This collaboration between the biotechnology company and a leading team in molecular modeling strengthens Apmonia Therapeutics’ ability to identify new therapeutic targets in the extracellular matrix.
Reims, November 17, 2024 – Apmonia Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing innovative oncology therapies, announces today that it has signed a new collaboration agreement with the Max Mousseron Institute of Biomolecules (IBMM) in Montpellier, whose “cellular pharmacology” team is internationally recognized for its studies at the modeling/experiment interface, aimed in particular at understanding the ligand/target interactions of membrane proteins.
Apmonia Therapeutics is a leading French company (and recent EIC Accelerator winner), offering a breakthrough approach by targeting proteins in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of tumors, thus developing a new therapeutic class. At the convergence of several scientific and technological advances, Apmonia Therapeutics is developing both a unique in silico discovery platform, and a portfolio of drug candidates, the most advanced of which is about to enter clinical development.
Strengthening the company’s pipeline
Under the terms of this agreement, Apmonia Therapeutics is consolidating and enriching its long-standing collaboration with IBMM, by extending the scope of current developments to new therapeutic targets derived from the ECM. Ultimately, this work will enrich the company’s product portfolio.
IBMM’s expertise integrates cutting-edge approaches to molecular dynamics, virtual screeningand artificial intelligence-driven drug discovery. The synergy between the group led by Dr. Nicolas FLOQUET and Dr. Maxime LOUET at IBMM and the teams at Apmonia Therapeutics will enable pharmacological and biological validation of the most promising drug candidates, leading to the development of new therapies targeting ECM molecules.
“Creating value around our discovery platform”
“The strengthening of this partnership with IBMM comes at a time when Apmonia Therapeutics is reinforcing its drug discovery capabilities, particularly in bioinformatics, in order to accelerate the development of new drug candidates“, says Albin JEANNE, President of Apmonia Therapeutics, who continues, “The company is currently engaged in a Series A round in order to secure funding for a clinical trial on its first product (TAX2) and to develop its product portfolio”.
“We are delighted to be expanding our collaboration with the R&D teams at Apmonia Therapeutics, who have already demonstrated their expertise in the TSP-1/CD47 interface study, which is now the company’s flagship program,” enthuses Dr. Nicolas FLOQUET, adding “Apmonia Therapeutics has first-rate expertise in original molecular targets and know-how in preclinical and clinical validation, which creates a real synergy between our teams.”
The extracellular matrix (ECM): towards a new therapeutic class in oncology
Apmonia Therapeutics is a pioneer in the study of the ECM, a dense mass of proteins formed by solid tumors that acts as a protective microenvironment. The extracellular matrix thus enables cancer cells to proliferate, adapt and evade therapies, and spread to other tissues. Targeting ECM proteins represents a promising new strategy for the treatment of solid tumors. Apmonia Therapeutics has a drug discovery platform using state-of-the-art bioinformatics models and laboratory validation tools, in order to disrupt tumor ECM, leading to the development of new cancer therapies.
In recent years, the company has developed a range of novel peptides targeting the ECM, with validated preclinical proof-of-concept in numerous solid cancers, including ovarian cancer – one of the most lethal cancers – which will be Apmonia Therapeutics’ first clinical application.
About Apmonia Therapeutics:
Apmonia Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing a pipeline oftherapies against various forms of cancer, based on specific and selective targeting of the tumor microenvironment. Building on recent advances in protein and peptide computational engineering, as well as cutting-edge screening and validation technologies, Apmonia Therapeutics aims to develop new therapies for patients with difficult-to-treat solid cancers.www.apmonia-therapeutics.com
Press contact:
Acorelis Agency – Gilles Petitot – +33 6 20 27 65 94 – gilles.petitot@acorelis.com
Apmonia Therapeutics – contact@apmonia-therapeutics.com
