Key events

2006

 January 10: Novagali Pharma announces the successful completion of a Phase II clinical study of its formulation of cyclosporine A, an innovative medication for the treatment of severe dry eye syndrome.

 January 19: MacDermol (a French start-up developing products for the esthetic, plastic and reconstructive surgery markets) sets up a production laboratory in the Genopole® Enterprise/CCIE second-stage company incubator.

 January 25: AbAg raises a total of €6 million from Innoven Partners (€4 million) and Société Générale Asset Management (€2 million) in a series B round of financing. The company had already raised €2 million in March 2003.

 January 28: an INSERM research group (coordinated by Patrick Curmi from the Laboratory of Biomolecular Structure and Recognition) joins the European Union’s “Nano4Drugs” program on using the biological properties of nanodiamonds to transport drug compounds into cells.

 January 31: in collaboration with the French Army Medical Research Center, Biomethodes uses its massive mutagenesis technique to develop a molecule which will have a key role in combating bioterrorism.

 January: commissioning of the silanization facility (silanization is a chemical surface treatment for biochips) as part of a collaboration between Genopole® and the Ecole Polytechnique engineering school.

 January: grant of initial planning permission for a 77-room, 3-star hotel on Genopole® Campus 1.

 February 2: inauguration of new scientific equipment at the Pierre Marie Fourt Materials Center at the Paris Ecole des Mines, notably including a transmission electron microscope.

 February 3: BioSystems International (BSI) and Euroscreen announce a research collaboration on biomarkers for a chronic inflammatory disease.

• On February 27, BSI and Astra-Zeneca start a joint research program on arthritis biomarkers.
• On March 10, BSI signs an exclusive license agreement with Northeastern University on a monoclonal antibody-based platform that enables single-step biomarker discovery and validation.

 February 6: Biomethodes and Sanofi-Synthélabo start a new collaboration in order to develop Solexis, a new technology for optimizing four high-value proteins.

 February 9: MAT BioPharma and the Institut de Recherche Pierre Fabre collaborate on the discovery and development of new monoclonal antibodies.

• On June 12, Mat BioPharma and AlgoNomics sign a research agreement on investigating the immunogenicity of antibodies used to treat hematological cancers and certain solid tumors.

 February 21: Genopole® takes part in the Tremplins Recherche event, organized by the French Senate in order to promote dialogue between the worlds of scientific research and business.

 February 22: The dermatological diseases research group at the National Genotyping Center identifies a gene responsible for lamellar ichthyosis type 3 (a rare disease characterized by severe skin dryness). The work was led by Judith Fisher, an INSERM staff researcher.

 February 28: the Medicen Paris Region cluster organizes its first press conference at Ile-de-France Regional Council.

 February: launch of the Council of European BioRegions (CEBR), which federates Europe’s main bioclusters (Evry Genopole®, Cambridge, Oxford, Berlin, Munich, etc.) with the goal of structuring and stimulating the European biotech industry. Genopole® represents Ile-de-France Regional Council at the February consortium meeting.

 March 15-18: As part of the 6th BioMedec show, Genopole® participates in the “Profession: Bio Entrepreneurs” session during the round table entitled “Expanding and industrializing biotech: what if we did it differently?”

 March 23: three Genopole® companies (BioTom, Sibio and Helios Biosciences) present a robotic sample handling system at the 2006 Forum Labo/Forum Biotech show.

 March 26: Theraclion (a specialist in therapeutic applications of high-density ultrasound) starts a new phase of clinical trials of the non-invasive treatment of thyroid nodules.

 March 28: Genopole® accredits two start-ups: (i) Visiorel (championed by Francine Behar-Cohen), which develops new ophthalmological approaches for delivering gene drugs to the ciliary body of the eye and (ii) Xentech (headed by Jean-Gabriel Judde), which is setting up a preclinical service platform in oncology.

 April 3-7: with funding from the CNRS and Genopole®, the 5th edition of the Epigenetics Spring School (held in Bordeaux) attracts over 80 participants to a series of scientific presentations and working sessions. The event’s impact is further leveraged by Genopole®’s accompanying publication of a special book.

 April 5: Jean Weissenbach (Chief Executive of the Genoscope) holds a press conference on “Genoscope’s new scientific orientations in the genomics of the microbial biosphere and its environmental and industrial implications” and attracts over 20 journalists.

 April 9: Véronique Billat (Director of the LEPHE Exercise Physiology Lab, dedicated to understanding the physiological basis of sporting performance) performs a ground-breaking scientific experiment during the 30th Paris Marathon. It consists in measuring physiological parameters (body temperature, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, oxygen consumption) in ten runners and feeding back the data in real time in order to help the athletes better manage their pace.

• June 22: for the first time, Véronique Billat measures a mountain climber’s physiological responses to extreme conditions during an ascension of Mont Blanc.
• October 3: Jean-François Lamour (France’s Minister for Youth, Sports and the Voluntary Sector) inaugurates the LEPHE’s new premises (fitted out and equipped by Genopole).

 April 8-12: For the 6th year running, Genopole® attends Forum USA (an annual job fair organized by the French Embassy in Washington) in order to help reverse the “brain drain” from France and highlight the job opportunities being created by Genopole®’s innovative companies. Genopole® promotes 14 job opportunities, including 13 from campus companies or labs.

 April 12: Novagali Pharma announces that it has closed a €26 million round of funding, taking the total amount raised since its incorporation to €44 million.

 April 14: Biomethodes presents THRâ„¢, a major breakthrough for rapidly optimizing the stability of proteins (notably enzymes and therapeutic proteins).

 April 26: Results published by Nautilus Biotech (a company specializing in the development and optimization of therapeutic proteins) suggests that BELEROFON (an interferon-alpha variant) and VITATROPIN (a growth hormone variant) may be appropriate for oral administration.

• On October 10, the company files an IND application with the FDA for the low-dose pegylated interferon-alpha BELEROFON.
• On November 14, the company announces that it has reached a significant milestone in its collaboration with Creabilis Therapeutics on the identification of a drug candidate (an improved HMGB1 Box A protein) for the treatment of RAGE- and HMGB1-related diseases, including hepatitis B, rheumatoid arthritis, melanoma and sepsis.

 April: additional Genopole® business accommodation opens within the Genavenir 8 building: Euroas, MilleGen, TcLand and Biopecs move in over the course of the year.

• The SEM Genopole® real estate management company moves to Genavenir 8.

 May 2: Genopole® hosts a delegation led by Kapil Sibal, the Indian Republic’s Minister for Science, Technology and Ocean Development.

 June 5-9: The 3rd week of Genopole®’s “targeted thematic activities”. This think-tank (led by expert researchers) aims at sketching out the future of the research areas covered by the Epigenomics Program.

 June 6: The Epigenomics Program group moves into its new premises in the Evry 2 building.

 June 7: A group of Genopole®-based researchers from CEA’s Functional Genomics Service demonstrates the presence of stem cells in human skin cell cultures.

 June 8-9: Genopole® hosts the First International Forum on Competitiveness Clusters (organized by the LEEM, France’s pharmaceutical industry association). The event attracts representatives from several French clusters, politicians and a variety of stakeholders from the biotech sector and coincides with a visit by senior managers from the Research Triangle Park in North Carolina.

 June 15: The first ever “GenoFolies” campus festival takes place, in conjunction with the launch of the Genopole® intranet/extranet. This successful event attracts 300 campus staff - several of whom showcase their extraprofessional activities!

 June 20: Three Genopole® companies win prizes in the French government’s national technology business plan competition: Novacyt (a major player in cytological diagnostics), Viroxis (preventive vaccines and innovative therapeutics against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Visiorel (novel therapeutic approaches in ophthalmology).

 June 30: Publication of the final report from the European BIOLINK consortium, launched as part of the EU’s 5th RTD Framework Program. The project has enabled some of Europe’s leading bio-incubators (from Genopole®, Oxford, Cardiff, Munich, Cagliari and Jerusalem) to draw up an exhaustive guide to good practice and identify potential collaborations.

 June: the Genopole® Expert committee welcomes three new members: Serge Braun (formerly CSO at Transgene and now the AFM’s Scientific Director), Jean Deregnaucourt (Special Advisor on Scientific Affairs to the Chairman of Laboratoires Pierre Fabre and co-founder of the company CellVir) and Alain Huriez (a former CEO of Neovacs and current CEO and co-founder of TcLand).

• a construction permit is granted for the planned 3-star hotel

 July 6: DNA Therapeutics (a Genopole® company developing new agents for the treatment of radio- and chemotherapy-resistant cancers) wins INSERM-Transfert’s Life Science Prize. On November 7, the company announces the efficacy of the Dbait molecule (when combined with radiotherapy) in a xenograft mouse.

 July 11: Signature of the lease for the future South Ile-de-France Medical Center, which will bring together the human and material resources of the Évry-Courcouronnes and Corbeil hospitals at a single location from 2010 onwards. The Medical Center’s technical facilities and cutting-edge equipment will make it one of the most modern healthcare establishments in France. With 100,000 m2 in floor space, nearly 1,000 beds and 3,600 staff, the Medical Center will be capable of providing patient care in all medical and surgical specialties.

 July: Sigma-Aldrich Proligo (an American company specializing in oligonucleotide synthesis) sets up one of its most modern production centers in 2,000 m2 of floor space leased from and fitted out by the SEM Genopole® real estate company. The premises are inaugurated on October 19, 2006.

• ISO 9001 2000 certification is awarded to the French national DNA chip production facility, located within the CEA’s Functional Genomics Service in Evry.

 August: Serial Genetics raises $400K in equity finance.

 September 26: Genopole® takes part in the 4th Forum on Financing Innovation and Competitiveness. This Paris-based event allows innovative small business to meet and forge relationships with partners who can catalyze their corporate development.

 September 30: The NATIBS consortium of incubators (from Barcelona, Berlin, Stockholm and Tel-Aviv and coordinated by Genopole® and the Essonne Chamber of Commerce and Industry) completes its work program, which is crowned with success – the project has enabled 28 companies to access European Union R&D programs. A follow-up project is planned for FP7.

 September: commissioning of a cell irradiator under the terms of an agreement between Genopole® and the CEA’s Functional Genomics Service on installation, operation and use of the facility.

• The Eiffage group rents about 2,000 m2 of floor space in Genavenir 5 building for its staff designing and building the future South Ile-de-France Medical Center.
• The Cahiers de la Compétitivité supplement to the Le Monde daily newspaper and a special Nature feature on French biotechnology both feature advertorials on Genopole®, its partners and some campus companies - raising the biopark’s profile within France and internationally.
  
   October 2-6: the 4th edition of the “Advanced Introduction to Biology” course takes place in Evry.
  
   October 3: the LEPHE moves into 220 m2 of lab space fitted out and equipped with funding from Genopole®, the University of Evry-Val d’Essonne and local authorities (Ile-de-France Regional Council, Essonne County Council and Evry Centre-Essonne Urban Area).
  
   October 9-15: thanks to support from Essonne County Council, Genopole® again takes part in France’s annual Science Week by coordinating visits to campus labs and companies and organizing events for the general public (DNA workshops, the “DNA Chest” and “Junior Gene Café”). Over 1,300 people visit the campus.
  
   October 23: GenOdyssee and Baxter signed an R&D collaboration on developing therapeutic proteins from natural genetic variants.
  
   October 25-27: Genopole® takes part in the 10th European Biotech Crossroads (EuroBio 2006), along with eight portfolio companies: Atragene, Drugabilis, Genewave, Intragen, Sigma-Aldrich Proligo, Texcell, Vaxon Biotech and Watchfrog.
  
   October: Genopole® accredits BioSolution, a company headed by Guillaume Kerboul and which offers computing services for biologists. BioSolution links up computer scientists and biologists, with a view to developing new IT solutions.
  
   November 16: Acriter (a provider of consultancy and training services to biotech and biopharma companies) inaugurates its “Biotech Resources” platform, which gives life science businesses access to a network of experts in management, human resources and communication.
• Inauguration of the Computer Science for Integrated Biology and Complex Systems lab (IBISC, headed by Etienne Colle), shortly after announcement of its first success: the lab’s EXOGEAN genome annotation software beats 19 other packages to fill the top slot in the international EGASP ranking.

 November 17: Genethon reaches a new milestone by initiating the first human trial of a gene therapy for a neuromuscular disease.

 November 21: The Genopole® Expert Committee validates the provision of business support to two start-ups: Physikron (championed by Patrick Vayn and David Scigocki) will develop novel solutions in mass spectrometry and NanoVec (headed by Bertrand du Halgouet) will provide innovative formulations for targeted delivery of active pharmaceutical compounds.

 November 24: GenoSafe receives a €3.5 million grant over 10 years from the French Agency for Industrial Innovation as part of the “Advanced Diagnostics for Novel Therapeutic Approaches” (ADNA) project. The ADNA program is coordinated by Merieux Alliance and links up four partners (BioMerieux, GenoSafe, Genethon and Transgene). It seeks to address the challenge of personalized medicine in the fields of cancer, infectious disease and rare diseases by developing new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

 November: DSM invests €2 million in Integragen as part of a R&D agreement on the development of molecular diagnostic products.

• Xentech enters into a $500,000 collaboration with a major pharmaceutical company.
• Accreditation of the Genoscope MicroScope platform (databases for the annotation of bacterial genomes) by the RIO Committee.

 December 8-9: the 20th Telethon national fundraising event obtains pledges of €106,696,532.

 December 8: Genopole® takes part in the Scientific Careers Forum at the University of Evry-Val d’Essonne in order to raise young people’s awareness of these career opportunities.

 December 13: the 4th “Clinical Research Day” organized by Genopole® and the South Ile-de-France Medical Center in order to develop dialogue and collaborations between Genopole® researchers, Medical Center physicians and students.

 December 22: The European Union’s 7th Research and Technological Development Framework Programme (FP7) is launched, with the aim of reinforcing the scientific and technological foundations of businesses throughout the EU, developing their international competitiveness and promoting essential research activities.

 December: Biofords, Serial Genetics and the Genopole® management office move into new premises in the Genavenir 8 building.

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