SATT Nord (Société d’Accélération de transfert de technologies) and its French partners from the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), the University of Lille, the Pasteur Institute of Lille, the University of Paris-Cité, and Italian partners from the University of Pavia, have entered into a collaboration and licensing agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim with the aim of developing, in clinical research, an innovative treatment called K1K1 to treat patients with pulmonary fibrosis.
Fibrosis is responsible for more than one-third of deaths worldwide. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in particular is characterized by rapid progression and an average survival time of only 3 years. Symptoms include shortness of breath during activity, a dry, persistent cough, chest discomfort, fatigue, and muscle weakness. Although considered rare, IPF affects 3 million people worldwide, mainly patients over the age of 50, and affects men more than women. While current treatments are able to slow the decline in lung function, there is still much therapeutic development to be done to ensure a better quality of life for patients.
The K1K1 protein induces anti-fibrotic, regenerative, and anti-inflammatory responses by activating signaling dependent on the hepatocyte growth factor receptor (c-MET or HGFR). Derived from genetic engineering, the K1K1 protein consists of two copies of the kringle 1 (K1) domain of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF), the natural agonist of c-MET.
SATT Nord supported the Franco-Italian consortium from an early stage in transforming the proof of concept for K1 domain dimerization into a potential therapeutic innovation: Prof. Ermanno Gherardi's group at the University of Pavia conducted research in structural biology and protein engineering to produce K1K1, while Dr. Oleg Melnyk's group, Director of Research at the CNRS at the Center for Infection and Immunity in Lille (CNRS/ULille/Pasteur Lille/CHU de Lille/ Inserm) generated the initial data showing the therapeutic potential of K1 domain multimerization and characterized the activity of K1K1 in vitro and in vivo.
“We are delighted to be collaborating with Boehringer Ingelheim, a leader in pulmonary fibrosis research and treatment, and excited to be working with one of the world’s top 20 pharmaceutical companies,” said Fabrice LEFEBVRE, Executive Chairman of SATT Nord. "Being able to potentially bring this new treatment to patients with the help of a strong partner is very rewarding for the research teams in Pavia, Lille, and Paris, who have achieved this innovation as part of a long-term pan-European cooperation."
Based on these promising data, Boehringer Ingelheim has entered into an exclusive license agreement with SATT Nord to advance K1K1 into preclinical and clinical development, with the ultimate goal of bringing a new treatment to patients.
The collaboration and licensing agreements with Boehringer Ingelheim, coordinated by Dr. Jérôme Vicogne, CNRS Research Director at the Center for Infection and Immunity in Lille, representing the academic partnership, take the project to the next level by leveraging Boehringer Ingelheim's world-class expertise in research and development for therapies that meet the therapeutic needs of patients in pulmonology.
Under the collaboration agreement, SATT Nord and its partners will be able to continue investigating the potential of K1K1 in other chronic diseases. Boehringer Ingelheim will be responsible for research and all other development activities related to K1K1 and its potential global commercialization.