The Carnot OPALE and CALYM institutes and the Paris-Saclay Cancer Cluster are joining forces to accelerate research in oncohematology and support therapeutic innovation.
A unique partnership launched during Red September
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September 30, 2024, Paris: As part of Red September, Blood Cancer Awareness Month, OPALE, CALYM, and the Paris-Saclay Cancer Cluster (PSCC) announce a strategic collaboration aimed at driving innovation in malignant blood disorders. This three-way partnership highlights the excellence of French research in oncohematology and aims to support the biopharmaceutical and medical device industries in developing new therapeutic and diagnostic solutions to combat leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
These cancers affect more than 1.3 million new patients each year and are responsible for approximately 700,000 deaths annually.
« We are determined to accelerate the development of innovative therapeutic solutions for patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, where medical needs remain high. This partnership brings together key strengths to achieve this goal and affirm France’s leading position in oncohematology.”
A collaboration in the service of science and innovation
CALYM and OPALE, both certified as Carnot Institutes by the French Ministry of Research and Higher Education, are major academic players in collaborative research, specializing in malignant lymphoid diseases and leukemia and related diseases, respectively. These Carnot Institutes are joining forces with the PSCC, the first winner of the France 2030 program and an innovation cluster dedicated to the fight against all cancers. Together, they aim to accelerate the market launch of new diagnostic and therapeutic solutions in oncohematology. This unique partnership is based on internationally recognized scientific expertise and a shared desire to offer manufacturers a favorable environment for expanding and de-risking their R&D pipelines.
« By integrating Carnot’s expertise in partnership excellence into the PSCC, we are affirming our leading role in innovation in hematology-oncology. This synergy strengthens the position of the French biocluster while accelerating advances that benefit patients. »
An innovative approach for startups
Although the pathophysiology, prognosis, and diagnostic methods for leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma differ, and these malignant blood disorders correspond to distinct markets, they nevertheless share certain therapeutic targets and potentially certain pluripotent drug candidates.
The PSCC, OPALE, and CALYM are committed to providing personalized support, drawing on the synergies between their respective areas of expertise, in order to identify cross-development opportunities based on existing therapeutic indications.
The expertise of the three partners will be combined to advise and support startups, scale-ups, and large companies. This will enable them to address specific cases and validate the potential for project expansion, while reducing the risks inherent in the development of new therapies or new diagnostic approaches.
« The vertical expertise of our two Carnot institutes naturally complements the cross-functional services of the PSCC, while enhancing the visibility of our internationally renowned expertise and R&D resources in blood cancers. This partnership shows great promise for supporting companies interested in our markets. »
French excellence on the international stages
For many years, France has stood out on the international stage for the excellence of its research in hematology. Teams recognized worldwide for their work in oncohematology will work together to accelerate diagnostic and therapeutic advances in these critical areas.
This partnership marks an important step in confirming France’s position as a world leader in innovation in blood cancer research, bringing new hope to patients.
« This partnership between OPALE, CALYM, and PSCC represents a unique opportunity to strengthen the visibility and impact of our teams internationally. By combining our expertise and networks, we are creating an ecosystem conducive to the emergence of innovative startups and the validation of cutting-edge therapeutic solutions, with the ambition of placing France at the heart of global advances in oncohematology. »
About OPALE
Awarded Carnot certification in 2020, the Carnot OPALE institute is a key partner for healthcare manufacturers in the research and development of innovative solutions for the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of patients suffering from leukemia andrelated diseases, which together constitute the most deadly form of blood cancer and the leading cause of cancer in children.
With around 500 researchers, clinicians, and operational staff spread across 27 entities led by scientific opinion leaders and supported by leading supervisory bodies (INSERM, CNRS, CEA, EFS, AP-HP, Université Paris-Cité, etc.), OPALE offers manufacturers unique access to the expertise and resources of a consortium that is unrivalled internationally in this field.
Our goal is to work together to prolong or save the lives of more patients suffering from leukemia by accelerating therapeutic and diagnostic innovation across the entire R&D value chain: from basic research to real-world monitoring, including the search for new therapeutic targets, preclinical in vitro/in vivo research, translational research, clinical research in all phases, and the bioproduction of GMP batches of CAR-T for clinical trials, and the creation of unique databases and collections. In four years as a Carnot label, OPALE has conducted 581 R&D projects with 172 different socio-economic partners, half of which are foreign manufacturers, and 55% of which are pharmaceutical groups that have carried out more than one project. Each year, the consortium publishes around 350 articles in A-ranked journals. On November 13, 2024, OPALE is organizing LEUKEMIA 360 in Paris, the first partnership event for companies interested in leukemia and related diseases.
About CALYM
Created in 2011 and awarded Carnot status in 2012, the CALYM Carnot Institute is a consortium whose mission is to provide therapeutic solutions for patients with malignant lymphoid diseases. Through the Carnot program, CALYM stimulates innovation in lymphoma research and accelerates its transfer to the clinical and healthcare industries through public-private partnerships.
CALYM is a consortium of twenty entities specializing in research on lymphoid diseases, offering comprehensive support for clinical research and development of therapeutic solutions in a rapidly expanding global pharmaceutical and biotechnology market. Faced with strategic developments in the sector, which increasingly require biological, clinical, and technological expertise from the academic world, CALYM stands out thanks to its unique positioning. Its expertise covers the entire R&D value chain, from the identification of new cellular targets to international phase III clinical trials and beyond.
With a comprehensive offering, CALYM provides its industrial, biotech, and medtech partners with a wide range of expertise and tools, tailored and customized to their specific needs. Through programs combining clinical, scientific, academic, and industrial expertise, as well as the creation of the first academic investment center®, CALYM contributes to the development of major innovation projects that address unmet medical and scientific needs, benefiting patients with lymphoma.
About Paris Saclay Cancer Cluster (PSCC)
Founded in February 2022 by Gustave-Roussy, Sanofi, Inserm, the Institut Polytechnique de Paris, and Paris-Saclay University, the Paris Saclay Cancer Cluster is the first winner of France 2030’s AMI Biocluster award. Joined by UNICANCER, Institut Curie, AP-HP, and Medicen, the biocluster now brings together nearly 100 start-ups, biotech companies, and pharmaceutical groups.
The PSCC’s ambition is to accelerate innovation in oncology and facilitate the development of new cancer treatments, medical devices, and diagnostics in France. To achieve this vision, the biocluster is stimulating exchanges between players in the ecosystem, brought together on a high-potential site conducive to exchanges, based in Villejuif around Gustave Roussy: the Campus Grand Parc district.
To encourage the emergence of new solutions for patients, the PSCC supports promising industrial projects by facilitating access to the best experts, services, and enhanced scientific resources: clinical trials, data, samples, technology platforms, infrastructure, laboratories, training, and more.
With its international reach, the PSCC aims to make France one of the world leaders in transforming science into value for patients and society as a whole.