• Anti-CD45RC monoclonal antibodies have a unique mechanism of action and are potent immune-modulators;
• Anti-CD45RC monoclonal antibodies can be applied as immunotherapy for organ and bone marrow transplantation as well for autoimmunity.
NANTES, France, December 1st, 2020, AbolerIS Pharma, a biotechnology company developing innovative immunotherapies, announces that the company has entered into an agreement with SATT OUEST Valorisation, on behalf of INSERM, CNRS (public French research organizations), Nantes University Hospital and Nantes University, to license first-in-class anti-CD45RC
monoclonal antibodies.
These new antibodies target pathogenic T cells involved in tissue-destructive immune responses in acute graft-vs.-host disease, rejection of transplanted organs, autoimmune diseases and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. This treatment aims to promote immune tolerance and thus decrease or eliminate life-long immunosuppressive treatments.
Under the terms of the agreement, AbolerIS Pharma is granted an exclusive worldwide license for a family of four patents filed by the Center of Research in Transplantation and Immunology (CRTI). This license includes a worldwide and exclusive option for AbolerIS Pharma to further develop any products and applications derived from this antibody.
This license will focus on the development of an antibody that targets CD45RC (program ABIS-45RC) inducing the apoptosis of naïve cells poised to develop Th1 proinflammatory cells as well as terminally differentiated T cells. This allows the development of antigen-specific regulatory T cells.
“Licensing such leading-edge innovations on strategic therapeutic areas is definitively at the core of our Tech Transfer Office missions, moving early research results forward to a stage where a biotech startup catch it. Beyond science, it’s also a human adventure with the research team embedded in the startup project, as co-founders”, said Vincent Lamande, CEO of Ouest Valorisation.
This new target was discovered by team 2 of CRTI co-leaded by Dr. Ignacio Anegon, M.D. (DR1 INSERM) and Dr. Carole Guillonneau PhD (DR2 CNRS). Both researchers are co-founders of
AbolerIS Pharma. The team demonstrated the efficacy of this antibody in several pre-clinical models including cardiac transplantation, Duchene’s dystrophy, human skin transplantation and graft-versus-host disease in mice humanized for their immune system.
“The license of the patents to AbolerIS Pharma will bring funding and expertise to move anti-CD45RC antibodies and derivatives from preclinical models to the clinic in the most efficient manner and in the shortest delays”, Dr. Anegon commented.
“The CD45RC target is unique in its expression pattern and anti-CD45RC antibodies have a mechanism of action allowing not only elimination of pathogenic cells, but also protection by regulatory cells. This license will establish AbolerIS positioning on innovative immunotherapies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and transplant rejection” Dr. Guillonneau commented.
””We are very pleased to support this breakthrough science in translating it into medicines which can make the clinical difference for patients” said Dr. Ann Meulemans, CEO of AbolerIS Pharma.