The Novo Nordisk Foundation has launched CardioMetabolic Bridge, a new pan-European initiative backed by up to €60.2 million over six years to accelerate drug discovery and the development of next-generation therapies for cardiometabolic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The programme aims to address a major challenge in Europe’s research ecosystem: many promising academic discoveries fail to progress beyond the laboratory and reach patients.
CardioMetabolic Bridge will support selected academic research projects through funding, scientific and commercial mentoring from entrepreneurs and industry experts, and access to advanced research infrastructure. The first laboratory site is opening in London, with additional sites planned in Italy and Germany.
The initiative seeks to strengthen collaboration among Europe’s leading innovation hubs, helping transform scientific discoveries into practical healthcare solutions while enhancing Europe’s competitiveness in life sciences. According to Novo Nordisk Foundation CEO Professor Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, Europe has strong talent and high-quality cardiometabolic research, but too few discoveries are translated into real-world therapies. The programme is intended to bridge that gap and help convert more academic research into viable drug discovery projects.
CardioMetabolic Bridge is also designed to support the creation of new cardiometabolic-focused startups and facilitate growth opportunities for established pharmaceutical companies. By helping researchers generate the data packages required by industry, the initiative aims to shorten the path from academic discovery to industry-ready innovation.
The programme has already attracted interest from major European research institutions, including Imperial College London. Professor Graham Cooke of Imperial College noted that while European institutions produce excellent research, many discoveries lack the support necessary to advance toward patient benefit, making initiatives such as CardioMetabolic Bridge particularly important.
The initiative will be led by the BioInnovation Institute (BII), a Danish organisation focused on life science and deep-tech innovation. BII CEO Jens Nielsen described the programme as a natural extension of the institute’s mission to support research and innovation that benefits patients and society. The initiative represents a significant effort to strengthen Europe’s capacity to develop new therapies for cardiometabolic diseases and bring more scientific breakthroughs from the laboratory to the marketplace.
