An exclusive license was signed on 10 November, 2022, between Erganeo and the start-up Persea, for development of a new treatment for liver cancer. It is a cell therapy via enhanced suicide gene to eradicate the tumour and prevent recurrence.
A research collaboration between INSERM, the CNRS, AP-HP and Université Paris-Cité led to the discovery of an innovative new targeted treatment approach for solid tumors, particularly hepatocarcinoma. This technology is driven and developed by the start-up Persea, based on research work conducted by Prof. Philippe Beaune and Dr. Isabelle De Waziers (Université Paris-Cité, INSERM U 1138). The start-up creators are Sophie de Ferrières, Olivier Pellerin and Marc Sapoval (European Hospital Georges Pompidou).
This innovative new approach combines the suicide gene and cell therapy methods. It is based on a therapeutic strategy known as BioTrojan, in reference to the “Trojan Horse”. This cellular Trojan Horse carries a suicide gene that is thirteen times more effective than the wild-type gene, protected by a patent filed in 2012, initiated by Philippe Beaune and I. de Waziers. It will be expressed in mesenchymal stem cells injected in a targeted manner into the tumour via intra-arterial administration.
The technology has been subject to three patent filings (2012, 2019) as well as support for a maturation plan with Erganeo, resulting in a proof of concept (POC) for hepatocarcinoma.
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