Precision Chemotherapy

Precision chemo : a group challenge

Entrapped paclitaxel

Cytotoxic cargo sequestred in the particle’s porous network

Silica matrix

Proprietary combination of silanes (regulator-accepted excipient)

Functionality

Surface treatment for solubility, stability, stealth in blood, etc.

Add-on ready

Anchoring points for third-party targeting ligands & other useful functions

The answers are everywhere. They just have to be found.
You find them more easily in group than by yourself.
Martin St-Louis, head coach, Canadiens de Montréal

The OpPacli™ nanocarrier is the result of Pharma in silica‘s core expertise: silica chemistry, early-stage development of nanomedicines & deal-making. We are pretty darn good at that.

However the question “how to tame chemotherapy?” requires more than a monodisciplinary answer. This anti-Midas wields its formidable power by killing everything it touches. Reining in such monster is a group challenge.

I believe a safe, efficient, affordable & broad-spectrum chemotherapy depends on an astute combination of complementary knowledge, technologies & components.

The answers are everywhere, said Martin St-Louis. Let’s hear yours.

François Arcand

Ps. Remember the wisdom of Steven Wright, another visionary: If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the substrate.

Where we are today

Own pilot-scale production capacity
FDA-compliant, reproductible, scalable, proprietary preclinical lots in our NanoLab (clinical lots in 2026)

Proprietary synthesis
Production of 40 nm biocompatible silica-based nanoparticles loaded with hydrophobic small molecules such as paclitaxel (one-pot synthesis - not a mesoporous silica nanoparticle)

NanoLab

Engineered for safety
Neither surfactant nor toxic solvent are required
Injection in a simple saline solution

Optimal pharmacology
In contrast to standard therapies (Abraxane and Taxol), repeated injections in mice revealed:

hemocompatibility and general health: rapid post-injection recovery of body weight & blood cell counts, without hemolysis, anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and other adverse effects
high tolerability: no sign of organ-specific toxicity (macroscopic pathology, blood biochemistry)
low immunogenicity: no immune or allergic reaction (cytokine profiling)

Elimination of nanoparticles excretion appears to be via the gastrointestinal tract (imaging and radioactive tracking)

High concentration in blood
Systemic paclitaxel exposure (AUC) several-fold higher than standard-of-care formulations

Very long blood circulation with low drug release preventing off-target effect, rapid blood release & clearance seen with marketed formulations & supporting high delivery ratio of injected drug to tumors

Tumor uptake
Presence of nanoparticules in xenograft tumor (presumably by extended permeability & retention) excretion appears to be via the gastrointestinal tract without impact on kidneys (imaging and radioactive tracking)

Tunable in-tumor release – by design
Drug release triggered by the tumor environment

Where we are going (with you)

The following figure lists examples of potential solutions… but are just that: examples. We will be welcoming any idea that, combined with our nanocarrier, might contribute to a selective, effective, tolerable & affordable chemotherapy treatment. The means to reach for such goal are secondary & for you to elect.

Targeting, cellular binding, internalization & trafficking strategies

Alternatives to PEG for solubility, stealth in blood & internalization by cancer cells

Class IV BSC and other difficult APIs (hydrophobic small molecules)

Efficacy enhancers

Administration methods & devices

Solvent-free solubilization methods

Understanding of pharmacokinetics of nanoparticles, mechanistic of tumors, intracellular trafficking & cancer biology

Any other audacious (including crazy) & useful idea

We look forward to work with you via
industrial codevelopment,
grant-supported collaborative research,
licensing or acquisition of promising solutions.

Process of the call for solutions

Non-confidential proposal

Component of a Precision chemotherapy

Solutions
What it is, what it does

Synergy
How could it enable a safe precision chemo

Status
Advancement, ownership, IP status & plans

Collaborator
Tell us about you

Questions

Exploration meeting with both teams
Compatibility, feasibility, availablity

Hypothesis
Why and how the match can work (carrier mechanistic, biology, business)

Tentative development program
What to do, by whom, when, for how much

Deal structure(s)
R&D grants, option license, acquisition, codevelopment, etc.

Proof of concept

Basic demonstration of value

Collaborative research agreement
CDA, MTA, IP, budget, calendar

Physico-chemistry
Integration of technologies, characterization, formultion, stability

Lightbulb

Biology
Basic preclinical cell and murine demos

IP filings, publications

Next steps
Funding and/or partnering

Safe, efficient, broad-spectrum & affordable

A unique assembly
of complementary technologies

Selection of solutions

Advisory committee

Professor Hermann Nabi, PhD, Associate professor, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of medicine, Université Laval & researcher, CHU-Q • Québec • Formerly INCa & INSERM U.1018, France.

Catalina Lopez-Correa, MD PhD, Chief Global Strategy Officer, Genome Canada and Breast Cancer Advocate • Vancouver • Previously deCode (Reykjavik), Eli Lilly (Indianapolis) & others.

Luis Ruiz-Avila, PhD, President/CEO of Aquilón Cyl, Leukos Biotech & Director, Master in Biomedical Business Management, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya •Barcelona • Previously, Sherium & startups

Nanomedicine expert - to be confirmed

Each proposed solution is evaluated by Pharma in silica to establish its potential, mainly for technical compatibility and synergistic potential. Feedback is provided to each proposer.

Proposed

One-pager

An exploratory meeting is held with the proposer of each potential solution in search of mutually agreeable work hypothesis, tentative development program and a rough deal structure.

Potential

Teams meeting

The advisory committee provides comments and suggestions for each potential solution.

Pharma in silica select the most suitable set of solutions.

Selected

2nd one pager

The required agreements are signed.

Pharma in silica and the proposer prepare and execute a work program to validate the synergy hypothesis.

Proof-of-concept

Work program

The solutions that effectively improve the nanocarrier are integrated to the platform. The agreed-upon agreement is executed (joint-development, collaborative research grant, license, acquisition, etc.)

Integrated

Precision chemo

Non-selected

Private billboard

The proposers of non-selected solutions have the option to make their one-pager available on a private billboard in search of compatibility with other non-selected solutions. Proposers can assemble their own set of solutions independently from Pharma in silica. The advisory committee might suggest potential associations between non-selected participants.

Tentative calendar

Summer 2025

The proposers file their solution
Exploratory meetings are held

Mid-October 2025

The advisory committee & Pharma in silica evaluate the proposals

November to December 2025

Communication with proposers of selected & non-selected solutions

Preparation of work program & agreement with selected proposers

Autonomous communications between non-selected proposers

2026

Proofs of concept & integration of solution as per work program