OUR HISTORY

Founded in 2024,

SILON Therapeutics is the result of more than twenty years of cutting-edge research in oncology at the interface of biology and chemistry, by Dr. Palma Rocchi's lab.

This innovative work, focused on prostate cancer, has led to major advances in understanding the mechanisms of treatment resistance and the development of new therapeutic strategies, such as the development of OGX-427 (Apatorsen), an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) specifically targeting stress induced Hsp27 mRNA, and aimed at blocking the occurrence of treatment resistance.
Apatorsen has been patented with licensed and clinical trial phase I/II was performed in patients with PC but also, lung bladder and ovarian cancers.

Silon Tx aims to develop and test smart, versatile and adaptable therapeutic Hsp27-AS0 Apatorsen nanoparticles capable of precisely targeting Hsp27 mRNA to restore treatment-sensitivity and improve length and quality of life. The first application, dedicated to the treatment of advanced forms of prostate cancer, promises to offer new hope to patients.

PROSTATE CANCER

A MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE
3rd leading cause

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most commonly diagnosed male malignant tumor worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer death in men. A man is diagnosed with PC every 2 minutes and a man dies from it every 15 minutes.

GLOBOCAN Estimates of
Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185
Countries. CA CANCER J CLIN 2021;71:209–249
1men/2

Almost one in two men are diagnosed late, at advanced stages with poor prognosis. Although first- and second-generation hormone therapies and taxane-based chemotherapies are the usual treatments for advanced PC, they do not block the progression to treatment resistance.

Folder new
cases
1 500 000 year/worldwide
Silouhette
Heart deaths
375 000 year/worldwide
Silouhette
4 months

New therapeutic approaches have recently been tested, such as targeted radionuclide therapy.
However, the anti-tumor effects are still limited, with an impact on overall survival of 4 months.

4

Tailored made effective and well tolerated treatments for treatment resistant PC are a priority

OUR TECHNOLOGY

We recently developed and world-wide patented novel generation lipid-modified antisense oligonucleotides (LASOs) that impressively enhance stability, bioavailability, and cellular delivery of mRNA-targeting therapies with improved therapeutic efficacy.

This technology can also be adapted to synthesize other nucleolipid conjugates and thus design versatile and modular nanoobjects for precision medicine.

Technology

OUR GOAL

Our aim is to demonstrate the therapeutic benefit potential of these smart nanoobjects by developing a totally disruptive drug candidate for advanced prostate cancer. Our cutting-edge approach will indeed provide a dual benefit: more effective treatment with reduced toxicity.
With its precision and rapid production capabilities, this technology has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of advanced prostate cancer by delivering personalized, targeted care.

Treats AND blocks resistance to treatments

High specificity Customized treatment

Technology

Limited toxicity Specific to tumor cells

Fast manufacturing Similar to RNA vaccines

A TRUE “GAME CHANGER”

Conventional treatment

Technology

A single molecule

Resistance to treatments

High toxicity

Damages to healthy cells

Random treatment

Many adverse effects

Low manufacturing

10 years

Our drug candidate

Technology

Cocktail of active compounds

Treatment resistance blockage

Limited toxicity

No effect on healthy cells

Personalized treatment

No adverse effects

Fast manufacturing

Few months

THE PROSTATE CANCER THERAPY MARKET

In the US, the cost of a standard treatment for late-diagnosed prostate cancer ranges between $70 000 and $700,000 per patient.
Our drug will be positioned as 3rd line therapy and should therefore concern between 300,000 and 500,000 new patients each year.

Global Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer Market

Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2033

Technology

OUR TEAM

Laurence Colleaux

Laurence COLLEAUX

Senior Research director at CNRS

CEO and co-founder

Unité Inserm ERL 1326 RNAnoTher

Genetic disease specialist

Palma

Palma ROCCHI

INSERM Research Director

CSO and Co-founder

Director of Inserm ERL
U1326 “RNAnoTher”

Worldwide expert in mRNA targeting , Nanomedicine and Theranostic for personalized therapy

Michel CAMPLO

Michel CAMPLO

MCF-HDR-CEx

Associate Professor

COO and co-founder

Unité Inserm ERL 1326

RNAnoTher

Organic chemist specialized in the
design of bioactive molecules.

David TAIEB

David TAIEB

MD-PhD-HDR, PU-PH

Head of the department of Nuclear
Medicine at APHM/AMU
CMO and co-founder

Team member of ERL INSERM
U1326 RNAnoTher

Expert in targeted radionuclide therapy

Jean Manuel

Jean-Manuel RAIMUNDO

Full Professor

CTO and co-founder

CNRS CINaM UMR7325

Specialist in molecular and
supramolecular engineering of
organic molecules for biomedical
applications.

OUR BOARD

Frederic BENETON

Polytechnique (X94)
Master 2 Physiologie (2015)
Serial entrepreneur in healthtech

Christine GUILLEN

Pharm-D ,
Start-up co-founder,
C_level manager in innovation-based
healthcare start-up