Allegro Wins Prestigious Companion Animals Prize at Animal Health Europe
Allegro, a pioneering company developing a disease-modifying injectable for osteoarthritis, has been awarded the prestigious Companion Animals Prize at Animal Health Europe 2025 Conference in London. Selected from over 160 applicants, Allegro’s pitch wowed the jury. They awarded Allegro with the first prize, solidifying its position as a leader in veterinary and human musculoskeletal health.
Animal Health Europe, a premier event in the animal health industry, attracted top-tier startups, investors, and key opinion leaders. Out of 160+ applicants, only eight companies were selected to present their breakthrough technologies to an esteemed panel of judges, including industry leaders from Elanco, BofA Securities, and Paul Dick & Associates.
Allegro’s innovative approach, focusing on a mechanical mode of action and a strong competitive advantage, captivated the judges and secured the top prize.
“Our technology is designed to transform osteoarthritis treatment by addressing the biomechanics in 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.”
The selection and judging committees featured prominent industry figures, including:
Selection Committee:
- Andreas Kastenbauer, Partner, MIG Capital
- Julia Stephanus, Partner, Borealis Ventures
- Paul Dick, President, Paul Dick & Associates
- Chares Hoare, Managing Director, Head of European Healthcare, Stifel
- Natalie Marks, President, MarksDVMConsulting & Executive Committee Member, VANE
- Sarah Aitchison, Incubation Manager, vHive University of Surrey
- Justine Conway, VP Business Development & External Innovation, Elanco
- Philippe Moreau, Director, Animal Health Angels
Judges:
- Paul Dick, President, Paul Dick & Associates
- Pierre Ducray, Vice President, Global Technical Development, Elanco
- Steve Nanchen, Senior Director, Head External Innovation, Elanco
- Roman Makovitskiy, Managing Director, BofA Securities, Inc.
The event also saw another Belgian success story, with Benno Therapeutics, a Leuven-based company developing an innovative cancer vaccine for pet animals, winning the public prize. This was Benno’s second Animal Health Innovation award in just three months time. The success of both companies highlights the strength and innovation coming from Belgium’s life sciences sector.
With this recognition, Allegro is poised to accelerate its mission of bringing next-generation osteoarthritis treatments to market.