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INFORMAL GROUP OF R&D LIAISON OFFICES (IGLO) PARTNER SEARCH FORM AREA OF INTEREST: DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THIS FORM: 24/07/07 ANSWERS EXPECTED BEFORE: 20/08/07 GENERAL INFORMATION NAME OF ORGANISATION*: PHERECYDES PHARMA TYPE OF ORGANISATION*: Public body (Research organization/university/lab) SME/ SME association Not for profit organization Regional body/agency Other (specify) Other private actor CONTACT PERSON NAME* Marie-Laure GARRIGUES FRANCE COUNTRY ADDRESS 48 rue de Lisbonne 75008 PARIS FRANCE TEL* FAX E-MAIL* +33 (0) 6 87 09 50 16 [email protected] TYPE OF PARTNER SEARCH*: FP7 SPECIFIC CALL NO SPECIFIC CALL/EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (ONLY IF RELEVANT) CONSORTIUM* POSITION WITHIN CONSORTIUM* Create a new consortium Join an existing consortium As a Coordinator As a Partner IF FP7 RELEVANT CALL: AREA OF INTEREST * Compulsory 1 INFORMAL GROUP OF R&D LIAISON OFFICES (IGLO) PARTNER SEARCH FORM COOPERATION CAPACITIES 1 – Health 2 - Food, agriculture, fisheries and biotechnologies 3 – ICT 4 – NMP 5 – Energy 6 – Environment (including climate change) 7 – Transports (including aeronautics) 8 – SSH 9 – Space 10 – Security Research infrastructures Research for the profit of SMEs Regions of knowledge Research potential Science in society Support to the coherent development of research policies International cooperation PEOPLE IDEAS Initial Training networks Networks (ITN) Intra European fellowship (IEF) European Reintegration Grants (ERG) Cofunding (COFUND) Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways (IAPP) International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF) International Incoming Fellowships (IIF) International Reintegration grant (ERG) Marie Curie “Researchers’night” Marie Curie Awards Starting Independent research grant Advanced Investigator grants EURATOM JRC CALL DETAILS CALL IDENTIFICATION (according DATE OF PUBLICATION: to WP): HEALTH-2007-2.3.1-1 June 19th 2007 CLOSURE DATE: September 18th 2007 PROJECT INFORMATION ACRONYME & TITLE: Novel targets for drugs against Gram negative bacteria * Compulsory 2 INFORMAL GROUP OF R&D LIAISON OFFICES (IGLO) PARTNER SEARCH FORM SUMMARY*: PHERECYDES PHARMA THE TECHNOLOGY Pherecydes Pharma’s technology targets bacteriophages, the natural viruses of bacteria. Despite very efficient properties for specific detection and rapid lysis of bacteria, phages have not yet been fully exploited as biotechnological tools due to the inefficient process of selecting them from nature. Our phage libraries are produced by stochastic recombination within three key proteins of the targeting system of phages. The range of specificities is thus extended so as to potentially address any infectious problems due to new or emergent bacterial species. These flexible tools are incorporated into miniaturized detection devices and enter into the composition of solutions for neutralization of bacteria. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION The phage genes encoding proteins 12, 36 and 37, which bind to receptors on the bacterial surface are mutated at specific zones, and cloned in recombination vectors. A population of transformed bacteria is obtained, containing a variety of inserts. Infection by a T4 phage leads to a phage progeny representing a huge diversity of specificities. The library is then further characterized by testing with collection strains. INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION Progress in the biotechnological exploitation of phages is ongoing: understanding of phage molecular biology has been exploited to generate novel nanotechnologies like biosensors for diagnostics, and new bacteriophage-based therapies are emerging for the management of hospital infections or problems involving bacterial biofilms. Pherecydes Pharma focuses on emergent infectious problems that are resistant to current strategies. ADDED VALUE The high specificity of phages for their bacterial host is a key attribute, resulting in a high efficiency compared to classical antibiotic strategies or compared to molecular tools (DNA, antibodies) for diagnostics. The construction of a bacteriophage library by means of a stochastic recombination of proteins expressed at the tip of tail fibers confers host range expansion and allows extended applications of these technologies. CONTRIBUTION Pherecydes Pharma would develop therapeutic applications of its bacteriophage librairies, the diversification of phage proteins targeting bacteria may permit a very efficient action against Gram negative bacteria. KEYWORDS: Human Therapeutics; Phage; Bacteria; Drug Target; Gram Negative Bacteria. TYPE OF PROJECT Funding scheme: Collaborative projects (Small or medium-scale focused research projects with maximum EC contribution of € 6,000,000/project). PARTNERS ALREADY INVOLVED ( Contact Name, Name of organization, e-mail address): PARTNER SOUGHT COUNTRY (IES) (if relevant): * Compulsory 3 INFORMAL GROUP OF R&D LIAISON OFFICES (IGLO) PARTNER SEARCH FORM EXPERTISE REQUESTED*: Pherecydes Pharma holds two patents covering the process of production of the bacteriophage libraries. We have started library production in collaboration with institutional partners. We now seek partners to transform the unlimited specificity of our phage library into the new tools for bacterial infections control. Specifically, we seek strategic partners for biosensor and pharmaceutical developments. ROLE: Technology development Dissemination ORGANISATION TYPE: Research Demonstration Training Other (specify): ……………. Public body (Research organization/university/lab) SME/ SME association Not for profit organization Regional body/agency Other private actor Other (specify) Any HOW MANY PARTNERS ARE REQUIRED? * Compulsory 4