VU spin-off Incircular receives support from Noord-Holland Innovation Fund

VU spin-off Incircular received a €300,000 convertible loan from Noord-Holland Innovation Fund. With the loan, Incircular will further develop its INCYPRO technology to stabilize proteins for applications in research and drug discovery. 

Proteins perform a plethora of essential tasks with unparalleled efficiency and specificity within every organism. It is these properties that have driven scientists to make use of proteins for biotechnological applications. However, with proteins being large and complex molecules, a major limitation is presented by the lack of protein integrity or stability in an application-relevant environment. With its unique, innovative and patented technology, Incircular will break these limitations to unleash novel applications in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics.

The use of proteins in medicines and diagnostics has exploded in recent years and this is expected to be an ongoing trend due to scientific advances in molecular biology, chemistry and genetics. Importantly, recent developments allow for a more detailed analysis of proteins at the molecular level, enabling the development of technologies such as INCYPRO. The patented technology will provide robust and stable proteins for applications in drug discovery. CEO and co-founder of Incircular and co-inventor of the INCYPRO technology dr. Saskia Neubacher: “With the support of Innovation Fund Noord-Holland, we can expand our technology to include more proteins that are crucial for pharmaceutical and diagnostic applications.”

About Incircular
The INCYPRO technology of Incircular was developed in the laboratories of prof. dr. Tom Grossmann at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Saskia Neubacher, Sven Hennig and Tom Grossmann from the Department of Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Amsterdam Institute of Molecular & Life Sciences launched their new company with support from IXA and the Demonstrator Lab. The team of scientists has received funding from the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and the European Research Council (ERC). In 2019, the INCYPRO technology reached the finals of the competition for the Amsterdam Science & Innovation Award.

About Noord-Holland Innovation Fund
The Noord-Holland Innovation Fund is an initiative of the Province of Noord-Holland, the University of Amsterdam, the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam UMC and Sanquin, with support from the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund. The Fund supports entrepreneurs in the Province of Noord-Holland by financing innovations in the Proof-of-Concept phase. The Fund provides convertible loans. The term of the first fund part is 2018-2023. www.innovatiefondsnoordholland.nl