Valorization

The IGF conducts multidisciplinary research focused on the study of the molecular mechanisms involved in cellular communication, ranging from the structural analysis of communication molecules to integrative biology and translational research. The research programmes cover the fields of neuroscience, physiology and cancer biology, often involving technological developments made accessible to the local scientific community via the UAR Biocampus technology platforms, and have a strong potential for commercialisation, as demonstrated by the filing of 30 patents, 3 of which have been licensed out, over the last 10 years, the creation of an IGF-CisBio Revvity (Eidos) cooperative laboratory and the incubation of several start-ups.

/ Success story

Eidos, a cooperative laboratory IGF – CisBio Revvity

The partner’s initial problem
The company is developing tests to screen bioactive molecules acting on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which are the targets of almost a third of the drugs on the market and therefore the most studied in the pharmaceutical industry.

Scientific results and results of interest to the partner
The work of the Eidos team has led to the marketing of numerous products and kits, such as the IP One® kit, Cellul’Erk®, and the Tag-Lite® line of products. Six joint patents have been filed. The technologies and tools developed by the Eidos team have constituted́ essential assets for IGF projects and have largely contributed to its international visibilitý in the field of GPCRs, as evidenced by the 10 publications in Nature, PNAS, eLife or EMBO J journals. Eidos’ achievements include the analysis of GPCR oligomerisation in native systems, their structural dynamics thanks to the development of biosensors based on CisBio technology, or the identification of single-chain antibodies regulating the activitý of these receptors.

/ Hosting of start-ups

NBX Biosciences

Crée en juin 2023 et hébergée depuis septembre 2023 à l’IGF, la start-up NBX Biosciences a pour objectif de développer des thérapies dérivées du microbiote intestinal contre les maladies du système nerveux central et les maladies neurodégénératives. Lauréate de l’appel à projet Compagnies on Campus de l’Université de Montpellier, la start-up dirigée par Damien Rei poursuit sa croissance rapide dans l’écosystème stimulant de l’IGF.

ApoRepair

Créée en 2024 et issue des travaux de Stéphanie Barrère à l’IGF, la start-up ApoRepair a pour objectif la mise au point d’un traitement innovant dans l’infarctus du myocarde basé sur des peptides cardioprotecteurs. La start-up est lauréate de plusieurs financements compétitifs (RISE de CNRS innovation, BFTE de Bpifrance, Lauréate i-lab 2024), et poursuit son développement dans l’écosystème très favorable de l’IGF.

Theralan

Le projet Theralan développé par Romain Lanotte a pour objectif le développement d’anticorps monoclonaux dirigés contre HER4 et modulant ses propriétés de signalisation pour le traitement des cancers du cerveaux (gliomes). Le projet est lauréat de plusieurs financements (Compagnies on Campus de l’Université de Montpellier, Booster Innovation Montpellier – BIM) permettant des études preuves de concept réalisées au sein de l’équipe co-dirigée par les Pr. Hugues Duffau et Jean-Philippe Hugnot à l’IGF).

/ Collaboration contracts

  • Production and structure determination of CerS5 or CerS6 proteins with or without ligands
    Sanofi | Project Leader S. Granier
  • Identification of new therapeutic strategies to prevent the final stages of the metastatic process in colorectal cancer
    AGV Discovery | Project Leader J. Pannequin
  • Development of an innovative cardiac safety test based on cocultures of human neuronal and cardiac cells connected and compartmentalised in fluidic microsystems
    Microbrain Biotech | Project Leader P. Lory
  • Study of the effect of IAPP accumulation on the viability and insulin secretion of EndoC-bH5 cells, to validate these cells as models of human pancreatic islets
    Human Cell Design | Project Leader S. Costes
  • Development of MI-derived treatments for neurodegenerative diseases
    NBX Biosciences | Project Leader S. Claeysen
  • Dissecting the action of Tirzepatide on GLP-1R and GIPR in beta cells
    Lilly | Project Leader M. Ravier
  • Validation of the use of Tat-DAXXp as an anti-apoptotic therapeutic tool in the population at risk of infarction or for other non-cardiology indications
    ApoRepair | Project leader S. Barrère-Lemaire