Institut Curie has supplied an undisclosed sum to its second immuno-oncology spinout, Honing Biosciences, which will focus on improved drug delivery mechanisms.
France-based immuno-oncology developer Honing Biosciences has officially spun out of research centre Institut Curie, which equipped the startup with an undisclosed amount of seed capital.
Honing Biosciences will advance a protein delivery mechanism mainly focused on reprogramming immune system cells from the chimeric antigen receptor (Car-T cells), so they can recognise and destroy cancerous bodies.
The spinout aims to overcome some of the problems that have stalled other Car-T approaches, such as toxicity when treating blood cancers and a lack of efficiency tackling solid tumours.
Honing Biosciences will seek to use a similar delivery mechanism to also fight other chronic diseases, and will continue to partner Institut Curie on research and development.
Honing Biosciences is the second immuno-oncology spinout from Insitut Curie and the first company to receive funding from the institution since it launched a new tech transfer policy in 2017.
The company’s founding patents are jointly-owned by Institut Curie and Sorbonne University, as well as France’s National Centre for Scientific Research and National Institute of Health and Medical Research.
Amaury Martin, head of the institute’s Technology Transfer and Industrial Partnerships Department, said: “[Honing’s] proprietary protein transport control technology shall attract partners in the cell therapy sector, a highly dynamic market that has been growing continuously for several years.
“This is an emblematic example of fundamental research that will ultimately benefit patients treated at the institute through the development of a startup and reveals the institute entrepreneurial dynamics.”
