Liège 17 February 2025 – Allegro, a pioneering biomedical company from Belgium, has won the prestigious Companion Animals Prize for its hydrocelin disease-modifying treatment for osteoarthritis at the 2025 Animal Health, Nutrition & Technology Innovation (AHNTI) Europe conference in London. Choosing from more than 160 applicants, and a shortlist of 8, the jury awarded Allegro with the first prize, marking its leadership in veterinary and human musculoskeletal health.
“Allegro’s microgel injectable technology is designed to transform the way we treat osteoarthritis, by addressing the biomechanics in the joins of both animals and humans,” said Lucas Decuypere, Founder & CEO of Allegro. “Winning this award is a testament to our groundbreaking work and strengthens our mission to revolutionize musculoskeletal care.”
Hydrocelin contains cross-linked microparticles that act as tiny shock absorbers in the synovial fluids in the joint. This can reduce the pressure on mechano-sensitive nerve endings, to provide immediate pain relief, and starts to protect cartilage. Allegro intends to launch multi-center pivotal clinical studies in osteoarthritis in medical centres across Belgium in 2025.
AHNTI Europe is a premier event in the animal health industry, attracting top-tier startups, investors, and key opinion leaders. It took place in London on 12 February. The judges awarding the prize were Paul Dick, President, Paul Dick & Associates, Pierre Ducray, Vice President, Global Technical Development, Elanco, Steve Nanchen, Senior Director, Head External Innovation, Elanco and Roman Makovitskiy, Managing Director, BofA Securities, Inc.
With this recognition, Allegro is poised to accelerate its mission of bringing next-generation osteoarthritis treatments to market, targeting key hospitals in the EU and US ahead of its 2027 and 2028 launches.