KiOmed Pharma

KiOmed Pharma is a Belgian biotechnology company that develops, manufactures, and distributes medical devices based on its proprietary animal-free chitosan biopolymer, KiOmedine®. Founded in 2012 by François Blondel and spun out from KitoZyme, the company targets high-impact pathologies such as osteoarthritis, skin aging, and eye disorders. Blondel, who serves as Executive Chairman, has a background in law and economics and experience in managing technology and healthcare companies. Houtaï Choumane has been the CEO since the company's inception in 2014 and has nearly two decades of experience in the biotech industry, including a previous role as CEO of Artialis S.A., which specialized in biomarkers for musculoskeletal disorders.

The company's core technology, KiOmedine®, is a medical-grade carboxymethyl chitosan (CM-Chitosan) derived from mushrooms, offering an alternative to traditional animal-based chitosan sourced from shellfish. This technology is designed to have high purity, biocompatibility, and provides benefits such as tissue lubrication, protection against oxidative stress, and collagen synthesis stimulation. KiOmed's business model focuses on developing and commercializing a pipeline of injectable medical devices for rheumatology, aesthetic medicine, and ophthalmology. The company generates revenue through the sale of its products and strategic partnerships for global commercialization, including royalty and milestone payments.

One of KiOmed Pharma's key products is KioMedinevsone, a single-injection treatment for knee osteoarthritis symptoms that launched in several European and Middle Eastern markets in 2022. The company has established strategic partnerships to expand its market reach, including collaborations with Hansoh Pharmaceutical for distribution in China and Sinclair for the aesthetic sector. In March 2025, KiOmed Pharma secured €18 million in funding to support the international growth of KiOmedine® and accelerate development in its other focus areas. The company has also partnered with digital therapeutics firm moveUP to create a mobile health application for personalized osteoarthritis treatment.

Keywords: animal-free chitosan, medical devices, osteoarthritis, degenerative diseases, KiOmedine, carboxymethyl chitosan, injectable therapeutics, aesthetic medicine, ophthalmology, rheumatology, biopolymers, KitoZyme spinout, François Blondel, Houtaï Choumane, KioMedinevsone, joint health, skin aging, dry eye syndrome, tissue regeneration, oxidative stress