Laurent Meijer, co-founder of ManRos Therapeutics, a start-up from Brittany, discovered roscovitine in 1995, while he was working at the CNRS on proteins extracted from starfish eggs. “It was unexpectedly that we discovered the indirect antibacterial effects of roscovitine” he explains to AFP. However, it is precisely the bactericidal powers that are affected in patients with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that affects more than 6,000 people in France and around 70,000 worldwide.
Two other tests planned for 2017
At the end of the start-up’s research, the molecule was able to be synthesized and since last April, its effectiveness has been tested on a group of 12 patients. The end of the tests for this first group is scheduled for early 2017. Two other groups of patient-testers should take over in January, with higher doses.
“What we hope for is the improvement of the respiratory capacities and the comfort of the patients”, Laurent Meijer points out.
Read also: Cystic fibrosis: promising gene therapy trials
It is undoubtedly too early to speak of hope in the fight against disease. But research nevertheless allows us to be optimistic. Following tests on the first 36 patients with cystic fibrosis and depending on the results, the start-up is considering a second, larger study that could extend across Europe and the United States, with a group of 210 patients.
Read also :
World record of kisses beaten against cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis: 4 questions we ask ourselves about the disease