Diatos

Diatos S.A. was a biopharmaceutical firm established in 1999, headquartered in Paris, France, with operations in Belgium and the United States. The company concentrated on the research, development, and commercialization of targeted anti-cancer drugs, aiming to create new versions of existing chemotherapeutic agents with better tumor targeting or improved biodistribution.

The company's business model was product-driven, building its portfolio through a combination of in-licensing agreements and internal research and development. A significant milestone occurred in May 2006, when Diatos acquired the worldwide development and commercialization rights for DaunoXome®, a liposomal formulation of the cancer drug daunorubicin, from Gilead Sciences. This acquisition was a key step in Diatos' strategy to become an integrated European biopharmaceutical company with commercial operations. At the time, DaunoXome® was already approved for treating Kaposi's sarcoma and was being evaluated for acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Diatos' proprietary research was centered on its drug delivery platforms, the Vectocell® and Tumor-Selective Prodrug (TSP) technologies. The Vectocell® platform utilized peptide vectors for the intracellular and intranuclear delivery of molecules like proteins and nucleic acids for treating cancer and infectious diseases. In 2002, Diatos entered a strategic collaboration with OctoPlus Technologies BV to develop a universal drug delivery system, a project supported by a €2.5 million grant under the EU's Eureka program. By 2009, Diatos had advanced its portfolio through eight clinical programs. That same year, Cellectis S.A. acquired the Vectocell® technology from Diatos to enhance its own therapeutic development programs.

Keywords: biopharmaceutical, anti-cancer drugs, drug delivery, chemotherapy, tumor targeting, Vectocell, Tumor-Selective Prodrug, DaunoXome, Gilead Sciences, Cellectis, oncology, clinical development, peptide vectors, intracellular delivery, Kaposi's sarcoma, acute myeloid leukemia