Co-founded by the leading cancer institute Gustave Roussy, Paris-Saclay University and the French company Clevexel Pharma, Graegis Pharmaceuticals plans to start proof of concept clinical trials in 2023 in the prevention of radiation-induced dermatitis and mucositis.

Cambridge (UK) – December 5^th, 2022 – Life Science Newswire – Graegis Pharmaceuticals, a startup developing new therapies aimed at preventing the side effects of radiotherapies on healthy skin and mucosa, has been founded in Q4 2021 and has spent its first year of operations running critical experiments en route to completing the regulatory nonclinical package allowing entry in clinical trials. Co-founded by Gustave Roussy, Paris-Saclay University and Clevexel Pharma, Graegis Pharmaceuticals has received the first tranche from a total series A round of 10 M€ raised from private investors and prominent Venture Capital contributors with the support of Paris-based AEC Partners.

Graegis pharmaceuticals has initiated two lead programs for radiation induced dermatitis in Breast Cancer patients and radiation induced mucositis for Head & Neck Cancer patients and is now planning to initiate clinical trials in 2023, utilizing topical formulations of the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) scavenger aprocystine* designed to avoid systemic side effects and to fit seamlessly in the radiotherapy patient journey. There is currently no approved preventive option for this growing patient population.

“Our goal is to provide patients with a convenient, safe and effective protection of skin and mucosa during radiotherapy”, said Professor Eric Deutsch, co-founder of Graegis. “The medical need is evident, since radiotherapy patients frequently suffer significant QoL impairment due to damage to healthy skin and mucosa, in the worst cases leading to a loss of function and to interruption or cessation of treatment.”

”The therapeutic concept is compelling and has enabled us to build a strong team of employees, consultants, and world leading advisors from the fields of radio-oncology and dermato-oncology” said Thibaud Portal, CEO of Graegis. “We are confident that we will demonstrate the clinical effectiveness of our products, based on the very convincing body of data assembled so far, both in vivo and in living human skin explants.”

Graegis Pharmaceuticals was founded on the basis of the collaborative work of Prof. Eric Deutsch, head of the Radiation Oncology Department at Gustave Roussy and head of INSERM UMR1030 (France) and the experts in formulation and early drug development of Clevexel Pharma, led by their CEO Christian Bloy. This work led to pioneering publication and to the filing of the IP filing foundational for Graegis.

About Gustave Roussy

Ranked as the leading European Cancer Centre and third in the world, Gustave Roussy is a centre with comprehensive expertise and is devoted entirely to patients suffering with cancer. The Institute is a founding member of the Paris Saclay Cancer Cluster. It is a source of diagnostic and therapeutic advances. It caters for almost 50,000 patients per year and its approach is one that integrates research, patient care and teaching. It is specialized in the treatment of rare cancers and complex tumors and it treats all cancers in patients of any age. Its care is personalized and combines the most advanced medical methods with an appreciation of the patient’s human requirements. In addition to the quality of treatment offered, the physical, psychological and social aspects of the patient’s life are respected. 4,100 professionals work on its two campuses: Villejuif and Chevilly-Larue. Gustave Roussy brings together the skills, which are essential for the highest quality research in oncology: a quarter of patients treated are included in clinical trials. 

For further information: www.gustaveroussy.fr/en, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram

About CleveXel Pharma  

CleveXel Pharma is a pharmaceutical company specialized in the design and early development of treatments providing innovative solutions to unmet patient needs. 

Today CleveXel is focused on two projects with recognized mechanisms of action on key pathophysiological processes and a mode of administration, dosage form or combination of effects that make them suitable and effective treatments for targeted pathologies. 

With combined expertise in drug development, CleveXel has solid assets to take these high-potential projects through clinical proof of concept together with partners, an important stage in value creation. 

For further information: www.clevexelpharma.com, LinkedIn, 

* name to be confirmed pending outcome INN procedure