ABOUT VECT-HORUS
Breaking barriers
VECT-HORUS is a biotechnology company that designs and develops peptide-based vectors that facilitate the delivery of drugs or imaging agents into organs, notably into the brain, and to tumors. The vectors target receptors involved in “Receptor Mediated Transport” (RMT, a physiological system for the transport into cells of endogenous substances). By combining drugs or imaging agents to its vectors, VECT-HORUS allows them to cross biological barriers that restrict access to their target, notably the blood-brain barrier (BBB).
The company has already established the proof of concept of its technology in animal models by vectorizing an endogenous neuropeptide, which led to a novel proprietary drug-candidate with neuroprotective properties. This first drug-candidate has now entered regulatory preclinical phase.
Founded in 2005, by Alexandre TOKAY, CEO, and Dr. Michel KHRESTCHATISKY, Scientific Advisor, VECT-HORUS is a spin-off of the neurobiology laboratory directed by Dr. Michel KHRESTCHATISKY (UMR7529, CNRS and Aix-Marseille University). Based in Marseille, France, the company has 30 employees, mostly in R&D, and develops academic collaborations with the CNRS, INSERM and CEA as well as industrial partnerships.
VECT-HORUS was recently identified by the CNRS as one of the 15 success stories among 1,000 spin-offs from its laboratories (see press release).
MISSION AND AMBITION
VECT-HORUS’ mission is to provide innovative delivery technologies that overcome biological barriers, primarily the BBB, opening new avenues in the treatment and imaging of central nervous system diseases and cancers.
VECT-HORUS’ ambition is to become a leader in the promising market of therapeutics and diagnostics delivery, especially in the brain.
SCIENTIFIC APPROACH
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) prevents entry into the brain of most toxic molecules and infectious agents but also restricts very effectively the passage of imaging or therapeutic agents from blood to brain. An estimated 98% of all active drugs and virtually all biomolecules developed by the biopharmaceutical industry, including peptides, proteins and therapeutic antibodies, are not able to cross the BBB.
The scientific approach of VECT-HORUS is based on the principle that complex biological barriers, the first of which the BBB, are not only physical barriers, but also functional barriers whose natural transport mechanisms may be advantageously used to deliver drugs or imaging agents into their target territory: organ, brain, tumor, etc.
To overcome biological barriers and thus reduce the attrition rate of CNS drugs, VECT-HORUS combines molecules of interest to peptide-vectors that specifically target receptors involved in receptor mediated transport (RMT). This approach is presently considered as one of the most effective and safest way to by-pass the BBB and deliver biomolecules to the brain.
Applications
Depending on the targeted receptors and vectors, VECT-HORUS’ technology has the potential to address different organs (brain and others) and pathological conditions including acute or chronic neurodegeneration, rare diseases, cancers…
Potential to conjugate vectors (VH) to different radionuclides for imaging:
- SPECT VH-(99mTc, 123I/125I, 111In)
- PET VH-(68Ga, 18F, 11C, 13N, 15O)
Potential to conjugate vectors to different classes of imaging or therapeutic agents:
- Small organic molecules such as fluorophores, anticancer drugs (paclitaxel, doxorubicin...)
- Peptides: neuropeptides, analgesic peptides…
- Proteins: therapeutic proteins, enzyme replacement therapy for rare and orphan diseases, monoclonal antibodies…
- Oligonucleotides: antisense oligos, siRNAs, aptamers, morpholinos, ribozymes…
Team
Founded in 2005, by Alexandre TOKAY and Dr. Michel KHRESTCHATISKY, the company has 30 employees, mostly in R&D.
Scientific Advisory Board
Five renowned scientists and experts in neuropharmacology, oncology and molecular engineering bring their expertise to VECT-HORUS
TECHNOLOGY
In close collaboration with top academic research centers (CNRS, CEA, INSERM), VECT-HORUS has set up a unique screening platform of peptide and nanobody libraries to identify and optimize RMT-based vectors and conjugate them with any type of molecules of interest: small organic molecules, peptides, therapeutic proteins, monoclonal antibodies and oligonucleotides.
VECT-HORUS technology advantages:
- Short (down to 8 amino-acids), cyclic, chemically optimized peptides (synthesis of economically viable commercial quantities)
- High affinity and stable RMT-based vectors (half-life in fresh blood from 1h30 to more than 9h, depending on the vectors)
- Customized conjugates with or without linkers
- Validation in in vitro BBB models and animal models
- Novel, fully patentable, new chemical entities (NCEs)
Vect-Horus' Platforms
Genetic Engineering, Molecular & Cellular Biology, Biochemistry
- Development of cell lines expressing specific receptors
- Coupling of large molecules using genetic engineering
- Affinity and stability of drug candidates
Chemistry
of Vectors
& Conjugates
- Chemical coupling with various drugs (small drugs, peptides, proteins, Abs)
- Purification & Analysis
- Development of cleavable and non-cleavable linkers
In vitro BBB Models
&
In vivo BBB Technology
- Screening of drugs across the BBB
- Intracellular distribution (parenchyma, microvessels, etc.)
- Confocal imaging
Pharmacology
&
In vivo Studies
- Brain uptake using in situ brain perfusion model
- Pharmacokinetics and biodistribution in various organs
- Efficacy in animal models (neuroprotection, alzheimer, etc.)
Intellectual Property
3 international patent applications for vectors (2008, 2010, 2013), 2 delivered in Europe and USA (2014), FTO confirmed
1 international patent application for a vectorised neuroprotective agent (2014)
4 families of patents:
- Peptide derivatives and use thereof as carriers for molecules in the form of conjugates (Application WO 2010/046588). Issued in the US, Europe and South Africa. Pending in other countries.
- Peptide derivatives, preparation thereof and uses thereof (Application WO 2011/131896). Issued in France, USA and Eurasia. Pending in other countries.
- Compositions and methods for drug delivery (Application WO 2014/060601).
- Activated neurotensin molecules and the uses thereof (Application WO 2015/107182).
Reviews and scientific publications
- David M, Lécorché P, Masse M, Faucon A, Abouzid K, Gaudin N, Varini K, Gassiot F, Ferracci G, Jacquot G, Vlieghe P, Khrestchatisky M. Identification and characterization of highly versatile peptide-vectors that bind non-competitively to the low-density lipoprotein receptor for in vivo targeting and delivery of small molecules and protein cargos, (Feb 27, 2018).
- Molino Y, David M, Varini K, Jabès F, Gaudin N, Fortoul A, Bakloul K, Masse M, Bernard A, Drobecq L, Lécorché P, Temsamani J, Jacquot G, and Khrestchatisky M. Use of LDL receptor–targeting peptide vectors for in vitro and in vivo cargo transport across the blood-brain barrier. The FASEB Journal 2017, Jan 20, doi: 10.1096/fj.201600827R.
- Jacquot G, Lécorché P, Malcor JD, Laurencin M, Smirnova M, Varini K, Malicet C, Gassiot F, Faucon A, David M, Gaudin N, Masse M, Ferracci G, Dive V, Cisternino S, Khrestchatisky M. Optimization and inVivo Validation of Peptide Vectors Targeting the LDL Receptor. Mol Pharm. 2016 Oct 11. PMID: 27656777.
- Thevenard J, Verzeaux L, Devy J, Etique N, Jeanne A, Schneider C, Hachet C, Ferracci G, David M, Martiny L, Charpentier E, Khrestchatisky M, Rivera S, Dedieu S, Emonard H. Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 mediates endocytic clearance of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 and promotes its cytokine-like activities. PLoS One. 2014 Jul 30;9(7):e103839. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103839. eCollection 2014. PubMed PMID: 25075518; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4116228.
- Molino Y, Jabès F, Lacassagne E, Gaudin N, Khrestchatisky M. Setting-up an in vitro model of rat blood-brain barrier (BBB): a focus on BBB impermeability and receptor-mediated transport. J Vis Exp. 2014 Jun 28;(88):e51278. doi: 10.3791/51278. PubMed PMID: 24998179; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4208856.
- Chaturvedi M, Molino Y, Sreedhar B, Khrestchatisky M, Kaczmarek L. Tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-1 loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles for delivery across the blood-brain barrier. Int J Nanomedicine. 2014 Jan 20;9:575-88. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S54750. eCollection 2014. PubMed PMID: 24531257; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3901738.
- Perrot G, Langlois B, Devy J, Jeanne A, Verzeaux L, Almagro S, Sartelet H, Hachet C, Schneider C, Sick E, David M, Khrestchatisky M, Emonard H, Martiny L, Dedieu S. LRP-1--CD44, a new cell surface complex regulating tumor cell adhesion. Mol Cell Biol. 2012 Aug;32(16):3293-307. doi: 10.1128/MCB.00228-12. Epub 2012 Jun 18. PubMed PMID: 22711991; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3434541.
- Vlieghe P, Khrestchatisky M. Medicinal Chemistry Based Approaches and nanotechnology-Based Systems to Improve CNS Drug Targeting and Delivery. Med Res Rev. 2012 Mar 20. doi: 10.1002/med.21252. PubMed PMID: 22434495.
- Malcor JD, Payrot N, David M, Faucon A, Abouzid K, Jacquot G, Floquet N, Debarbieux F, Rougon G, Martinez J, Khrestchatisky M, Vlieghe P, Lisowski V. Chemical optimization of new ligands of the low-density lipoprotein receptor as potential vectors for central nervous system targeting. J Med Chem. 2012 Mar 8;55(5):2227-41. Epub 2012 Feb 14. PubMed PMID: 22257077.
- Vlieghe, P. and Khrestchatisky, M. (2010). Peptide-based Vectors for Blood-Brain Barrier Targeting and Delivery of Drugs to the Central Nervous System. Therapeutic Delivery, 1 (4), 489-494.
- Vlieghe, P., Lisowski, V., Martinez, J., and Khrestchatisky, M. (2010). Synthetic therapeutic peptides: science and market. Drug Discov Today 2010 Jan;15(1-2):40-56. Epub 2009 Oct 30.
- Patrick Vlieghe, Therapeutic peptides, a revival of interest. Editorial, Drug Discov Today 2011.
R&D PROGRAMS
VECT-HORUS has identified and chemically optimized families of peptide-vectors that bind receptors expressed at the BBB such as the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and members of the LDLR family. The company has also initiated a R&D program on RMT systems more specific of the BBB.
VECT-HORUS has demonstrated its capability to :
- Conjugate its peptide-vectors to different types of molecules and macromolecular complexes: small organic molecules (imaging agents and anticancer drugs), siRNAs, peptides, proteins and antibodies
- Transport conjugates in vitro, into different cell types expressing the target receptors, including endothelial cells of the BBB and glioblastoma cells, and in vivo (across the BBB)
- Bring the proof-of-concept (POC) in various animal models (hypothermia, analgesia, neuroprotection)
- Induce hypothermia with a new vector-conjugated neuropeptide (this endogenous neuropeptide does not cross the BBB when systemically administered alone) that entered into regulatory preclinical phase at Q1 2015
- Another POC was demonstrated by an academic group using one of the VH peptide-vectors in animals implanted with gliobastoma and treated with vectorized nanoparticles loaded with Paclitaxel*
Taken together, these results demonstrate POC of VECT-HORUS’ approach.
Pipeline
Partnering
By leveraging its proprietary platform technology VECT-HORUS has developed a hybrid business model:
External collaborations with Partners
VECT-HORUS mission is to make its highly innovative platform technology available to pharmaceuticals and biotech partners to transport their drugs to the brain and other organs. The Company has combined solid competences and expertise in various R&D areas and has set up well-structured and equipped technological platforms.
Internal pipeline of proprietary drug candidates
VECT-HORUS is building a pipeline of proprietary drug candidates for internal development to be developed until preclinical of early clinical trials. These products are available for licensing-out. See pipeline.
Partnering Research Organization
VECT-HORUS intends to generate novel, fully patentable, NCEs that address unmet medical needs, in particular in CNS diseases, cancers, imaging and radiotherapy.
VECT-HORUS is open to a variety of partnership agreements, including co-development and out-licensing opportunities.
Interested in partnering with VECT-HORUS? please contact us
Founding & Academic Partners
Industrial & Financial Partners
Latest news about vect-horus
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AD/PD 2019 International Conference on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases and related neurological disorders in LISBON
03.26
2019 -
Meet VECT-HORUS at BIO Spring VIENNA
03.25
2019 -
VECT-HORUS announces agreement with Johnson&Johnson Innovation
12.11
2018 -
Signature of a Research Common Lab with the Institute for NeuroPhysiopathology (UMR7051 CNRS-AMU)
12.04
2018 -
Meet VECT-HORUS at BIO Europe COPENHAGEN
11.05
2018 -
VECT-HORUS will be attending the EANM'18 Congress in DÜSSELDORF
10.13
2018 -
VECT-HORUS Raises 3.5M€ to Accelerate its Development Programs
06.07
2018 -
BIO International Convention in BOSTON, MA
06.04
2018 -
ECMED EU-GliaPhD international conference in MALTA
04.29
2018 -
AAT-AD/PD Focus Meeting, TORINO Italy
03.15
2018 -
Meet VECT-HORUS at BIO Spring AMSTERDAM
03.12
2018 -
VECT-HORUS demonstrates the high versatility of its peptide-vectors library for a targeted delivery of small molecules and protein cargos
02.27
2018 -
Selected for a 5' Pitch at the 2nd edition of the TOULOUSE ONCO WEEK
02.05
2018 -
VECT-HORUS will be attending the J.P. Morgan 36th Annual Healthcare Conference
01.08
2018 -
Gerhard Levy Distinguished Lectureship in Pharmaceutical Sciences for Prof. Scherrmann, chairman of VECT-HORUS' Scientific Advisory Board
11.06
2017 -
Meet VECT-HORUS at BIO Europe BERLIN
10.18
2017 -
VECT-HORUS confirmed to attend BioPharm America 2017
09.26
2017 -
VECT-HORUS announces the expansion of its Scientific Advisory Board
09.19
2017 -
VECT-HORUS at PIERRE FABRE DAYONE OPEN INNOVATION DAY
06.14
2017 -
Selected for an Elevator Pitch at the 3rd edition of MEET2WIN
05.11
2017 -
Participation au BIOREZO™ VECTORISATION : DE L’IMAGERIE À LA THÉRAPEUTIQUE
04.26
2017 -
CNS Barrier Congress
03.22
2017 -
VECT-HORUS raises 2.5 M€ to finance its development projects in the “targeted therapy” field
03.21
2017 -
Meet VECT-HORUS at BIO Spring BARCELONA
03.20
2017 -
VECT-HORUS validates the potential of its peptide vectors to transport proteins or antibodies, across the blood-brain barrier via receptor mediated transport
01.20
2017 -
Meet VECT-HORUS at BIO Europe COLOGNE
11.07
2016 -
RIB 2016 PARIS – Neurological Disorders
11.02
2016 -
VECT-HORUS receives the Frost & Sullivan 2016 Leadership award
06.16
2016 -
VECT-HORUS rejoint la communauté Bpifrance Excellence
01.25
2016 -
Two new patents protecting VECTrans® technology issued in several major countries
10.22
2015 -
Boulder Peptide Symposium
09.28
2015 -
Biopharm America 2015
09.15
2015 -
11th International Conference on Cerebral Vascular Biology
07.06
2015 -
VECT-HORUS announces the signing of a scientific collaboration agreement with SERVIER
06.16
2015 -
Neurotensin, vectorised by VECT-HORUS, is the first drug-candidate in neuroprotective hypothermia
03.19
2015 -
Meet VECT-HORUS at BIO-Europe Spring® 2015
02.12
2015 -
VECT-HORUS announces the signing of a scientific collaboration agreement with SANOFI in the field of neurodegenerative diseases
01.17
2015 -
Meet VECT-HORUS at the 36th PAMM-EORTC Winter meeting
01.13
2015 -
VECT-HORUS announces a new equity issue of 1.5 M€ to finance the preclinical development of its first vectorized product
12.15
2014 -
VECT-HORUS is one of the CNRS 15 success stories
12.12
2014 -
VECT-HORUS appoints Dr Jamal Temsamani as Director of Drug Development & Corporate
10.30
2014 -
VECT-HORUS, AAA form scientific collaboration to open new avenues in treatment of brain diseases
11.20
2013 -
VECT-HORUS successfully completes the VECtoBrain project
10.28
2013 -
VECT-HORUS is a partner laureate of the ANR RPIB Call 2013 for proposals
10.28
2013 -
Two research groups specialized in CNS drug delivery and in the development of therapeutic strategies for glioblastoma give in vivo POC on one of the peptide vectors described by VECT-HORUS
09.28
2013 -
Fifth round of funding
05.28
2013 -
VECT-HORUS and its academic partners describe the chemical optimisation of one of its lead peptides (Malcor et al., 2012, J Med Chem)
01.28
2012 -
VECT-HORUS is a partner laureate of the ANR MALZ 2011 call for proposals
11.28
2011 -
Fourth round of financing
05.28
2011 -
VECT-HORUS is a partner laureate of the ANR MALZ 2010 call for proposals
04.12
2011
CONTACT
VECT-HORUS
Faculté de Médecine Nord, 51 Boulevard Pierre Dramard
13344 Marseille Cedex 15, France
Tel: +33(0)4 91 69 87 81