EVerZom, a spin-off of CNRS/Université Paris Cité specializing in exosomes, announces the signing of a second exclusive licensing agreement with Erganeo for the development of the therapeutic candidate EVerGel™, designed for the healing of digestive tissues. EVerGel™ is currently EVerZom's leading therapeutic program, conducted in partnership with Dr. Gabriel Rahmi, a hepatogastroenterologist and endoscopist at the European Hospital Georges-Pompidou in Paris, and Amanda Silva Brun, the 2021 CNRS Innovation Medal laureate and research director at the CNRS Laboratory for Matter and Complex Systems at Université Paris Cité.
Initially focused on developing an innovation platform protected by several patents covering the entire value chain—cell selection, high-yield exosome production, modification, and formulation—EVerZom's intellectual property was initially managed by Erganeo. Erganeo supported the final developments required for these new production methods. In 2019, the intellectual property was transferred to EVerZom, and today, a second exclusive licensing agreement has been signed. Leveraging these technologies, EVerZom aims to demonstrate the therapeutic potential of its exosome platform in treating a wide range of medically needed diseases. The platform has been validated by national and European innovation ecosystems, including the i-Lab competition and the EIC Accelerator program.
The first clinical application of EVerZom will be the healing of digestive tissues using naïve exosomes produced from stem cells and encapsulated in a gel: EVerGel™. The flagship indication for EVerGel™ is the healing of complex ano-perianal fistulas induced by Crohn's disease. Other indications in the pipeline, where EVerZom has demonstrated in vivo proof of concept, include stenosis and healing of surgical anastomoses after tumor resection in the digestive tract, including the investigation of postoperative adhesions (esophageal, rectal, and colon cancers). EVerGel™ can be injected via endoscopy or directly into the fistula.
"Preclinical studies have shown that EVerGel™ was effective in 8 animal models, including three on a porcine model. The results are very encouraging, with over 85% complete closure of fistulas treated by endoscopic injection, compared to only 12% for the control group. These results are particularly promising for patients with complex digestive fistulas or stenosis, who require innovative treatments to improve their quality of life. I am confident that EVerGel™ will address this need," says Dr. Gabriel Rahmi, hepatogastroenterologist at HEGP and co-inventor of EVerGel™.
In February 2024, EVerZom participated in the 19th ECCO Congress (European Crohn's and Colitis Organization) in Stockholm, engaging with clinicians and experts involved in innovation to share the latest preclinical data on its exosomes, including EVerGel™, and their clinical prospects.