Innovation at Pasteur Lille

Bioversys SAS is a subsidiary of the Swiss biopharmaceutical company, BioVersys AG. Its core business focuses on the research and development of small molecules that target novel bacterial pathogens. Thanks to its award-winning TRIC (Transcriptional Regulator Inhibitory Compounds) technology, Bioversys is able to identify molecules capable of overcoming bacterial resistance mechanisms, limiting virulence, and directly affecting bacterial pathogenesis.

BioVersys is thus addressing the urgent medical need for new treatments against potentially fatal infections caused by bacterial strains resistant to existing antibiotics, and by targeting the microbiota in chronic inflammatory diseases exacerbated by bacteria. Its most advanced R&D programs are in preclinical development for the treatment of nosocomial infections (hospital-acquired infections) and tuberculosis, in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and a consortium from the University of Lille. Bioversys SAS's R&D activities, primarily in medicinal chemistry, are conducted within Unit U1177, headed by Professor Benoit Déprez.

Founded in 2018 by Dr. Thierry Mathieu, StarkAge Therapeutics is a private biotechnology startup whose ambition is to delay or stop the progression of disease and improve the quality of life of patients with age-related diseases associated with the accumulation of senescent cells.

Indeed, every year, nearly 60 million people die from chronic non-communicable diseases, all linked to aging (WHO). Significant progress has been made in recent decades in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying age-related pathologies, particularly cellular senescence. The persistent accumulation of senescent cells appears to be one of the factors contributing to aging.

The startup leverages its unique disease-specific biomarker technology while exploiting the immunotherapy approach.

Created on the Pasteur Lille campus in January 2001, Genoscreen offers analytical services in genomics on all types of genomes (human, animal, plant, microbial) and analyses and training in bioinformatics, both for “academic” research teams and for hospital or industrial research.

This 100% French biotechnology company currently employs around thirty people. It generates more than 80% of its revenue outside the Lille metropolitan area, with 30% coming from exports.

In recent years, proprietary research programs, conducted in partnership with research units from the Pasteur Institute of Lille, Inserm and INRA, have enabled the development of highly competitive applications in fields such as the genetics of Alzheimer's disease, microbial molecular typing and biodiversity control.

Founded in 2013 by Terence Beghyn, a pharmacist and researcher, and Professor Benoît Déprez, director of the Drug Discovery Center at the Pasteur Institute of Lille, Apteeus is an innovative company in the field of personalized medicine for patients with rare and orphan diseases. Drawing on their expertise acquired within research unit U1177 (Inserm, Pasteur Institute of Lille, University of Lille), their aim is to bring miniaturized drug discovery techniques to the bedside of patients suffering from orphan diseases.

Apteeus' approach combines in vitro cell screening and drug repurposing. The team's expertise, supported by physicians and scientists specializing in the disease, enables the development of a screening test for any new disease that is sufficiently characterized from a functional perspective. The test systematically uses cells taken from the patient to ensure the link between the patient's specific molecular cause of the disease and its symptomatic manifestations. The aim is to measure the effect of each active ingredient in drugs from the World Pharmacopoeia on the impaired function underlying the symptoms. The comprehensive collection of active ingredients, the relevance of the tests developed, and the environment of scientific excellence are the strengths of Apteeus today.

Established in 2014, 4P-Pharma is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to addressing serious diseases with significant unmet medical needs. Our goal is to rapidly deliver first-class therapies to patients.

Our core business is an R&D engine that improves risk management and accelerates the drug development process, thereby effectively reducing time and costs.

We focus on developing assets that combine a fast time to market with strong intellectual property.

Our strategy leverages cutting-edge clinical trial designs and accelerated regulatory pathways to bring our therapies to those who need them most as quickly as possible.

Led by Doctors Nadira Delhem and Olivier Moralès, and directed by Hamza Aboussemdai, this biotech company was officially launched in July 2016 in the premises of the Lille Institute of Biology (CNRS) on the campus of the Pasteur Institute of Lille.

Immune Insight offers a novel and effective method for validating the safety of new drug candidates before the launch of clinical trials. This method is directly derived from Pasteur Institute research.

It offers unique, internationally recognized services that allow for the preclinical verification of a drug candidate's safety with respect to immune cells, and regulatory T lymphocytes in particular. Regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) are a specific population of white blood cells that maintain the proper balance of the immune system so that it can protect the body from attacks.

Certain diseases disrupt the function of regulatory T cells (Tregs). For example, in cancers, Tregs are abnormally activated, which reduces the immune response against the tumor and facilitates its progression. Conversely, in cases of allergies, chronic inflammatory diseases, or organ transplants, Tregs are underactive and the immune response is excessive.

Created in 2016 and incubated since 2018 at the Eurasanté center in Lille, the start-up Lifebloom was founded by Nicolas Nesueur, a boilermaker, Marc Bardgett, a physiotherapist and osteopath, and Damien Roche, an engineering student.

This team of caregivers and engineers is developing a medical device that physically assists dependent individuals. Their goal: to enable people with reduced mobility to walk safely again so they can remain active participants in their lives.

The Lifebloom project stands out from a technical, medical, and human perspective. It also adheres to the principles of the social and solidarity economy (a financially accessible solution through a rental system and 100% recycled products).