SwiftPharma Expands R&D Footprint to Leuven in Strategic Co-Location with Benno Therapeutics
Genk, Belgium – April 1, 2026 — SwiftPharma and Benno Therapeutics are pleased to announce a new strategic co-location agreement to accelerate plant-based oncology research. While SwiftPharma will maintain its corporate headquarters and primary operations at ThorPark in Genk, the company has officially "checked in" to the Leuven Lab Hotel to establish a dedicated Research & Development site.
This new hub allows SwiftPharma to work in immediate proximity to Benno Therapeutics, sharing lab infrastructure and office space. By co-locating, the two companies are fostering a "living lab" environment where shared passion and technical expertise can be exchanged in real-time. The primary focus of this site will be the development of a novel, plant-produced cancer cure—leveraging the speed and scalability of plant-based biopharmaceuticals.
"At SwiftPharma, we believe that the next generation of therapeutics requires a new way of working," says Jeroen Hofenk, Founder and CSO of SwiftPharma. "By establishing this R&D site in Leuven while keeping our headquarters in Genk, we gain the best of both worlds: our established expertise and the ability to work shoulder-to-shoulder with the Benno team. Sharing this infrastructure allows us to move at the speed of thought."
"Innovation is as much about environment as it is about science," adds Erwin Blomsma, CEO of Benno Therapeutics. "Welcoming SwiftPharma into our facilities at the Leuven Lab Hotel creates a unique synergy. We aren't just collaborating on paper; we are sharing the same lab benches and the same daily drive to bring a plant-based cancer cure to patients. This is how you bridge the gap between discovery and impact."
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About SwiftPharma BV
SwiftPharma is a Belgium-based privately held biotechnology company dedicated to developing next generation, animal-free, and affordable recombinant proteins by transforming plants into mini bioreactors. The company is on a mission to bring a paradigm shift to multiple industries by serving as a bridge between high unmet industry needs and the significant advances being made in sustainable biomanufacturing. For more information, visit www.swiftpharma.eu
About Benno Therapeutics BV
Benno Therapeutics specializes in innovative therapies for oncological conditions in animals and strives to improve animal health through advanced biotechnology. The company is based in Heverlee. For more information, visit www.bennotx.com