Biophytis: With Seqens, the Biophytis lab secures the production of the active ingredient of its flagship treatment

(BFM Bourse) – The biotechnology company is soaring on the Paris Stock Exchange, in response to the signing of a framework contract with Seqens, which will ensure the production of the active ingredient of Sarconeos, the drug candidate developed by Biophytis.

Biophytis is surrounded on the Paris Stock Exchange on Tuesday after announcing the signing of a partnership with Seqens, for the production of the active ingredient of its flagship drug candidate, Sarconeos.

This announcement did not go unnoticed, the title signing the highest increase in the Parisian market. Biophytis still soars 48% to 0.028 euro around 1:00 p.m., after gaining nearly 60% in the morning. The action of the biotechnology company evolves below the threshold of 1 euro, under which it acquires the status of “penny stock” and is therefore exposed to bouts of volatility.

Founded in 2006 and listed on Euronext Paris in 2015, Biophytis has therefore announced the signing of a framework contract with the Alto-Sequanaise company Seqens. The latter will be responsible for the production of the active ingredient of Sarconeos (BIO101), the experimental drug derived from medicinal plants, developed by Biophytis,

This product is being developed for three indications, namely severe forms of Covid-19, in sarcopenia, a form of age-related muscle degeneration, and it also aims to slow down respiratory deterioration in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Busy news in Q3

Seqens will ensure the production of the active ingredient of Sarconeos in France at its plant in Villeneuve La Garenne, located near Paris. This historic site was modernized and extended in 2020 with the opening of a unit for the production of high-potential active pharmaceutical ingredients (API).

For Biophytis, the partnership concluded with Seqens will thus secure the production of the active ingredient of its main drug candidate, which will allow, according to Invest Securities, to prepare “the potential marketing of its product in France”.

The design office recalls in this respect that Biophytis submitted a file in June for a request for early access to a drug with the High Authority for Health (HAS) for the provision of BIO101 for hospitalized patients suffering from a severe form of Covid-19 with a risk of respiratory decompensation. A response from HAS and the National Medicines Agency is expected at the end of July according to forecasts from Invest Securities.

Biophytis also expects a response during the third quarter, this time from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the American health authority, to launch its SARA-31 program in the United States, the very first phase III study (last stage of clinical trials before potential marketing) in sarcopenia.

This request, filed last week, follows that recently filed in Europe with the EMA (European Medicines Agency). The objective of phase 3 is to assess the efficacy and safety of Sarconeos (BIO101) in the treatment of sarcopenic patients at risk of motor disability.

Sabrina Sadgui – ©2023 BFM Bourse