Europe's CardioMetabolic Bridge to accelerate early drug discovery by 2026

A new initiative called CardioMetabolic Bridge aims to boost Europe’s drug discovery efforts. The programme will support early-stage biomedical research, helping more academic discoveries move towards commercial development. It focuses on cardiometabolic diseases, a major challenge for healthcare systems and a priority for the pharmaceutical industry. The first hub for the CardioMetabolic Bridge will open in London in June 2026. Additional sites in Italy and Germany are planned to follow later the same year. Over six years, the initiative expects to back around 30 projects with funding, lab space, business guidance, mentoring, and expertise in drug discovery.

The programme is managed by Copenhagen-based BioInnovation Institute (BII), which has already supported over 130 companies through its various programmes. BII’s portfolio includes Embark Biotech, an obesity-focused firm acquired by Novo Nordisk in 2023. The Novo Nordisk Foundation has committed up to DKK5.5bn (€736m) to BII for 2026-2035 to expand its role as a European platform.

CardioMetabolic Bridge addresses a persistent issue where promising academic research in Europe often stalls due to limited early commercial testing. By combining philanthropic funding, local academic networks, and BII’s company-building resources, the initiative seeks to bridge this gap and strengthen Europe’s drug discovery ecosystem. The programme will provide funding, facilities, and expertise to selected projects. Its goal is to ensure more biomedical innovations progress from universities to product development. This could lead to new treatments for cardiometabolic diseases reaching patients faster.