(BFM Bourse) – The Montpellier biotech, which is developing, with the Atomic Energy Commission (LRT-CEA), three drugs specifically intended for the treatment of large populations contaminated or irradiated after a civilian or military nuclear accident, takes stock of its strategy.
In a market still sluggish in terms of business news, Medesis Pharma stands out frankly this Tuesday morning, its title posting a jump of 62.3% to 5 euros around 10:25 a.m., the highest since the beginning of last February.
It must be said that the information note shared this Tuesday morning by the Hérault biotechnology company (listed on Euronext Growth in January 2021) sadly resonates with the news. Founded by Dr Jean-Claude Morel, Medesis is developing three drugs, using a proprietary oral administration technology (Aonys) and specifically intended for the treatment of contaminated or irradiated populations after a military or civilian nuclear accident, against which it there is currently no suitable treatment. “The three products are at the heart of the problems with the tragic international situation in Ukraine, awakening the possibility of a nuclear war. They are also topical with the recent decisions to resume the development of nuclear power plants”, judges the group in effect. in his press release.
The three drug candidates in question were developed in collaboration with the Atomic Energy Commission (LRT-CEA), which carried out all the studies on animals contaminated by radionuclides, as well as with the Biomedical Research Institute of Armies (IRBA) for studies on irradiated animals. “Each of these products is protected by an international patent registered or in the process of being registered in most of the nuclear countries in the world”, specifies Medesis.
“Therapeutic activity has been demonstrated, and a complementary program is necessary with pharmaceutical development for industrial production and a tolerance study on healthy volunteers to demonstrate safety before introducing the products into the emergency stocks of States” continues the group, which adds that it has submitted funding requests to the French Defense Innovation Agency to finalize the development of these three programs.
Decorporation of plutonium and cesium
The first, NU01, or NanoCaDTPA, is used in the decorporation of plutonium. Ca-DTPA (for “diethylene triamine penta acetic acid”) has been used for more than 40 years by repeated slow intravenous infusion over several weeks. But if this treatment is suitable for a few contaminated people (workers in nuclear power plants in particular), it is however “impossible to implement when several hundred thousand people are contaminated” explains Medesis. NanoCaDTPA (formulation of CaDTPA in the Aonys microemulsion) makes it possible to obtain the same plutonium extraction efficiency, but with simple administration in the mouth, from a bottle kept at room temperature.
The second drug candidate, NU02, uses NanoPB (or Prussian Blue) in the decorporation of Cesium. This is administered in large capsules of 500 mg, 18 capsules per day for 2 to 3 months. “Impossible to dissolve, it is almost impossible to give to children and adolescents, and is accompanied by obstinate constipation leading to irradiation of the small pelvis” underlines Medesis. “However, Cesium binds preferentially to the muscles and in particular to the heart muscle, leading to cardiac anomalies and pathologies in children and adolescents. […] The NanoPB consists of Prussian Blue nanoparticles synthesized and stabilized in the Aonys microemulsion, making it possible to obtain a decorporation of cesium 3 times faster with 100 times less Prussian Blue” boasts the biotech. This drinkable treatment is thus suitable for administration at any age.
The latest treatment developed by Medesis is NP02, whose active ingredient is manganese sulphate in the Aonys microemulsion. “This product prevents and treats the storm of inflammatory cytokines triggered by irradiation at the origin of major respiratory and digestive inflammation responsible for death. Efficacy is observed if treatment is started within hours of follow the irradiation” details the group. This treatment is also administered orally, and stored in bottles at room temperature. It is currently the subject of a phase II clinical study in Brazil II to treat severe forms of Covid-19, also linked to an inflammatory cytokine storm.
Three treatments potentially available within 18 months
Medesis then recalls the consequences of a disaster scenario. “During an explosion, a nuclear weapon first generates a ball of fire, the size of which varies with the power. A 1 kiloton bomb would thus generate a ball 60 meters in diameter causing damage up to 2 kilometers around A 1,000 kiloton bomb would generate a fireball more than 1 kilometer long, the impact of which could have a radius of up to 20 kilometres. […] The light rays and their heat, which represent more than a third of the energy of the bomb, cause fires and burns on people. The bomb generates direct radiation when it explodes. Radioactive pollution can be carried by the winds over great distances by radionuclides which are absorbed by the respiratory and then digestive tracts, settle in the tissues, in particular the lungs, liver, bones and heart and will never again be eliminated and will cause cancers 10 to 15 years later” is it detailed.
For each of the two decorporation products (plutonium and cesium), the development plan involves pharmaceutical CMC (for “Chemistry, Manufacturing & Controls) development with preparation for industrial production and a tolerance study on 50 healthy volunteers treated for one month. For the radiation protection product already in clinical development, the plan includes industrial development, as well as a tolerance study on 50 healthy volunteers for one month. “The deadlines for product registration and industrial manufacturing are 18 months for the two decorporation products and 12 months for the radiation protection product” finally specifies the group.
Quentin Soubranne – ©2022 BFM Bourse
Are you following this action?
Receive all the information about MEDESIS PHARMA in real time: