Vergilius Therapeutics is the winner of the Drug Repurposing Venture Challenge (DRVC) 2026. The team is working on a new treatment to prevent the recurrence of melanoma. During the FAST event on 29 October, the team received a cheque for €20,000 to further the development of their treatment. The jury was impressed by the advanced stage of development, the convincing path towards a Phase III trial and the focus on affordability.

The Drug Repurposing Venture Challenge is a joint initiative by FAST and ZonMw, designed to encourage researchers to further develop promising new applications for existing medicines. It is not just about scientific innovation, but also about how a treatment can actually be made available and affordable to patients.

A compelling development plan with a focus on affordability
Vergilius Therapeutics, which originated at Amsterdam UMC, focuses on preventing the recurrence of melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer. The team has already taken significant steps in the development of the treatment. During the final on 7 October, Vergilius Therapeutics presented its development and business plan to a panel of experts. The team impressed the panel with a strong presentation and convincing answers to their questions. The results achieved and the clear path towards a Phase III trial give the jury confidence in the project’s future development. They also appreciated that the team had given careful consideration to the intended price of the treatment. Furthermore, the ambition to progress to a Phase III trial with relatively limited funding requirements demonstrates how a well-thought-out development strategy can contribute to the affordability of innovative therapies. For the next phase, the jury advises the team to further refine the business strategy and identify suitable development and commercial partners. It remains important to ensure that the intended affordability is maintained throughout the remainder of the development process.

Four teams present their innovations at the FAST event
The announcement was made during the FAST 2026 event, themed ‘Breakthroughs: innovation & affordability in practice’. The four finalists – Vergilius Therapeutics, Medformentia, Mitosis Therapeutics and Flux Therapeutics – presented their innovations to the public during the event. They are working on new treatment options for a wide range of conditions, including various forms of cancer (melanoma, glioblastoma), vascular cognitive disorders and Alzheimer’s disease. Saco de Visser, scientific director at FAST, reflected on the opportunities and challenges of drug repurposing. Merik Seven, programme director at ZonMw, then explained the jury’s decision. Together, they announced Vergilius Therapeutics as the winner and presented them with a cheque for €20,000.

From existing medicines to new treatments
Drug repurposing – the development of existing medicines for new applications – offers opportunities to develop treatments more quickly and at lower cost. However, promising research findings do not automatically reach patients. In particular, organising follow-up research, securing funding and developing a viable business case present significant challenges. Through the Drug Repurposing Venture Challenge, FAST and ZonMw support researchers in making the transition from scientific discovery to a concrete development and business plan. During the programme, the participating teams received guidance from experts in the fields of drug development, entrepreneurship and financing. The four finalists demonstrate how scientific innovation, entrepreneurship and social responsibility can reinforce one another. In doing so, the challenge contributes to the development of new treatments, taking into account both the feasibility of their development and their ultimate affordability for patients.