OSE Immunotherapeutics Signs License Option Agreement

OSE Immunotherapeutics SA recently announced it has entered into an agreement with Inserm Transfert, on behalf of Inserm, a French public organization dedicated to human health, and Nantes University, to collaborate on the development of a cancer immunotherapy targeting a new suppressive myeloid cell receptor (a C-type lectin receptor). This agreement includes a worldwide and exclusive license option for OSE to further develop any product candidate emerging from this collaboration following the planned conclusion of the partnership.

This research collaboration will focus on the development of an antibody that targets a newly identified C-type lectin receptor to block suppressive functions of myeloid cells and to restore anti-tumor response of T-lymphocytes. Suppressive myeloid cells have the ability to accumulate in the tumor microenvironment and to deregulate the immune activation of T-lymphocytes.

This new target was discovered by Dr. Elise Chiffoleau during her research on the mechanisms of immune tolerance in transplantation. Dr. Chiffoleau is a member of the research team led by Pr. Régis Josien, Director of the Center for Research in Transplantation and Immunology of Nantes (UMR 1064, Inserm, Nantes University).

Dr. Chiffoleau said “The primary benefit of this collaboration is the strong synergy between our research in immunology and a biotech company expert in the field of cancer immunotherapy.”

Pascale Augé, CEO of Inserm Transfert, added “Inserm and Inserm Transfert are very satisfied to strengthen long-term collaborations with growing and well-established companies. This agreement demonstrates the dynamism of public / private partnerships between French academic research and French biotechnology companies.”

“We are very pleased to collaborate with an accomplished team whose foundational research in immunology complements our immunotherapy platform. This partnership strengthens our long-standing academic relationship and again demonstrates that fundamental research in transplantation immunology can be applied to broader therapeutic areas,” said Bernard Vanhove, COO of OSE Immunotherapeutics, Head of R&D and International Scientific Collaborations.

Dominique Costantini, CEO of OSE Immunotherapeutics, concluded “The identification of this new target allows us to expand our presence in the highly attractive field of myeloid cells and macrophages, well-identified as poor prognostic factors in oncology and in immune escape mechanisms of existing cancer immunotherapies.”

The CRTI is a joint research unit (UMR 1064) created by INSERM and Université de Nantes in 2012 and renewed in 2017, and is historically the evolution of previous units devoted to transplant immunology for almost 20 years in Nantes. The CRTI is located at the CHU Nantes Hotel Dieu where it constitutes with several clinical departments the Institute of Transplantation Urology and Nephrology (ITUN), one of the largest French and European kidney transplantation centers. This unique environment fosters interactions between basic scientists and clinicians, and explains the strong commitment of the CRTI to translational research. The CRTI gathers researchers and clinicians with expertise in basic immunology, transplantation, autoimmunity, inflammation, virology, nephrology, regenerative medicine, genetic and bioinformatics and who develop innovative projects going from basic to clinical research. The main and long-term objectives of these project are to improve treatments and patient monitoring in transplantation and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) through understanding immune responses, developing new immunotherapeutics, biomarkers and tools for personalized medicine and developing alternative strategies for organ or tissue replacement.

Founded in 2000, Inserm Transfert SA is the private subsidiary of the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm). Inserm Transfert is dedicated to technology and knowledge transfer of Inserm’s laboratories innovations, from scouting of invention disclosure to industrial partnership. Founded in 1964, the French National Institute of Health and Medical research (Inserm) is a public science and technology institute that supports more than 300 laboratories across France and include nearly 15,000 researchers, engineers, technicians, post-doctoral fellow, students… Inserm is the only French public research institute to focus entirely on human health and that positions itself on the pathway from research laboratory to the bed of the patient in a multidisciplinary approach. Inserm is a core member of the National Alliance for Life and Health Sciences (Aviesan), founded in April 2009.

OSE Immunotherapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative immunotherapies for immune activation and regulation in the fields of immuno-oncology, autoimmune diseases and transplantation. The company has several scientific and technological platforms: neoepitopes, agonist or antagonist monoclonal antibodies, ideally positioned to fight cancer and autoimmune diseases.