On September 13, 2023 Apmonia Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing new therapeutic strategies aimed at reprogramming the tumor microenvironment by targeting elements of the extracellular matrix, reported the signature of a new licensing agreement and the launch of a co-development program with SATT Nord (technology transfer office of universities in the "North of France) (Press release, SATT South-East, SEP 13, 2023, View Source [SID1234635095]). Apmonia Therapeutics has obtained exclusive worldwide rights on LBC peptides, now also referred as AP-04, a program currently in preclinical development with the potential to generate {first-in-class candidates for the treatment of various solid tumors, notably triple-negative breast cancer.
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AP-04 targets pro-cathepsin-D, a protein overexpressed in various cancers (breast, ovarian, lung, etc.), inhibiting its interaction with LRP-1 membrane receptor. Through this unique mechanism of action, ‘AP-04 blocks the effect of pro-cathepsin-D/LRP-1 interaction on fibroblast proliferation and its deleterious role in a tumoral context.
Initiated within a CNRS/University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne joint research unit (MEDyC), this program is the fruit of a co-development program lasting over a year between Apmonia Therapeutics {and SATT Nord, at the end of which a patent was filed. Apmonia Therapeutics and SATT Nord now plan ‘to consolidate and extend the preclinical proof-of-concept of AP-04 before its entry into regulatory development, a key step prior to the transition into clinical development.
"We are delighted with the development of Apmonia Therapeutics, since SATT Nord has already signed 4 first licensing agreement in 2019 with them, also with the relationship of trust, built over the long term, which is reflected in a co-development approach" says Fabrice Lefebvre, CEO of SATT Nord, adding, "We are delighted that a new asset resulting from academic research within the scope of SATT ‘Nord can now be valued and enter development with Apmonia Therapeutics, an industrial partner of choice for enhancing cutting-edge research on the extracellular matrix."
"This new asset strengthens and diversifies Apmonia Therapeutics’ intellectual property portfolio, It provides value in this portfolio," explains Claire Verschelde, partner at ICOSA and the company’s intellectual property consultant. "With a technology platform and several proprietary assets, including the most advanced on the eve of a first clinical trial, Apmonia Therapeutics has many assets in terms of intellectual property."