Biotech company Lumox has won a first prize at the NL Startup Competition, one of the leading startup competitions in the Netherlands, in which more than 125 startups pitched to investors, corporates, and ecosystem leaders.

The jury, consisting of Marsha Goei (co-founder of Breeze), Martijn Starre (Rabobank), Dirk Schraven (Erasmus MC), and Tamara Elmore (V.O. Patents & Trademarks), chose Lumox as the winner out of a field of strong startups.

Next to the cash prize, Lumox won a trip to the United States with access to the Tim Draper ecosystem in Silicon Valley, where the team will connect with founders and investors behind the next generation of innovative companies.

“Real impact? Once we bring this to patients”

For the Utrecht-based company, the award is recognition rather than a finish line. Lumox is developing a new generation of cancer medication that stays inactive in the body until it is activated at the tumor site, precisely when and where doctors want, allowing for higher dosing with improved safety and effectiveness.

“Does this mean we’ve made a difference? Absolutely not,” the team says. “Real impact comes once we bring this to the patients who need it most.”

About Lumox — Lumox is a Utrecht-based biotech company developing Rapid PhotoTherapy: a new generation of precision cancer medicines that combine a tumor-seeking nanobody with a light-activatable drug. The medicine remains inactive in the body until it is switched on with harmless light, exactly where and when it is needed, killing cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. Lumox builds on more than a decade of research at Utrecht University and works closely with UMC Utrecht. More information: www.lumoxbiotech.com