Ciloa, a French bioengineering company specializing in extracellular vesicles, has secured €6.5 million (US$7 million) in funding through the France 2030 initiative.

This funding, awarded via the “Biotherapies and Biomanufacturing of Innovative Therapies” program managed by Bpifrance, will support the clinical development and large-scale production of Ciloa’s therapeutic candidate, APN-sEV, for type 2 diabetes and obesity.

The funding will allow Ciloa to conduct regulatory preclinical trials for APN-sEV and initiate clinical trials.

Phase I trials are expected to begin in 2027, followed by Phase IIa in 2028.

The company plans to produce the treatment following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to ensure safety and quality.

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🔗 Source: Ciloa

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Adiponectin’s therapeutic potential has been locked away for decades

Adiponectin has been recognized by researchers as a metabolic “guardian angel” for over 20 years, but therapeutic applications have been limited by production challenges.

This hormone exists naturally in human plasma at high concentrations (2-30 μg/ml) and has powerful insulin-sensitizing, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective properties that make it an attractive therapeutic target 1.

Low adiponectin levels are directly linked to metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, suggesting supplementation could address multiple conditions simultaneously 1.

Previous attempts to develop adiponectin-based therapies have struggled because the hormone exists in multiple forms (trimers, hexamers, and high-molecular weight multimers), with the latter being most biologically active but hardest to stabilize 1.

Ciloa’s approach of combining adiponectin with small extracellular vesicles represents a potential solution to the long-standing challenge of creating stable, functional adiponectin formulations, which has been a significant hurdle for researchers.

2️⃣ Exosome therapeutics are emerging as a next-generation drug delivery platform

Exosomes represent a rapidly developing field in drug delivery with $7.6M in funding for Ciloa being part of a broader investment trend in this technology.

These naturally occurring nano-sized vesicles (30-100 nm) are increasingly valued for their ability to cross biological barriers and deliver therapeutic payloads to specific tissues 2.

The therapeutic exosome market is experiencing significant venture capital investment across various applications including oncology, neurology, and regenerative medicine 3.

“Designer exosomes” like Ciloa’s APN-sEV represent an advanced approach where these vesicles are engineered to carry specific therapeutic molecules, enhancing both stability and targeted delivery 4.

Despite their promise, exosome therapies face substantial challenges including production scalability, standardization, and regulatory hurdles, with no FDA-approved exosome products currently on the market 3.

3️⃣ France is strategically investing in advanced biotherapeutics to establish leadership

Ciloa’s funding is part of France’s broader €54 billion “France 2030” initiative designed to transform key economic sectors through innovation and establish national leadership in emerging technologies 5.

The program specifically targets biotherapeutics as a strategic priority, with dedicated funding for companies developing novel therapeutic approaches that can address unmet medical needs 6.

This investment approach mirrors similar national initiatives in the US, China, and other countries competing to establish leadership positions in next-generation medicine development and manufacturing 7.

France’s strategy includes supporting the entire innovation lifecycle from research through commercialization, addressing a common gap where promising technologies fail to reach market due to funding challenges 7.

By focusing on novel platforms like exosome therapeutics, France is betting on technologies that could potentially disrupt traditional pharmaceutical approaches while establishing domestic expertise in manufacturing complex biologics 5.

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