Ghent-based biotech company MyNeo has been acquired by US-based mRNA specialist Arcturus Therapeutics. MyNeo is an AI-driven bioinformatics company that helps vaccine and drug developers identify biological disease targets using genetic and immunological data. The financial details of the acquisition have not yet been disclosed.
Founded in 2018, MyNeo develops technologies that can create a molecular “fingerprint” of cells based on genetic and immunological data. This enables researchers to identify potential targets for the immune system and has applications in vaccine and drug development.
The company has previously collaborated with organisations including Janssen Pharmaceutica and German biotech company CureVac on the identification of targets for mRNA-based cancer vaccines.
Arcturus Therapeutics, headquartered in San Diego and listed on Nasdaq, develops mRNA-based treatments for liver and respiratory diseases and has also developed a COVID-19 vaccine. The company plans to use MyNeo’s technology to accelerate the development of new mRNA-based therapies.
“We have been working closely with Arcturus since 2024 and are very pleased to announce this transaction,” says Cedric Bogaert, CEO of MyNeo and one of the company’s co-founders. Bogaert will remain with the company following the acquisition.
The acquisition comes as interest in mRNA technology continues to expand beyond COVID-19 vaccines, including applications in cancer immunotherapy and personalised cancer vaccines. By combining patient-specific biological data with mRNA technology, researchers are exploring new ways to stimulate the immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells.
