Maturation programs

Production of plasmids free of antibiotic resistance genes for gene and cell therapy

Leaders: Corinne MARIE, Brahim Sennane (CNRS-Innovation)
Pre-maturation program supported by CNRS-Innovation: 2021 – 2023
Description: The aim of this pre-maturation program is to identify a chemically defined bacterial culture medium for pFAR plasmid bioproduction on a larger scale and at reduced cost.

Development of drug candidates for amyloid cluster diseases

Maturation program 2023-2026 supported by SATT Grand-Ouest
Leader: Daniel Scherman
Chemistry: Nassima Oumata, UTCBS, U-Paris Cité. Hervé Galons U-Paris Cité
Collaboration :
Prion activity: Cécile Voisset. Université Bretagne Occidentale
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy : Capucine Trollet. INSTITUT de MYOLOGIE-G.H. Pitié Salpétrière
Program: The aim of this project is to identify small molecules active in oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. This rare pathology evolves very slowly according to a prion mechanism. Molecules were identified during a previous collaboration between the teams. New molecules will be prepared and tested in vitro. After controlling muscle penetration of the active molecules, in vivo tests will be carried out on a mouse model of the disease.

Thermosensitive hydrogels for in situ activation of the immune response

SATT IDF Innov maturation program 2016-2018
Leaders: Nathalie Mignet, Vincent Boudy
Collaboration: Dr R. Malafosse, digestive oncologist, Hôp. Ambroise Paré

The multidisciplinary teams of Dr. Nathalie Mignet, Dr. Robert Malafosse and Prof. Vincent Boudy have developed a new sol-gel formulation (IMS-02) for intra-tumoral injection after radiofrequency treatment. This injectable solution gelates 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 evidence 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 achieved, 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. The formulation work, physico-chemical characterization and in vivo evaluation have been published in the following 2 articles:

Mucoadhesive thermosensitive hydrogel for the intra-tumoral delivery of immunomodulatory agents, in vivo evidence of adhesion by means of non-invasive imaging techniques. Lemdani K, Seguin J, Lesieur C, Al Sabbagh C, Doan BT, Richard C, Capron C, Malafosse R, Boudy V, Mignet N. Int J Pharm. 2019 Aug 15;567:118421. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.06.012

Local immunomodulation combined to radiofrequency ablation results in a complete cure of local and distant colorectal carcinoma. Lemdani K, Mignet N, Boudy V, Seguin J, Oujagir E, Bawa O, Peschaud F, Emile JF, Capron C, Malafosse R. Oncoimmunology. 2019 Jan 10;8(3):1550342. DOI: 10.1080/2162402X.2018.1550342.

The work was presented at ASCO in 2017, DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2017.35.15_suppl.e14540 Journal of Clinical Oncology 35, no. 15_suppl

Katia Lemdani was awarded a thesis prize from the Société Française de Génie Biologique et Médical in 2018

The start-up Imisca and Erganeo have signed an exclusive license to exploit this hydrogel. Lire le Communiqué de presse

Novel thermogels for anticancer delivery in digestive cancers

SATT IDF Innov maturation program 2015-2017
Leaders: Nathalie Mignet, Vincent Boudy
Collaboration: Dr Marc Pocard, digestive oncologist, Hôp. Pitié Salpêtrière
The aim of this program was to determine the toxicity of hydrogels and their efficacy in delivering 5-Fu in a murine model of peritoneal metastases.The work led to 3 publications::

Stability of calcium levofolinate, 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) mixture.Al Sabbagh C, Agapova E, Boudy V, Mignet N. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2022 Sep;28(6):1303-1314. DOI: 10.1177/10781552211020808.

Combination of tumor cell anti-adhesion and anti-tumor effect to prevent recurrence after cytoreductive surgery in a mice model. Seguin J, Pimpie C, Roy P, Al Sabbagh C, Pocard M, Mignet N, Boudy V. Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2021 Dec;169:37-43. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2021.01.020.

Thermosensitive hydrogels for local delivery of 5-fluorouracil as neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy in colorectal cancer. Al Sabbagh C, Seguin J, Agapova E, Kramerich D, Boudy V, Mignet N. Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2020 Dec;157:154-164. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2020.10.011.

The latest results in pigs have demonstrated the safety of the hydrogel. (article in progress)

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