Cure51, a French TechBio seeking to understand the biological mechanisms at work in the exceptional survival of certain patients suffering from aggressive cancers, today announces the extension of its Rosalind study to the United Kingdom, in collaboration with the hospitals of University of Cambridge and seven other cancer centers in the UK. This study, which recently received authorization from the NHS in the United Kingdom, aims to decode and interpret the biology of survivors in order to develop new therapeutic targets.
The study focuses on three of the most aggressive cancers: metastatic pancreatic cancer, small cell lung cancer and glioblastoma. Researchers will collect tumor samples from more than 1,000 exceptional surviving patients, representing 3% of surviving patients in these indications. The objective is to identify the biological factors that underlie this exceptional survival.
Cure51 has developed a multi-dimensional database to analyze the biology of survivors to identify new targets for potential future new cancer therapies.
Nicolas Wolikow, President and Co-founder of Cure51, said: “With this first major partnership in the UK, the Rosalind Study takes a decisive step forward in its mission to understand what sets exceptional survivors apart. We are grateful for the fantastic support provided by these eight distinguished research centers, all mobilized around a single goal: to beat cancer.”
Dr. Thankammah Ajithkummar, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Cambridge University Hospitals, continued: “With more than 400,000 new cancers diagnosed each year in the UK, it is essential to understand why some patients experience exceptional survival. While they appear similar in age, health, cancer type and progression, their response to the same treatment is dramatically different. The Rosalind study represents a promising new approach to understanding the biology of cancer survivors to unlock lessons that can improve outcomes for all patients.”
“At Cure51, we are reversing the approach usually followed in cancer research. By relying on technology, data and our teams of bioinformaticians, we seek to understand the hidden biology of miraculous survivors in order to develop therapies that will one day make cancer a manageable disease. It is an honor to be supported by eight of the most prestigious cancer research centers in the world,” says Simon Istolainen, Director of Strategy and Scientific Network and Co-founder of Cure51.
In March 2024, Cure51 raised 15 million euros in seed funding in a financing round led by Sofinnova Partners. In October 2024, the company partnered with 10xGenomics to deploy its precision Visium HD technology aimed at transforming the way cancer is diagnosed, treated and permanently cured.
Source : Cure 51
