Pierre Fabre Médicament (PFM) announces a strategic partnership with Inserm and its academic partners (Université Paris Descartes-Paris V, Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris VI and Université Paris Diderot-Paris VII) and Inserm Transfert to identify new therapeutic targets in immuno-oncology.
Under the terms of this 3-year agreement, Inserm’s Cordeliers Research Center (CRC) and the Center of Immunology Pierre Fabre (CIPF) will work closely to develop tomorrow’s oncological biotherapies. Through periodic collaborative workshops, the CRC teams of Pr. Wolf-Hervé Fridman and CIPF teams will discuss their research and share their expertise in immuno-oncology. This knowledge transfer will combine CRC’s academic scientific excellence and Pierre Fabre’s know-how in the development of biomolecules and in translational medicine, as a way to select patients who might benefit the most from these new targeted treatments.
At first, the CIPF scientists and CRC teams will validate the therapeutic value of the biological targets discovered by the academic researchers. Pierre Fabre teams will bring their expertise in the development of monoclonal antibodies corresponding to these targets. Meanwhile, both entities will work together to identify new therapeutic targets. Academic research will therefore immediately be translated into therapeutic advances adapted to the needs of patients. Meant to bridge the gap between academic and applied research, this partnership aims to provide patients with future immunotherapies against cancer.
Pierre Fabre has extensive experience in oncology and immunology. The CIPF, which focuses on the fight against cancer, specializes in researching targeted biotherapies. Located in Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, it aims at finding monoclonal antibodies used in oncology treatments and the production of biotechnological active substances. Since the creation in 2011 of its Antibodies Biotechnology Unit (ABU), the CIPF is the only French institution to combine applied research, developments and the production of clinical batches, all at the same site. With its translational medicine and clinical oncological expertise, Pierre Fabre is an ideal partner for the development of new therapies in immuno-oncology.
A pioneer of cancer immunology and immunotherapy, the CRC, currently headed by Pr. Pascal Ferré, is internationally recognized for its expertise in these fields. The Center was created in 2007 by Pr. Hervé Fridman, a specialist in clinical immunology, under the joint supervision of Inserm, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université Paris Descartes, and Université Paris Diderot-Paris. The research teams of the CRC Department “Cancer, Immunology and Immunopathology” focus on the study of the dialogue between the immune system and cancer, especially within the tumor microenvironment. They are looking into the stress signals induced by different treatments (chemotherapy, antibody therapies) and their impact on the anti-tumor response.
