Medsenic

Medsenic, founded in 2010 by Professor François Rieger and Véronique Pomi-Schneiter, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on repurposing arsenic trioxide (ATO) for the treatment of severe autoimmune diseases. Professor Rieger, a research director at CNRS and a seasoned neurobiologist with over 175 international publications, brings extensive scientific expertise to the company. His journey began with physics, followed by a doctorate in neurobiology, and work with Nobel laureate Jacques Monod, eventually leading him to explore treatments for autoimmune conditions. In October 2022, Medsenic merged with Bone Therapeutics, a cell therapy company, to form BioSenic, a publicly traded entity on Euronext Brussels and Paris. This strategic combination created a company with a dual focus on inflammation control and tissue repair.

The core of Medsenic's business, now a subsidiary of BioSenic, is its ATO platform. This platform develops formulations of arsenic trioxide that leverage its immunomodulatory properties to induce cell death in overactivated immune cells and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines. The company's business model revolves around the clinical development and subsequent commercialization of these ATO-based therapies for indications with significant unmet medical needs. Revenue generation is anticipated through drug sales, licensing agreements, and partnerships with larger pharmaceutical companies for late-stage development and distribution.

Medsenic's lead product candidate is an oral formulation of arsenic trioxide, OATO (also known as ArsciCor), being developed as a first-line treatment for chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease (cGvHD), a severe complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. An intravenous formulation, Arscimed®, has already completed a Phase 2 trial, demonstrating a high overall response rate of 75% at six months and allowing for a reduction in corticosteroid use. Both the FDA and EMA have granted Orphan Drug Designation for the use of arsenic trioxide in treating cGvHD, which provides extended market exclusivity. The company is preparing for a pivotal Phase 3 trial with the oral formulation, which offers improved convenience for patients compared to intravenous administration. Beyond cGvHD, the pipeline includes investigations into the use of OATO for other autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and systemic sclerosis.

Keywords: Medsenic, BioSenic, arsenic trioxide, ATO, autoimmune diseases, Graft-versus-Host Disease, cGvHD, François Rieger, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical, Arscimed, OATO, ArsciCor, immunomodulation, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, inflammation, cell therapy, orphan drug designation, Phase 3 trial, oral formulation, intravenous formulation, Véronique Pomi-Schneiter