About us
Lys Therapeutics, first-in-class biotherapies against neurological diseases
Glunozumab program: development of a monoclonal antibody counteracting the neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative processes implicated in the pathophysiology of neurological diseases by restoring the physiological function of the blood-brain barrier
In the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease, local glutamate levels induce an increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier via NMDA receptor-mediated signals, exacerbated by overexpressed endogenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) binding to the GluN1 subunit of NMDA receptors and triggering their overactivation.
As a result, intracellular calcium and nitric oxide levels increase. Matrix metalloproteinase and Rho-kinase are upregulated and phosphorylation of cytoskeleton and tight junction proteins results in their degradation. This elicits blood-brain barrier disruption, allowing immune cells to infiltrate the brain parenchyma.
This leads to neuroinflammation, a primary cause of neuronal cell death.
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Lys Therapeutics’ main drug-candidate is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody displaying a groundbreaking mechanism of action counteracting these mechanisms by specifically preventing inside blood vessels the binding of tPA on the GluN1 subunit of NMDA receptors, without blocking the physiological function of NMDAr.
By inhibiting this interaction, NMDAr can operate normally, haltering downstream deleterious cellular pathways. Tight junctions are reestablished, endothelial cells return to their healthy state and the blood-brain barrier function is restored, protecting the brain from further neuroinflammatory and subsequent neurodegenerative cascades.
Dr. Manuel BLANC, PhD, MBA
Co-founder, Chief Executive Officer, President of the Strategic Committee
Philippe DUJARDIN
Co-founder, Chief Financial & Development Officer, member of the Strategic Committee
Pr. Denis VIVIEN, PhD, PU-PH
Chief Scientific Officer, President of the Scientific Advisory Board
Dr. Nathalie DELETAGE, PhD
Senior Program Manager, Preclinical R&D
Dr. Flavie LESEPT, PhD
Program Manager, Preclinical R&D
Dr. Fanny POTZEHA, PhD
Project Manager, Preclinical R&D
Dr. Jean-Baptiste BERTRAND, PhD
Head of Clinical Operations
Dr. François FOSSIEZ, PhD
Head of CMC
Werner KLINGER
Head of IT and data protection
Dr. Pierre BELICHARD, PhD, MBA
Member of the Strategic Board
Dr. Pierre MORGON, PharmD, LL.M, MBA
Member of the Strategic Board
Philippe BISSAY, MBA
Member of the Strategic Board
Dr. Thibault HONEGGER, PhD
Member of the Strategic Board
President of the SAB: Pr. Denis Vivien (PhD, PU-PH), France, co-inventor of Glunomab & expert of tPA, head of the Research Institute “Blood and Brain @ Caen-Normandie”
Pr. Joan MONTANER (MD, PhD), Spain, neurologist, head of Neurovascular Research at the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute
Pr. Richard Macrez (MD, PhD), France, co-inventor of Glunomab, Professor and emergency physician, head of the Emergency Unit at Caen-Normandie Hospital
Dr. Désiré COLLEN (MD, PhD), Belgium, inventor of rtPA (alteplase) still the most effective drug for thrombolytic therapy of acute myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke
Pr. Yannick BÉJOT (MD, PhD), France, neurologist, head of Neurology at Dijon-Bourgogne hospital
Via BB@C Institute: Pr. Eng Lo (MD, PhD), USA, neurologist, Professor of Neurology and Radiology, Harvard Medical School, and Research Staff, Massachusetts General Hospital
Via BB@C Institute: Pr. Martin Dichgans (MD, PhD), Germany, neurologist, Director of the Institute of Stroke and Dementia Research (Medical Center of the University of Munich), head of the World Stroke Organization
We don’t have open positions at the moment, but stay tuned!