Since 1999, numerous pharmaceutical groups have chosen Genfit as a preferred research partner. The long-term privileged relationship with these leading companies has resulted in renewed alliances, strategic milestones and innovative drug discoveries that are shaping the medicines of the future:
Genfit and Sanofi-Aventis initiated their research collaboration with the objective of selecting the best strategies for the identification and selection of novel PPAR ligands for various indications of cardiometabolic disease. Sanofi-Aventis is one of Genfit's founding Pharma partners. The alliance renewed in January 2007 includes several projects, particularly pharmacological characterization and the selection of Sanofi-Aventis' best drug candidates to act on an innovative target involved in metabolic and inflammatory mechanisms as well as the launch of a new programme based on a new target involved in inflammatory diseases. Thanks to its advanced proprietary SNuRM platform, Genfit has identified promising compounds and is currently managing a significant portion of the pharmacological characterisation of Sanofi-Aventis' compounds leading to the choice of products for development. Several compounds resulting from this collaborative program are currently in Phase I and Phase II development with Sanofi-Aventis.
Merck, one of Genfit's founding pharma partners, has discovered innovative concepts based on the identification and validation of new therapeutic targets for Type 2 diabetes through our research. As one of Merck's innovation partners, we have employed a large range of functional genomics and proteomics technological platforms for the programmes, as well as screening development capacities and in vivo models. The collaboration currently includes two different programmes targeting new genes for increasing insulin sensitization via lipid and glucose metabolic pathways.
Fournier and Genfit have been successfully collaborating on the identification and development of new Selective Nuclear Receptor Modulators for the regulation of lipoprotein metabolism and atherosclerosis formation. Using its world renowned expertise in nuclear receptors, Genfit has characterised over 75 products amongst 3500 synthesized by the Fournier team, which is currently investigating a resulting “first in class” compound in preclinical trials. The alliance with the Solvay Group (of which Fournier is member since 2005) has been renewed for 3 years in January 2007. Genfit will pursue the collaboration on the compounds selected from their previous collaboration. First-in-class products, those acting on a completely new target, are currently in preclinical development at Solvay. These compounds are expected to enter Phase I clinical assays in 2007. The new agreement also includes a new programme concerning the validation of a highly innovative new target, and selection of additional development candidates.
Genfit is in its second stage of a partnership with Pierre Fabre, consisting of two drug discovery programmes focusing on metabolic disorders. Genfit is currently characterising resulting compounds which have a very interesting profile on lipid regulation. Another area of research concentrates on a new therapeutic target, implying the development of an original screening test. The overall aim of this collaboration is the selection of a candidate for cardiometabolic disorders for preclinical development in 2007.
The programmes in place with Servier target two proteins acting on several levels on pathways in cardiometabolic disease, with particular focus on a common action targeting diabetes and obesity, "Diabesity". The result of assays developed and optimised by Genfit has led to screening campaigns, which are currently ongoing at Servier Laboratories.
