Restoring health
Reversing the course of cancer with RNA-based therapeutics
Company
The company
EPICS Therapeutics is developing a novel class of RNA-based therapeutics with the potential to effectively treat a wide range of cancers.
Despite advancements in omics technologies, we have not seen the expected surge in new cancer-reversing medicines approved by the FDA.
The main obstacle we face is the complexity of proteomics and genomics data.
We believe acting at the mRNA level presents the best opportunity for success. The epitranscriptome, which encompasses around 170 mRNA modifications, offers a manageable number of targets.
Revolution
The revolution
Our approach: we focus on epigenetic RNA modifications, which represent a manageable number of variables.
By targeting the enzymes that modulate mRNA levels at the epigenetic level, we can selectively influence the pathways and proteins that are dysregulated in cancer cells, minimizing the impact on normal cells.
METTL3 methyltransferase is the key enzyme responsible for m6A transfer, the most abundant mRNA modification. m6A modification has been linked to tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis.
Program
Our program
We have established a promising pipeline of small molecule mRNA modulators addressing critical areas of unmet medical need.
Our lead program targets METTL3 methyltransferase for AML and solid tumors. METTL3 is the most validated RNA epigenetic target, and we demonstrated that our METTL3 inhibitor is effective in vitro and in vivo.
Science
Science
We have a best-in-class METTL3 inhibitor
METTL3 methyltransferase is the key enzyme responsible for m6A transfer, the most abundant mRNA modification.
m6A modification has been linked to tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis.
- Overexpressed in many liquid and solid tumors
- High expression predicts poor survival
- knockdown of METTL3 slows tumor growth
- m6A is a downstream marker of METTL3 activity
- Decreased m6A correlates to decreased tumor growth
Project 1/1
EP102 : Our lead RNA-based therapeutics program
EP102 is the lead program in our RNA-based therapeutics lineup. This small molecule RNA modulator is developed for critical indications in both liquid and solid tumors, addressing unmet medical needs in significant types of cancer such as Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and several different solid tumor cancers.
Targeting METTL3
EP102 targets METTL3, the most validated RNA epigenetic target. METTL3 methyltransferase is the primary enzyme responsible for m6A transfer, the most abundant mRNA modification.
This m6A modification is associated with tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis.
- METTL3 is Overexpressed in numerous liquid and solid tumors.
- High expression of METTL3 often signals poor survival prospects.
- Knockdown of METTL3 leads to reduced tumor growth.
- m6A is an indicator of METTL3 activity.
- A decrease in m6A is associated with diminished tumor growth.
Figure: METTL3 is overexpressed and overly active in cancer cells
Our METTL3 inhibitor has showcased its potential by arresting AML tumor progression in vivo. It boasts strong efficacy in AML-PDX models and improves survival in aggressive AML scenarios.
EPICS Therapeutics data aligns with existing literature, suggesting different solid tumors as suitable targets for METTL3 modulation therapy. Our findings in ovarian, head and neck and lung in vivo tumor models further confirms that our drug candidate alone considerably extends survival and also promotes strong tumor growth inhibition.
Key Figures
April 2023
EPICS Therapeutics to present compelling in vivo efficacy in oncology with its proprietary METTL3 inhibitor at AACR 2023
January 2022
EPICS Therapeutics initiates First-in-Human studies with EP282
January 2022
EPICS Therapeutics Names Franz Obermayr Ph. D., Chief Executive Officer
Our team
Our team
Meet our team of drug development experts
Michel Allé
Michel AlléJean Combalbert
Jean CombalbertFrançois Fuks
François FuksCaroline Thielen
Caroline ThielenPhilippe De Backer
Philippe De BackerElisabeth Svanberg
Elisabeth SvanbergGuillaume Dutheuil PhD
Medicinal Chemistry & CMC Director
Guillaume Dutheuil has more than 15 years of experience in the industry and has served as the Director of Medicinal Chemistry at EPICS Therapeutics since the inception of the company in 2019. At EPICS Therapeutics, he is responsible for chemical development of projects from compound hit finding through to the delivery of clinical candidates including oversight of medicinal chemistry, analytical and CMC (scaled manufacturing). Previously, Guillaume was a senior medicinal chemist at Ogeda SA and an important contributor to the invention of fezolinetant (approved for market in 2023). Guillaume has a PhD in peptidomimetic synthesis (methodologies) from Rouen University and completed post-doctoral research at Bristol university in developing brand new chiral boron chemistry. Guillaume is currently an inventor on 17 industry patents and is an author of 15 publications.
Vincent Lannoy PhD
Intellectual Property & Legal Director
Vincent Lannoy has expertise as a director in the life science sector with strong intellectual property experience combined with project management, legal and business development activities. Vincent was IP & Legal Director of Ogeda SA (Belgium) acquired by Astellas Inc. Vincent has led patent portfolio strategy, business development projects and legal matters at Ogeda in the fields of inflammatory and Women’s Health. Vincent received his PhD in Medical Biology from Catholic University of Louvain, (Belgium) and also received a Certificate in Management from ICHEC (Belgium).
Laurent Meeus PhD
HTS and Services Director
Laurent Meeus is the Director of the EuroscreenFast Business Unit of Epics Therapeutics, offering GPCR screening services to worldwide pharma and biotech clients (https://euroscreenfast.com/ ). He has a PhD in Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (ULB) and he joined EuroscreenFast in 2009 as a Research Scientist, to develop new and challenging custom assays for its clients. In 2014 he was appointed as manager of the team and he’s the primary contact for customer requests and after sales services.
Catherine Sorlet
Head of Pharmacology
Fernand Timsonet
Administrative & Accounting Director
Franz Obermayr PhD
Chief Executive Officer
Franz Obermayr previously served as CEO of Eyegate (now Kiora NASDAQ: KPRX), before that he was founder and CEO of Panoptes which was sold to Eyegate in 2020. Before founding Panoptes he served as head of clinical development at Nabriva (NASDAQ: NBRV) leading to approval of Xenleta in 2019. Franz has been in different roles throughout his career in drug development covering areas in infectious, inflammatory and oncology indications and did his PhD in Biochemistry at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund.
Graeme Fraser PhD
Chief Scientific Officer
Graeme Fraser is a pharmacologist with more than 20 years of operational experience to lead projects from basic research through to completion of clinical proof-of-concept. Graeme was Chief Scientific Officer of OGEDA SA (Belgium) where he is an inventor of fezolinetant, since acquired by ASTELLAS and approved for market in 2023 as a product in Women’s Health. Graeme has led Drug Discovery activities at biotech and pharmaceutical companies in Canada and Europe in the fields of cancer, gastrointestinal disease, endocrinology and pain with 5 products advanced into clinical development. Graeme received a Ph.D. in Pharmacology & Therapeutics from McGill University (Montreal, Canada) and is an author of over 50 publications and research abstracts, in addition to 22 patents.
Michel Allé
Michel Allé is director of Elia. Group and D’Ieteren Hroup both listed on Euronext and was also Chairman of the board of Ogeda SA until its sale to Astellas Pharma Inc. in 2017. He is honorary professor of Université Libre de Bruxelles (Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Ecole Polytechnique). Michel Allé received a civil engineer degree and a degree in Economics. He has been director in the 1980’s of the Belgian R&D program in new and renewable energies. Later, after 13 years’ experience in Private Equity, he became CFO of Brussels Airport and after that CFO of Belgian Railways.
Jean Combalbert
Jean Combalbert is PharmD and PhD receive from Faculté de Pharmacy, Marseille France. Jean has an impressive track record with over 25 years’ experience building research and development-stage biotech companies and achieving high-value exits.
Jean is founder and non-executive director at Epics Therapeutics SA, having previously served as its founding CEO from 2017. He is also currently the non-executive Chairman of Kynos Therapeutics Ltd, Scotland.
Jean was Chairman of the Board at Syndesi Therapeutics SA, Belgium from 2018 until its sale (1B$) to AbbVie in 2022. Previously, he was CEO of Ogeda SA from 2006 until its sale (800M€) to Astellas Pharma Inc. in 2017.
Earlier in his career, Dr Combalbert held senior positions with SANOFI Research and Galderma in France and the United States.
François Fuks
François Fuks is a professor at the free University of Brussels and director of the ULB Cancer Research Center. His work is devoted to epigenetics and its role in cancer.
After a training in molecular biology at the ULB (Faculty of Sciences), François Fuks focused his doctoral research on small viruses (parvoviruses) as tools to fine-tune anti-cancer responses. He performed his PhD at the German Cancer Research Center – DKFZ (Heidelberg, Germany), headed by Prof. Harald. zur Hausen (2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine). He regularly publishes in major journals (Nature, Science,…).
Caroline Thielen
Caroline THIELEN is Investment Manager at SRIW. Prior to that, she was the COO of Bridge2Health.
Caroline holds a PhD in Sciences (Biology) from the ULiège completed by a postdoctoral training at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, Atlanta, USA).
She has extensive experience in coordinating research projects at national and international levels.
Caroline sits on the boards of several life sciences and medtech companies.
Philippe De Backer
Philippe obtained a PhD in Molecular Biology from VIB/Ghent University and an MBA from Solvay Business Scholl, after which he joined an early-stage life sciences VC.
He became a member of the European Parliament in 2011, focussing on fund regulation and long-term investment, SME policy and healthcare policy. In 2016, he became state secretary and later minister in the Belgian Federal Government. In March 2020, he was asked by prime minister Sophie Wilmes to lead the Federal Taskforce fighting the COVID pandemic in Belgium, procuring medical material and setting up testing capacity. After this successful crisis-management, he announced his return to life sciences and investing.
Elisabeth Svanberg
Elisabeth Svanberg MD, PhD is a Board-Certified General Surgeon and Associate Professor of Surgery. She joined the biopharmaeceutical industry in 2000, and has held executive leadership roles within R&D both in Europe and in the US. Dr. Svanberg serves on the Board of EPICS Therapeutics since 2022, and also serves as an independent non-executive director on the boards of Egetis AB (formerly PledPharma AB) (since 2017), Galapagos (since 2020), Amolyt Pharma SAS (since 2021) and LEO Pharma (since 2022).
What's new
What's new
Publications, news and events
Careers
Careers
Working with us
Spontaneous application
Send us an email if you think you are the right fit
We are seeking people who share our passion and purpose of pushing the boundaries of medicine. EPICS Therapeutics team members are innovative and collaborative, working together toward the goal of providing treatments to patients in need.
Contact
Contact
47 Rue Adrienne Bolland
6041 Gosselies, Belgium
VAT : BE 0690 759 071
+32 71 348 500
Info@epicstx.com