LNC Therapeutics, a French biotech company specializing in gut microbiome-based drug discovery announced that it has signed an exclusive license agreement with Cornell University (Ithaca, NY, USA ) for its Christensenella patent family.
Christensenella is a recently discovered family of gut bacteria. Considered a keystone taxon in the human gut microbiome, it represents a major opportunity in the fight against obesity, metabolic disorders and other high-impact diseases. Christensenella and microbiome modulation is an innovative approach with the potential to unlock a wide range of therapeutic applications.
By securing a license for the Christensenella patent, LNC has bolstered its strategy for developing innovative therapeutic approaches based on this new family of bacteria.
“Expanding our intellectual property is essential in order for us to successfully pursue our vision and our development strategy,”
said Dr. Georges Rawadi, CEO of LNC.
“Securing a license for the Christensenella patent has reinforced our existing intellectual property portfolio. It’s a key step in establishing our leadership position for the Christensenella family and anticipating its future therapeutic applications.”
Symflor, who previously licensed the Christensenlla patent, has assisted LNC in this transaction.
LNC aims to use this license to develop the first Christensenella-based drug candidate for the treatment of obesity and metabolic disorders. In parallel, LNC will leverage its research platform dedicated to studying this family of bacteria in order to gain deeper insight into how it operates and understand how it interacts with host cells. “We strongly believe that Christensenella has a wide therapeutic potential that goes beyond obesity and metabolic disorders. We are therefore considering the possibility of broadening our fields of application,” Dr. Rawadi added.
Commited to become a major player in biotechnologies, the company plans to continue building up its intellectual property portfolio and developing academic and/or industry partnerships with research teams working on microbiome-related topics.
About LNC Therapeutics
Founded in 2010, LNC Therapeutics is a French biotech company specializing in gut microbiome-based drug discovery. All of the company’s projects include basic research, preclinical research and clinical trials.
Backed by leading venture capital investors such as Seventure Partners (with its microbiome-dedicated vehicle, Health for Life Capital) and family offices, the company collaborates with renowned medical experts around the world to ensure the highest level of standards in the development of innovative drugs.
With a total of €16.5 million raised since it was founded, including €1.5 million in grants from BPIfrance and the Nouvelle Aquitaine region, LNC Therapeutics pursues ambitious research and development programs to create the therapies of the future.