Usil Therapeutics has reached a major milestone. On Tuesday 5 May, the Luxembourg-based biotech company announced that it had secured a €5.2m European grant under the Hera/EU4Health programme. This funding takes the start-up, which is incubated at City Incubator, to a whole new level, with its sights set on a market that remains largely untapped in Europe.
The project, which received a score of 93 out of 100 from the European Commission, ticks all the strategic boxes. It aims to develop what the company describes as the first universal medical countermeasure for radiation exposure designed and manufactured in Europe. Currently, there is no treatment available in the EU to address acute radiation syndrome, a critical shortcoming in a context of geopolitical tensions and persistent nuclear risks.
For Frédéric Marin, CEO of Usil Therapeutics, the stakes go far beyond scientific innovation alone. “This selection by the European Commission and Hera highlights the urgent need to provide Europe with autonomous solutions that can be deployed on a large scale,” he stresses. “Our ambition is to bridge the gap between cutting-edge biotechnology and real-world operational needs.”
The Step label has also been awarded
Behind this ambition lies a strong consortium led by Usil and supported by the CEA, a European leader in nuclear research. The aim is clear: to rapidly move the molecule developed by the start-up into the industrial phase, with a delivery system designed for emergency situations that can be used even by non-medical staff.
The project has also been awarded the Step label, which is reserved for technologies deemed strategic for European sovereignty. This is a strong political signal, placing Luxembourg’s biotech sector among the continent’s health security priorities.
Beyond the funding, this move confirms the company’s strategic positioning. Operating at the intersection of healthcare, defence and space technology, Usil Therapeutics is targeting a sensitive yet growing market, driven by the need for European resilience. For Luxembourg, the deal further strengthens its position within the deep tech ecosystem, where industrial challenges now intersect with issues of sovereignty.
