Paris Saclay Cancer Cluster: Accelerating Oncology Innovation

During my last trip to France, I discovered and visited the Paris Saclay Cancer Cluster (PSCC). It is a Scientific Cooperation Foundation (FCS) — a nonprofit organization serving the public interest. It was officially launched on Feb. 4, 2022, during World Cancer Day, at the Gustave Roussy Institute, one of Europe’s leading cancer centers. The initiative was announced in June 2021 by President Emmanuel Macron as part of the France 2030 investment plan, which aims to position France as a global leader in healthcare innovation. The PSCC was designed to emulate successful international models like the Boston healthcare cluster, focusing on transforming scientific excellence into industrial and clinical impact. Its mission is to accelerate innovation in oncology by creating a collaborative ecosystem that brings together:

• Academic research institutions
• Biotech startups
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Hospitals and clinical centers
• Investors and public authorities

The cluster is physically based at Campus Grand Parc in Villejuif, a 100,000m² site dedicated to biotechnology and cancer research.

Mission and Vision

The PSCC has a clear mission and vision:

• Transform cancer care by supporting early-stage, high-potential projects.
• Bridge the gap between academic research and industrial application.
• Create a world-class ecosystem for oncology innovation in Europe.
• Reduce global cancer burden, aiming to impact the 20 million new cases and 9.7 million deaths annually.

Founding Members and Governance

1. Gustave Roussy

Type: Comprehensive Cancer

Center Role: Clinical expertise, translational research, patient access

Website: gustaveroussy.fr

Description: Europe’s leading cancer center, known for pioneering immunotherapy and precision medicine.

2. Sanofi

Type: Global Biopharmaceutical

Company Role: Industrial development, drug discovery, funding

Website: sanofi.com

Description: A multinational pharma company with strong oncology pipelines and R&D capabilities.

3. Inserm (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale)

Type: National Research Institute

Role: Fundamental and applied biomedical research

Website: inserm.fr

Description: France’s leading biomedical research institution, with a strong focus on cancer biology and public health.

4. Université Paris-Saclay

Type: Research University

Role: Academic excellence, interdisciplinary research, training

Website: universite-paris-saclay.fr

Description: A top-ranked university with strengths in medicine, pharmacy, AI, data science, and engineering.

5. Institut Polytechnique de Paris

Type: Engineering and Technology Institute

Role: Innovation, applied sciences, AI and data integration

Website: ip-paris.fr  

Description: A consortium of elite engineering schools, contributing expertise in physics, mathematics, and digital health.

PSCC is supported by key partners like Unicancer, Institut Curie, AP-HP, and Medicen. Governance includes a scientific advisory board, ethics committee, and investment committee composed of experts from academia, industry, and public institutions.

Support for Innovative Projects

PSCC offers a tailored support package to selected oncology projects for companies and projects from all over the world, including:

• Coaching and Expertise: Access to top-tier professionals in biology, AI, physics, and more.
• Technologies: Cutting-edge platforms for cell therapy, sequencing, and transcriptomics.
• Funding: Connections to venture capital and public funding.
• Facilities: Office and lab spaces designed for collaboration.
• Clinical Access: Support for Phase I and II trials via partner hospitals.
• Data and Samples: Access to patient samples and associated clinical data.

Seven projects were selected in the initial phase:

1. PEGASCY

Focus: Development of bispecific antibodies for Ewing sarcoma and endometrial cancer.

Website: pegascy-group.com

Profile: Founded in 2017 by oncologists from Gustave Roussy, PEGASCY identifies and develops promising oncology molecules that have passed early clinical phases. It aims to repurpose or expand indications for underutilized therapies, especially in rare cancers. The company collaborates with clinicians and entrepreneurs to bring these molecules back into clinical use.

2. SMART CATCH

Focus: Liquid biopsy solutions for triple-negative breast cancer using circulating tumor cells (CTCs).

Website: smartcatch.fr

Profile: Based in Toulouse, SmartCatch develops microfiltration devices that isolate CTCs directly from whole blood without pre-processing. Their technology enables real-time monitoring of cancer progression and treatment response. The company emerged from a collaboration between LAAS-CNRS and CHU Rangueil, and aims to democratize liquid biopsy in routine oncology care.

3. APMONIA Therapeutics

Focus: Peptide-based therapies targeting the tumor stroma and extracellular matrix.

Website: apmonia-therapeutics.com

Profile: A biotech company from Reims, Apmonia develops cyclic peptides like AP-01 that target TSP-1/CD47 interactions. Their platform is designed for solid tumors such as glioblastoma, ovarian, and pancreatic cancers. Backed by EU Horizon Europe and France 2030, Apmonia is advancing toward clinical trials with strong molecular modeling and immuno-oncology expertise.

4. ARDAN PHARMA

Focus: Small molecules modulating inflammation in cancer via TMEM176B/A pathways.

Website: ardan-pharma.com

Profile: Based in Argentina, Ardan Pharma develops compounds that enhance anti-tumoral immunity by targeting inflammation regulators. Their lead candidate, ARD-017, shows promise in preclinical models of melanoma, lymphoma, and colon cancer. The company emphasizes low toxicity and synergy with checkpoint inhibitors.

5. GIMLI

Focus: SaaS platform using Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML) to structure oncology data.

Website: gimli-med.io

Profile: Founded in 2022 in Paris, Gimli transforms raw medical records into structured data using AI. Their platform supports real-world evidence (RWE) generation, pseudonymization, and interoperability with standards like FHIR and OMOP. Acquired by Resilience, Gimli aims to improve oncology research and clinical decision-making.

6. PEPKON

Focus: Peptides inducing selective cancer cell death, especially in refractory cancers.

Website: pepkon.fr

Profile: A French biotech startup, PepKon develops agonist peptides targeting the TSP-1/CD47 pathway. Their lead candidate, PKT16, mimics thrombospondin-1 to trigger immunogenic cell death without toxicity. The company leverages over a decade of academic research and holds multiple patents.

7. PEP-Therapy

Focus: Clinical-stage peptides for breast and ovarian cancer, notably PEP-010.

Website: pep-therapy.com

Profile: Based in Paris, PEP-Therapy develops Cell Penetrating & Interfering Peptides (CP&IP). Their lead drug, PEP-010, disrupts Caspase-9/PP2A interactions to restore apoptosis in cancer cells. It has shown efficacy in Phase Ia trials and is now in Phase Ib for ovarian and pancreatic cancers. The company collaborates with Institut Curie, Gustave Roussy, and others.

How to Apply

Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis by an independent committee. The next deadline is Aug.18 for the September selection. Eligible applicants include:

• Academics with industry-focused projects
• Startups and scale-ups
• Pharmaceutical companies