Solvay SA

The appointments position MRM Health for its next key clinical, partnering and financing milestones GHENT, Belgium--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- #biotechnology --MRM Health, a clinical-stage biotech developing microbiome-based therapies for immune-mediated diseases, today announced the appointment of two experienced industry leaders to its Board of Directors as the Company enters a pivotal phase of growth. With its lead program, MH002, in Phase 2b clinical development, recent FDA Fast Track designation and a €55 million Series B financing, MRM Health is strengthening its Board to support the Company through its next clinical, strategic and financing milestones. Michel Detheux, PhD, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors, taking over from Werner Cautreels. Prof. Dr. med. Hans-Jürgen Wörle joins the Board as an Independent Director. “MRM Health is entering a pivotal phase, with MH002 advancing into Phase 2b clinical development and significant momentum across the business. The appointments of Michel and Hans-Jürgen significantly strengthen our Board with proven leaders in drug development, regulatory strategy, capital markets, strategic transactions and M&A. This Board has been assembled to support MRM Health as we advance MH002 through Phase 2b, prepare for late-stage development and position the Company for its next key milestones. Backed by our CORAL® platform and the positive Phase 2a data generated to date, we are convinced MH002 can become a cornerstone of next-generation microbiome therapeutics,” said Dr. Sam Possemiers, CEO of MRM Health . Proven leaders with expertise spanning biotech company-building, late-stage development and microbiome therapeutics As Chairman, Dr. Detheux brings more than three decades of experience in innovation and value creation in life sciences. He is internationally recognized as a biotech entrepreneur and active board member. As founding Chief Executive Officer of iTeos Therapeutics, he led the company from its inception through a successful crossover financing and NASDAQ IPO, raising a total of $335 million in 2020. He subsequently spearheaded iTeos’ landmark $2 billion strategic collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline for its lead clinical program. Dr. Detheux currently serves as Chairman of the Board at Egle Therapeutics and as a board member at Vor Bio. He holds a degree in bioengineering, a PhD in Biochemistry from Université Catholique de Louvain and a business certificate from Solvay Business School. "MRM Health has established a unique position at the intersection of microbiome science, clinical excellence and industrial scalability. MH002 is a promising candidate with the potential to fundamentally transform the treatment of immune-mediated diseases in the gut. I look forward to working closely with the management team and the Board of Directors to help shape the next stage of the Company's development," said Michel Detheux, PhD. New Independent Director Prof. Dr. med. Hans-Jürgen Wörle is a highly accomplished, board-certified internist with longstanding experience in gastrointestinal diseases, as well as an endocrinologist and diabetologist, with senior R&D executive expertise across the entire drug development continuum. Prof. Wörle previously served as Global Vice President Medicine at Boehringer Ingelheim, where he drove the development and global success of major diabetes therapies, including Jardiance® and Trajenta®, and secured the first-ever FDA cardiovascular-mortality claim for a diabetes medicine. More recently, he was Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at Nestlé Health Science, where he was instrumental in transforming the organization into a science-driven healthcare business, played a critical role in the development and successful commercial transaction of Vowst®, the first FDA-approved oral microbiome therapy, and contributed to several landmark deals and product launches. He brings substantial M&A and investor-side experience across multiple acquisitions, in-licensing transactions and R&D collaborations. He advises biotech boards, CEOs and investors at critical inflection points. He holds an MD from the University of Munich. “The microbiome field has moved from promise to proof, and the question now is which programs can be developed with the rigor and discipline that regulators and patients require. Having helped bring the first approved oral microbiome therapy through development, I see in MRM Health’s differentiated CORAL® platform and promising MH002 clinical data in inflammatory bowel diseases the combination of science and execution that defines the next generation. I believe MH002 has great potential to address a major unmet medical need and am joining the team to help translate this into clinical reality for patients,” said Prof. Dr. med. Hans-Jürgen Wörle . MRM Health would like to thank Werner Cautreels, who has chaired MRM Health since the Company’s founding in 2020, for his invaluable contributions to the Company’s development. Werner played an important role during a period of significant growth, including successful financing rounds and the continued advancement of MH002 toward late-stage clinical development. *** About MRM Health MRM Health is a clinical-stage biotech developing innovative Live Biotherapeutic Products (LBPs) for immune-mediated diseases with high unmet needs. Its CORAL® platform enables the design and manufacture of disease-focused microbial consortia with enhanced efficacy and scalability. The Company’s lead program, MH002, for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) has shown positive Phase 2a clinical data in ulcerative colitis and pouchitis and is now advancing into late-stage clinical development. MRM Health is expanding its pipeline across other inflammatory diseases and immune-oncology, leveraging AI-guided discovery and deep expertise in microbiome ecosystem biology. In September 2025, MRM Health successfully closed a €55 million Series B round led by Biocodex, with strong support from ATHOS, BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity and existing investors SFPIM, AvH, OMX Europe VF, QBIC II and VIB. For more information, please follow us on LinkedIn or visit the website at . Contacts Corporate MRM Health NV Dr. Sam Possemiers – CEO info@mrmhealth.com Media relations International & DACH MC Services AG Anne Hennecke Phone: +49.151.125.557.59 anne.hennecke@mc-services.eu Media relations BeNeLux/France Backstage Communication Gunther De Backer Phone: +32.475.903.909 gunther@backstagecom.be

Plastics have long played a key role in enabling the design and production of numerous medical devices. But intensive work continues in design studios and materials labs around the world to advance the technology used to save and extend lives. Here is a sampling of some of that work. Introducing the world's first bio-pipette Elm-plastic GmbH, a German manufacturer of dosing aids and primary pharmaceutical packaging, has launched the first commercially available pipette made from bioplastic. The Dudeldorf-based company said it worked with materials maker Biovox GmbH and the German subsidiary of international plastics distributor Ultrapolymers Group. Bio-Pipette, uses Biovox's MedEco bioplastic, polymers that consist either entirely of polylactic acid or 95 percent bio-based polyethylene. Image courtesy of Elm-plastic GmbH The product, dubbed Bio-Pipette, uses Biovox's MedEco bioplastic. These polymers consist either entirely of polylactic acid (PLA) or 95 percent bio-based polyethylene (PE). They are approved for use in the medical sector, and the resins are compliant with ISO 10993. Compared to existing pipettes made of polyethylene or polypropylene, Elm-plastic says this advancement aids sustainability by enabling a 113 percent reduction in the product's CO₂ footprint (cradle to gate). MedEco PLA also can be processed at low temperatures, which translates into significant energy savings compared to molding fossil-based plastics. Biovox says its PLA is particularly well-suited to producing dimensionally stable injection-molded parts with a non-slip surface. It offers high rigidity and strength, which lends itself to applications with low wall thicknesses. Elm-plastic is responsible for the product-specific design, manufacturing, and regulatory compliance. Biovox developed and manufactures the medical compounds, and Ultrapolymers Deutschland provided initial consulting services for material selection and processing up to the start of series production. A PEEK into the future Brussels-based Syensqo says its medical-grade KetaSpire PEEK resin has enabled the development of a new generation of orthopedic surgical guides made from the advanced polymer. Born out of a 2023 spin-off from Solvay Group, Syensqo collaborated on the project with two leading Brazilian health technology companies — Hanisch Medical and TechImport. The company says these new guides provide surgeons with a lighter and more radiotransparent alternative to traditional metal instruments. "For decades, the rigidity and weight of metal have limited the evolution of surgical guides," the company said. "The new guides, developed in Brazil, are up to 70 percent lighter than traditional metal versions while maintaining equivalent strength and durability. But the true revolution lies in the radiotransparency of KetaSpire PEEK. Unlike metal, this advanced polymer does not interfere with intraoperative imaging such as X-rays." This feature allows for greater precision, since surgeons benefit from a clear, unobstructed view. This, claims Syensqo, also can reduce procedure times and increase surgical confidence. Additionally, the ultralight design minimizes surgeon fatigue. The new PEEK-based guides also are fully compatible with all major sterilization methods, including steam, ethylene oxide, and gamma radiation. Developing a higher-volume biologics injector The biologics market is shifting toward higher-volume medication delivery systems to reduce injection frequency and enable home treatment. Suzhou Savicred Biotechnology Co. Ltd. wanted to develop a 2.25ml biologics injector that could reliably handle larger volumes and more viscous formulations while ensuring patient safety and ease of use. This required biocompatible materials that could meet stringent performance requirements without compromising manufacturability. That's when Savicred, a Chinese medical device maker specializing in drug-delivery and injection systems, chose to work with German materials giant Covestro. Covestro notes that developing auto-injector solutions for high-volume biologics delivery presents complex design and material challenges. This meant addressing multiple critical requirements simultaneously: maintaining strength in load-bearing components under injection forces, achieving structural integrity in ultra-thin walls (≤1.0mm) to enable compact design, providing clear visibility of the drug solution, and meeting strict biocompatibility requirements for patient safety, all while supporting efficient manufacturing of complex components. The parties opted to use Covestro's Makrolon 2458 polycarbonate. The high-performance, biocompatible material enabled a strong yet compact design with ultra-thin walls while offering exceptional clarity, dimensional stability, and excellent processability. Exhibiting a maestro's touch In a separate development, Covestro tapped into its long-time partnership with Finland's TactoTek Oy. It worked with several partners and used TactoTek's patented In-Mold Structural Electronics (IMSE) technology to create an innovative demonstrative device it calls Maestro. The device, which has a smooth, illuminated user interface with integrated touch functionality, is designed to provide simulated, non-invasive glucose measurements and improved molecular diagnostic testing via Covestro's polycarbonate materials. By embedding electronics and structure in a single part, the technology "maximizes resource efficiency, design flexibility, and reliability." This allows for intuitive and illuminated seamless smart surfaces for various human-to-machine interface (HMI) controls. Emily Shaffer, Covestro's Healthcare market manager, said the firm's Makrolon Dx PC resin "provides optical clarity that helps deliver improved molecular diagnostics." Addressing regulatory concerns So-called "forever chemicals" are under attack. These materials — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (or PFAS) — historically have been used in cookware, packaging, and some medical products because of their non-stick, stain-resistant, and fire-retardant properties. But now many governments are in the process of phasing them out, leaving the plastics industry scrambling to find alternatives. The following two products have been previously reported but are worth briefly recapping here, given the attention being given to this highly contentious topic. Sabic goes PFAS-free in a PC copolymer Saudi Arabia-based chemical giant Sabic recently introduced the first PFAS-free grade in its family of PC copolymer resins. Dubbed LNP Elcres NPCRX9612U, the biocompatible, medical-grade material is well suited for healthcare applications. It has chemical resistance that allows it to withstand harsh healthcare disinfectants, is impact-resistant, and enables the type of thin-wall molding often needed to make such products as insulin pumps and diagnostic monitors. A PFAS-free additive Materials design firm Techmer PM, meanwhile, recently partnered with compounder Premix Group to introduce a fluorine-free additive aimed at use in precision labware. The formulation, called TechSurf Low Retention, can be introduced as a masterbatch and dosed with a gravimetric feeder or pre-compounded into a ready-to-use pellet. It's designed to deliver clean fluid release and volumetric accuracy in fluid-management applications such as pipette tips, microplates, and diagnostic devices. Clinton, TN-based Techmer PM says, "These patent-pending and fluorine-free formulations have been validated with various surfactants, organic solutions, deionized water with food dyes, elevated heat aging studies, migration testing, and molding trials." The company says the additive, which has been pre-tested for use in multiple grades of polypropylene, has been "designed to help evacuate fluids from molded pipette tips." Tools for real-time health monitoring Finally, the Wiley Online Library reports there is an overarching trend toward patient-specific, multifunctional devices. “As these devices evolve, the integration of biosensors with 3D-printed polymers could allow for real-time health monitoring, further enhancing the personalized care experience. The main bottlenecks.” It says, “remain regulatory approval pathways and optimizing compatibility between specific polymers and printing methods (FDM, SLA, SLS, bioprinting, etc.).”

Veteran life sciences executive and platform builder brings decades of biopharma leadership to accelerate growth. MORRISVILLE, N.C. and NEW YORK, March 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Peritia, a global biopharmaceutical and medtech consulting company with deep expertise in clinical development and value and evidence generation, today announced the appointment of Michael Griffith as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Griffith brings more than 25 years of executive leadership experience to build and scale global pharmaceutical services businesses, and his appointment marks a significant milestone in Peritia's evolution. A Platform Builder with Proven Impact Continue Reading Michael A. Griffith—A Platform Builder with Proven Impact Most recently, Mike served as founder and CEO of Amplity Health, a global contract medical and commercial organization operating across 40 countries with more than 1,000 colleagues. Prior to Amplity, he served as Operating Partner at Altamont Capital Partners, where he led investments in biopharmaceutical outsourcing businesses, and as President of the Commercial Division of inVentiv Health, a leading global provider of biopharmaceutical outsourcing services across the research and commercialization continuum. His career also includes CEO stints at ChiRex, Aptuit, and Laureate Biopharma — each a recognized leader in contract drug development and manufacturing — as well as board service at Repligen Corporation and other public life sciences companies. He holds a Master of Management degree from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. "As biopharma and medtech innovator funding continues to build, Peritia is exactly the kind of platform the industry needs right now — one that combines scientific depth, strategic advisory, and operational capability to our client engagements," said Mike Griffith. Peritia has successfully completed more than 1,100 engagements in 20 countries for 355 clients in the past five years. "Now we have the opportunity to scale the enterprise with purpose by building on the strong foundation that's already been established. Our goal is to be a trusted partner for biotech, pharma, and medtech innovators who require additional power to navigate clinical development and health economics." Griffith's appointment comes on the heels of Peritia's formal rebranding and consolidation of BioBridges, CHEORS, and Monitorforhire into a unified platform spanning corporate and product strategy, operational execution, and value, evidence, and access. His track record of building high-performance cultures and scaling life sciences service organizations positions him to accelerate Peritia's mission of guiding life sciences organizations from concept to commercialization. For media inquiries or to learn more about how Peritia can support your programs, please contact us at us at [email protected] or visit , or visit our LinkedIn page at About Peritia Peritia is a global biopharmaceutical and medtech consulting company specializing in clinical development and value and evidence generation. We connect industry-leading talent with organizations across the life sciences ecosystem to help bring innovations to patients efficiently and effectively. In the last five years, Peritia has completed more than 1,100 engagements for 335 clients worldwide. Peritia \puh-rish-uh\ noun: the state or quality of being experienced. SOURCE Peritia 21% more press release views with Request a Demo