InVenis Biotherapies is proud to announce its central involvement in one of the two Lille-based projects selected as laureates of the sixth wave of the “Hospital-University Research in Health” (RHU) program, operated by the French National Research Agency (ANR) as part of the France 2030 investment plan. With a total budget of €25.7 million over five years, including €8.3 million in ANR funding, this ambitious project aims to accelerate the development of an innovative therapeutic approach for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
ALS: an urgent need for new therapeutic strategies
ALS is a severe neurodegenerative disease characterized by the degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons, leading to irreversible, progressive paralysis and a median survival of only three years. Current treatments provide only modest benefits, and no cure exists today. Because multiple pathological mechanisms contribute to neuronal death, a single-target therapeutic approach is unlikely to address the full complexity of the disease, underscoring the need for innovative, multi-target strategies.
IVB-001: a multi targets biotherapy rooted in over a decade of research
At the core of the project is IVB-001, the biotherapy developed by InVenis Biotherapies: a platelet secretome rich in physiological neurotrophic factors, neurotransmitters, and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant proteins. IVB-001 has demonstrated robust neuroprotective effects in multiple cellular and animal models of neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS, Parkinson’s disease, and traumatic brain injury. This unique approach offers a promising therapeutic avenue capable of promoting neuronal survival, synaptic maintenance and neural plasticity—key elements in slowing disease progression.
InVenis Biotherapies: a key industrial contributor to the project
As part of the RHU program, InVenis Biotherapies is responsible for developing the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) production of IVB-001, as well as conducting the toxicology studies required to demonstrate the safety of the biotherapy for human use. These critical steps represent major milestones toward clinical development and the future availability of the treatment.
Advanced biomarker strategies to enable predictive and personalized medicine
The project also aims to identify and validate a comprehensive panel of biomarkers capable of predicting disease progression and treatment response. The scientific strategy includes:
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- Quantitative mass spectrometry proteomics on plasma samples,
- Protein expression validation on brain tissue using RNAscope and ELISA,
- Integration and correlation of proteomic and clinical data through machine learning.
These approaches will significantly improve pathophysiological understanding and enhance the likelihood of success in upcoming clinical trials.
Expected impact: accelerating the path to clinical trials
The project’s objectives include:
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- identifying biomarkers predictive of disease evolution and therapeutic response,
- completing the regulatory toxicology studies required for first-in-human testing,
- initiating Phase I and Phase II clinical trials to evaluate safety and early signs of efficacy in slowing disease progression.
For InVenis Biotherapies, this RHU award marks a pivotal step in accelerating the clinical development of IVB-001 and reinforces the company’s central role in therapeutic innovation for neurodegenerative diseases.
Project partners
- InVenis Biotherapies
- University of Lille
- Lille University Hospital (CHU Lille)
- French Blood Establishment (EFS)
- Paris Brain Institute
- Institute of Neurosciences of Montpellier
- Montpellier University Hospital (CHU Montpellier)
