SATT[1] Conectus and Find Therapeutics Sign Licensing Agreement to Develop Promising New Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis and Other Demyelinating Diseases
- Potential new therapy to promote regeneration of damaged myelin in multiple sclerosis (MS) and optic neuritis (ON)
- 3 million people live with MS worldwide – 1 million in North America
- MS is a major public health issue with a global drug market estimated at $28 billion in 20282
MONTREAL and STRASBOURG, France, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ – Find Therapeutics Inc. (Montreal, Quebec) and SATT Connect (Strasbourg, France) have signed an exclusive worldwide license to develop a promising therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS) and optic neuritis (ON) based on a new class of compounds. Promising preclinical data show that this innovative therapy, by overcoming molecular barriers to myelin regeneration, could restore myelin function. For patients with MS, it is the hope of being able to stabilize the disease by slowing down physical incapacity or even accelerating functional recovery.
Multiple sclerosis is a major public health issue with more than 1 million people with MS in France. North America and nearly 3 million people around the world battle the disease every day. According to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world with 1 in 400 people affected.
People diagnosed with this progressive autoimmune disease have symptoms that worsen over time as the patient’s own immune system attacks and destroys the myelin that wraps and protects the elements of central nervous system neurons. Usually the body can partially rebuild damaged myelin, but this process is slow and becomes less effective as the disease worsens, leading to irreparable nerve damage and progressive disability. People with MS suffer from a reduced quality of life and often die from complications of their disease. Multiple sclerosis can also affect the eye, with most patients with multiple sclerosis suffering from ON at some point during their disease.
With this new therapeutic approach, Find Therapeutics will use its next generation of compounds that selectively target the regeneration of damaged myelin in MS, which helps protect neurons and maintain their normal function. The first preclinical pharmacology studies, funded by SATT Conectus, demonstrated very encouraging results, delivering an increase in myelin and better function after treatment.
“These results are a major step forward,” said Dr. Philippe DOUVILLE, CEO of Find Therapeutics. “A new therapy promoting remyelination in MS and other diseases involving demyelination would be extremely beneficial for patients and of great interest to the medical community. We are actively advancing the program in preclinical studies and plan to initiate the first human clinical studies once approval is obtained. by regulators.”
This new therapeutic approach is the result of several years of research under the direction of Prof. Dominique BAGNARD3 in the Myelin Biopathology, Neuroprotection and Therapeutic Strategies Laboratory (Inserm U1119- University of Strasbourg, France) which is part of the Institute of Medicine of Strasbourg.
“We have combined our extensive expertise in developmental neurobiology and our unique drug design approach to demonstrate the therapeutic benefit of antagonistic inhibitory factors controlling demyelination and remyelination in several experimental models of MS,” said Prof. BAGNARD. “This research is the result of a relentless scientific investment over more than 10 years during which we had to unravel the mechanism of action of our therapeutic concept while developing a set of companion tests to obtain the right drug with the impact expected and the best safety profile. .”
Find Therapeutics launched in 2020 with investments from CTI Life Sciences, along with partner adMare BioInnovations, and two Strasbourgbiotechnology (Domain Therapeutics and Peptimimesis Pharma). Find Therapeutics decided at the end of 2021 to acquire the exclusive license to develop this cutting-edge technology developed by Prof. BAGNARD’s team, with the support of SATT Conectus.
“Conectus has invested in this innovative project to optimize this therapeutic tool and demonstrate its pharmacological efficacy,” said Caroline DREYER, President of SATT Conectus. “Thanks to our network, we were able to attract the biotech startup Find Therapeutics which showed interest in this exciting program. It is a great example of technology transfer resulting from a synergy between industry, an academic research team and SATT Conectus. Find Therapeutics and Pr Dominique BAGNARD’s team has embarked on a collaboration dedicated to the advancement of this innovative technology which could one day be accessible to patients.”
ABOUT Finding Therapeutics (Montreal Canada)
Find Therapeutics, is dedicated to the development of next-generation transmembrane allosteric modulators to treat rare and inflammatory diseases. The company was launched with investments from CTI Life Sciences, adMare BioInnovations, Domain Therapeutics and Peptimimesis Pharma. https://www.findtherapeutics.com
ABOUT SATT Conectus (Strasbourg, France)
SATT Conectus is the main entry point for partner companies and companies to access all the innovations and capacities of public research in Alsace, one of the first territories classified for excellence in research in France. Thanks to its investment fund, SATT Conectus offers advanced technologies, applications, whose proof of concept is established, and ready for industrialization. Another type of collaboration allows companies to co-develop high-potential innovative projects with public research, in order to adapt them to their specific needs.
www.conectus.fr/fr
ABOUT THE LABORATORY OF MYELIN BIOPATHOLOGY, NEUROPROTECTION AND THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES (Strasbourg, France)
This INSERM research unit is dedicated to translational research focused on myelin diseases. Researchers and clinicians work closely together to carry out projects with strong clinical relevance. Being part of the founding teams of the Institut du Médicament de Strasbourgthe team of Prof. Dominique Bagnard benefits from an ideal technical and conceptual environment bringing together chemists and biologists specialized in drug design. From high-risk research projects to high-potential projects, the IMS is a powerful research tool for fostering innovation.
https://ims.unistra.fr/
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1 SATT: Technology Transfer Acceleration Company/ Tech Transfer Acceleration Company: www.conectus.fr |
SOURCE Finding Therapeutics