French biotech company Okomera has secured funding from Bpifrance to advance the development of a novel CRISPR screening assay aimed at accelerating drug discovery in oncology. The project is being undertaken in collaboration with the Cancer Research Centre of Marseille (CRCM), a leading cancer research institution. The initiative seeks to create new tools for understanding cancer biology and advancing precision medicine.
The funding will enable Okomera to further develop its innovative desktop platform that uses droplet-microfluidics and artificial intelligence (AI) for automated screening of patient-derived organoids (PDOs). PDOs, which are miniature 3D cell cultures derived from patients’ tumour tissues, serve as a model to study the effects of drugs on cancerous cells. This technology has the potential to transform how researchers screen for effective cancer treatments.
Okomera’s platform, which was developed after a decade of research at the prestigious Pasteur Institute and Ecole Polytechnique, offers multiplexing, co-culture, and high-throughput screening on miniaturised PDOs. This combination of cutting-edge technologies aims to streamline the drug development process, reducing the time and cost required to find promising drug candidates.
Sidarth Radjou, CEO of Okomera, expressed his gratitude for the grant: “We are honoured to receive this support from Bpifrance. This funding will enable us to accelerate the development of our CRISPR screening assay and continue pushing the boundaries of innovation in oncology drug discovery.”
Dr. Thomas Miller, Principal Investigator at IPC and CRCM, emphasised the significance of the collaboration, stating, “By developing and standardising a CRISPR screening assay directly on PDOs, we are creating more accurate disease models. This will not only improve our understanding of cancer mechanisms but also enhance our ability to identify new therapeutic targets, potentially leading to more effective treatments.”
Dr. Geraldine Guasch, Research Director at Inserm and Scientific Director of CRCM’s 3D-HUB-O organoid platform, praised the collaboration’s potential. She remarked, “Integrating CRISPR technology with Okomera’s organoid screening platform marks a major leap forward in precision cancer research. This project could play a crucial role in transforming scientific discoveries into clinical applications that benefit cancer patients.”
Bpifrance representative Corentin Molson said, “Bpifrance is proud to support Okomera in this pioneering initiative. Their innovative approach to CRISPR screening for PDOs aligns with our mission to foster innovation in healthcare. This project has the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes by advancing precision medicine.”
The success of this funding application was bolstered by support from pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, which has been acknowledged for its contribution to the grant process.
Okomera’s work on developing the CRISPR screening platform is a promising step toward improving cancer treatments, providing hope for more effective therapies in the near future. By combining state-of-the-art technology with leading expertise in oncology research, this project highlights the importance of cross-sector collaborations in the fight against cancer.
