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3Biotech x EpyNext Therapeutics
Interview with Louis Farge,
President of EpyNext Therapeutics
Epynext Therapeutics is dedicated to the fight against antibiotic resistance, one of the most urgent health threats of our time particularly in hospital settings. Its technological platform enables the production of monoclonal antibodies directed against full membrane antigens. Resulting antibodies have a remarkably high affinity and specificity for their target. A first antibody targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains multi-resistant to antibiotics has demonstrated its ability to inhibit the bacteria both in vitro and in vivo. Louis Farge, President of Epynext Therapeutics, talks about his collaboration with 3Biotech.
In what context and at what stages did 3Biotech intervene in your project?
In June 2021, Epynext Therapeutics, not yet initiated at that time, was labelled Deep Tech and laureate of the iLab competition organized by the French Ministry of Research. The founding team immediately focussed on the detailed project planning to move to make sure that we would be able to reach a decisive milestone: selecting our lead. By experience, we knew that even at that early stage, decisions that we were making, especially in terms of product profile, or the way we were planning to conduct our in vitro or in vivo experiments, could impact the regulatory path down the line. We also had many questions about various technologies and the selection of our partners. In short, we needed a stepped back experienced look at our plan that could take into account the potential impact of our decisions on the later development steps. Knowing Olivier Favre-Bulle and 3Biotech by reputation, their names immediately came to mind when looking for such a support.
How has 3Biotech's approach been innovative and contributed to your success?
The first time we shared our project and development plan with Olivier, he immediately raised key practical questions and challenged lab experiment protocols or technologies we were planning to use. His capacity to quickly understand experimental protocols and put expected outcomes in perspective with practical CMC and/or clinical needs has been instrumental in shaping our plan the best possible way. Challenging various technologies that we have been using has helped us better understand their limitations and the way to use them best. Finally, his knowledge of the ecosystem was a great help to know and select the proven best partners. He also provided us with a detailed plan and budget for our future steps in CMC.
What has been the outcome of this collaboration?
Epynext Therapeutics just celebrated its first birthday in January and we’ve reached our development milestones as planned and are currently finalizing our lead selection. We’ve learned a lot while shaping a selection methodology which we plan to follow for future targets that we may identify. Olivier and 3Biotech have been of great help and support and we definitely see 3Biotech as a key partner for the future development of our drug candidate.
testimonials
3Biotech x Acticor Biotech
Interview with Gilles Avenard,
co-founder and CEO of Acticor Biotech
Who is Acticor Biotech?
Founded in 2013, Acticor Biotech is currently conducting two phase 2/3 clinical studies. The development of our monoclonal antibody fragment, glenzocimab, for stroke treatment has been particularly rapid.
Why did you call on 3Biotech?
We began focusing on Chemistry Manufacturing and Control (CMC) very early on. One year after the creation of Acticor Biotech, the sequence of our monoclonal antibody fragment (ACT017) had just been humanised and we had to choose a bio-production system.
In order to accomplish this, we needed expertise that we did not have in-house. We worked with 3Biotech to define what patients, clinicians, and regulatory agencies would require of our drug candidate. From there, the Target Product Profile and the timeline were built. 3Biotech helped us find the right production system, define the formulation and target stability, select the right CDMO provider and coordinate and facilitate the relationship with the CDMO.
Our antithrombotic Fab has successfully passed the various stages of development. In September 2021, we enrolled our first patient in ACTISAVE, an adaptive Phase 2/3 study in stroke, and last November, Acticor biotech was granted an IND to conduct this Phase 2/3 in the US. The early implementation of a CMC strategy has clearly contributed to our rapid development, without any backtracking.
3Biotech x BioFilm Control
Thierry Bernardi,
President of BioFilm Control
BioFilm Control is developing a technology to detect the "biofilm" behaviour of microorganisms, a part of the life cycle in "slowed down life inside a protective gangue" mode, which is at the origin of the development of antibiotic resistance. With this technology, BioFilm Control has developed an in vitro diagnostic antibiofilmogram test and antibiofilm active ingredients. Thierry Bernardi, President of BioFilm Control, talks about his collaboration with 3Biotech.
In what context and at what stages did 3Biotech intervene in your project?
3Biotech was involved in the development of antibiofilm actives, highly innovative molecules with properties that complement standard antibiotics and increase their effectiveness. With his CMC expertise, Olivier Favre-Bulle of 3Biotech participated in the prioritisation of the most promising compounds according to their chemical structure, making it possible to evaluate the ease of synthesis, conditioning their production costs, as well as the toxic risks... a whole rational chain of decision-making requiring a great deal of practical, scientific, technical and even financial experience to evaluate the levels of investment necessary at each stage. All this in an efficient, highly professional, quality working environment.
How has 3Biotech's approach been innovative and contributed to your success?
Olivier Favre-Bulle challenged the project by asking questions that allowed us to identify the risks of failure and to precisely define the TPP. He intervened in a due diligence approach, with a critical and benevolent eye on the business project, paying attention to the source at the R&D level (which molecules are entering the screen?) as well as to the purpose at the clinical level (which galenic form is planned?).
He also participated in some brain storming sessions to set up development plans and he contributes to the evaluation of the operational staff.
What has been the outcome of this collaboration?
To date, 2 drugable actives have been successfully characterised in mouse models. The project is seeking funding to move to a pig model and to follow the ADME-Tox phases, in particular with a major pharmaceutical company for whom our antibiofilms are seen as "enabling agents".