Domain Therapeutics and Pr Michel Bouvier (IRIC Montreal) receive the RSRI award for bioSens-All™ project at ADRIQ-RCTi Innovation Prize gala
GPCR biosensor technology, developed via support of CQDM, Merck and Pfizer, recognized as breakthrough approach in GPCR characterization
Strasbourg, France, December 17, 2019 – Domain Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company specialized in the discovery and development of new drug candidates targeting G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCR) in neurology, oncology and rare diseases, has received, together with Pr Michel Bouvier, the RSRI award from the Association des Directeurs de Recherche Industrielle du Quebec
(ADRIQ) at the Innovation Prize gala.
Created in 2019, this award, presented by the nine Regroupement Sectoriel de Recherche Industrielle in Quebec (RSRIs), illustrates the strength of the bonds between the research community and industry. It also highlights the significant impact of a collaborative research project on the Quebec economy through the creation of new jobs.
The technology, in-licensed by Domain Therapeutics in 2013 from University of Montreal, benefited from a €1.8M (US$2M) investment from the ConsortiumQuébécois sur la Découverte Du Médicament (CQDM) over three years and the expertise of a consortium of Canadian researchers: Pr Michel Bouvier and Dr Christian Le Gouill (IRIC – Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer at the University of Montreal), Pr Graciela Pineyro (research center, Sainte-Justine Hospital), Pr Stéphane Laporte and Pr Terry Hebert (McGill University), and Pr Richard Leduc (Sherbrooke University).
Domain Therapeutics continually develops the potential uses of this technology through its Montreal based-subsidiary Domain Therapeutics NA Inc. (DTNA), by designing novel biosensors to address unmet needs in the field of GPCR-acting treatments and extending their application to other membrane receptors. This technology meets the need for pharmaceutical companies to develop more potent and less toxic drugs, a real challenge, relying on the profiling of GPCR drug candidates on cell signalling pathways. Domain Therapeutics uses bioSens-All™ for its own internal research and grants technology access licenses to pharma companies such as Alkermes and BMS. The company also demonstrates the added value of the technology through its multiple collaborations with pharma partners (Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, etc…).
“We are honored to be awarded this prize, recognizing the successful collaboration between our company and the consortium led by Pr Michel Bouvier,” said Pascal Neuville, CEO, Domain Therapeutics. “This prize highlights the quality of research in Quebec and particularly in Montreal. Domain Therapeutics is very pleased to have turned such groundbreaking innovation into a value-creation business.”
“This prize is great recognition for our research community and the fruitful partnership with Domain Therapeutics,” said Pr Michel Bouvier, CEO, IRIC. “I am happy to pursue my collaboration with Domain Therapeutics and look forward to working together to generate future successful projects.”