In 2019, Domain Therapeutics lauched Ermium Therapeutics with Kurma Partners, Idinvest Partners, Jean-Philippe Herbeuval and Erganeo. The company focuses on the development of an innovative class of immunomodulators targeting a GPCR, the chemokine CXCR4 receptor, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases (see press release).
Program description
CXCR4 biased agonist
- Discovery
- Candidate
- Preclinical
- Phase I
Chemokine receptor CXCR4 has long been identified as a therapeutic target to be antagonized. Recently, Dr Jean-Philippe Herbeuval team at CNRS and University Paris Descartes identified a new mechanism of action, distinct from conventional CXCR4 antagonistic activity, allowing to control efficiently the overproduction of inflammatory cytokines, including type 1 interferons. The researchers demonstrated that hitting this new spot in CXCR4 expressing cells, in particular plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) known to play a central role in multiple autoimmune diseases, holds a strong therapeutic potential.
The program aims at developing innovative immunomodulators targeting the chemokine receptor CXCR4, based on this breakthrough discovery. Domain Therapeutics and Ermium have initiated a collaboration in 2019 to bring their respective expertise to this exciting program and move it forward through the each step of the development. This strategically positions Ermium for the discovery of valuable and effective first-in-class candidates.
CXCR4 biased agonist program is currently at the lead optimization stage.
