Start-up Imisca and Erganeo have signed an exclusive license for a new gel-forming solution to reduce recurrence rates after local treatment of colorectal cancer, improve patient survival and optimize treatment.
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers, with an estimated 1,900,000 new cases worldwide each year, and 930,000 deaths per year. Post-surgical recurrence in colon cancer patients is a major problem. For most patients, conventional chemotherapies and immunotherapies are unable to sustainably control the progression of the disease and its recurrences.
The multidisciplinary teams of Dr. Nathalie Mignet (1), Dr. Robert Malafosse (2) and Prof. Vincent Boudy (3) have developed a new sol-gel formulation (IMS-02) for intra-tumoral injection after radiofrequency treatment. This injectable solution gels at body temperature and has bio-adhesive properties. It is thus stabilized in situ for several days and delivers immunostimulants locally. The activation of the immune response against tumor cells and the demonstration of a memory effect have been demonstrated in the mouse model. These pre-clinical studies also revealed a strong potential for the combination of IMS-02 with checkpoint inhibitors. Optimization of locoregional treatments for these types of cancer was thus demonstrated, with a reduction in the number of recurrences and an improvement in survival rates.
Following three years of maturation support by Erganeo, an exclusive license was signed on May 15, 2023 between Erganeo and start-up Imisca, to exploit the international patents associated with the technology. The start-up, which specializes in biotechnology research and development, was co-founded in 2020 by clinical development specialist Fabrice Ruiz and the inventors of IMS-02.
“We’re looking forward to taking the next key step in this pharmaceutical development, for first-in-man administration in 2024,” says Fabrice Ruiz, President of Imisca.
“This licensing agreement is the culmination of a long and collective effort involving the Erganeo teams, researchers, project leaders and partners who co-own the innovations. It is always with pride and conviction that we transfer innovations from our local establishments to the socio-economic world, with a view to making a positive impact on the treatment of pathologies as severe as colon cancer”, says Naceur Tounekti, President of Erganeo.