mice living in densely vegetated environments, causing instant escape, but less responsive in their open-field cousins, who are more likely to freeze. In doing so, the research team uncovered an important way in which evolution fine-tunes the brain for survival.
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Groundbreaking Study Offers a Novel Approach to Enhance Neuromuscular Function in Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Findings published in The American Journal of Pathology identify GLUD1 enzyme as a potential therapeutic target for muscle restoration through metabolic reprogramming, addressing clinically unmet need for treatment beyond symptom relief
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About VIB

VIB is an independent research institute that translates insights in biology into impactful innovations for society. Collaborating with the five Flemish universities, it conducts research in plant biology, cancer, neuroscience, microbiology, inflammatory diseases, artificial intelligence and more. VIB connects science with entrepreneurship and stimulates the growth of the Flemish biotech ecosystem. The institute contributes to solutions for societal challenges such as new methods for diagnostics and treatments, as well as innovations for agriculture. 

Learn more at www.vib.be.

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