Inserm, the National Center for Scientific Research, the University of Cote d'Azur, the Scientific Center of Monaco and Immune Pharmaceuticals will carry out the research program.
The collaboration will be led by Gilles Pagès, principal investigator in the Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice, France. It will use the scientific and technological expertise of several scientists.
The project is based on a technology for producing tetravalent IgG-1-like bispecific antibodies developed by Immune scientific co-founder Jean Kadouche.
The antibodies will target vascular endothelial growth factor and cytokines of interleukin 8 (IL-8).
Pagès said: “These antibodies are the first to inhibit at the same time the processes involved in tumor development and metastasis. Our preliminary results in models of renal cell carcinoma are encouraging.”
The development of the bispecific program, including the tumor microenvironment project, will be funded by Immune via its subsidiary Cytovia Oncology.
Immune Pharmaceuticals CEO Daniel Teper said: "This research collaboration is focused on the discovery and development of innovative bispecific development candidates, which will complement our existing immune-oncology pipeline and strengthen our potential to enter into partnerships with other biopharmaceutical companies."
Immune is engaged in the development of novel therapeutics to treat immuno-inflammatory diseases and cancers.
The company’s lead product candidate, bertilimumab, is in phase II clinical development for moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis as well as for bullous pemphigoid, an orphan autoimmune dermatological condition.