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A PIONEER TECHNOLOGY
patented many years before exosomes 'explosion'

FROM EXOSOMES HISTORY TO CILOA FIRST APPLICATIONS

While the interest of the scientific community explodes for exosomes, Ciloa has already developed a pioneering technology for more than 15 years. Ciloa’s technology is based on the production of fully native membrane proteins on exosomes in a natural way by cells.

These nano-vesicles produced by cells have long remained mysterious after their discovery in 1983. In 1996, exosomes were shown to be involved in the immune system. In 2007, exosomes were described to play major roles in intercellular communications.

Robert MAMOUN understood since the early 2000s the high potential of a bio-drug development technology through exosomes.

Even before the explosion of interest in exosomes, the 2 Ciloa patents were filed in 2008 and 2009. Several years were necessary to reach a true technological maturity allowing the development of antibody drug candidates, where we are today.

CILOA’S HISTORY IS DEEPLY CONNECTED TO RESEARCHES ON EXOSOMES

Ciloa’s history began a long time before “exosome explosion”, as shown below (number of publications per year in PubMed, using « exosome » (04/12/2020) and development of Ciloa).

OUR HISTORY AND THAT OF EXOSOMES

1996 > Exosomes essential for adaptive immune response

Dr. Graça Raposo published her discovery that immune cells such as B lymphocytes secrete exosomes, and that these vesicles carry membrane-bound molecules essential for the adaptive immune response. (“Exosome Explosion” by Clotilde Théry | July 1, 2011)

Early 2000’s > Ciloa’s technology research begins

Co-discoverers of patents, R. MAMOUN, M. VIDAL, and B. TRENTIN, began researches on what became Ciloa’s technology. Their goal was to develop an exosome-based vaccine technology.

2007 > Exosomes transfer genetic information

A group led by Jan Lötvall in Sweden discovered messenger RNAs and miRNAs inside exosomes. Moreover, their in vitro experiments showed that these mRNAs are translated into proteins in target cells, providing the first demonstration of genetic information transfer by exosomes (“Exosome Explosion” by Clotilde Théry | July 1, 2011).

2008 > 1st patent filed by Ciloa

This patent presents an innovative way to target any membrane protein on exosomes. It opens the way to work with fully native membrane proteins out of cells and to develop innovative therapeutics.

2009 > 2nd patent filed by Ciloa

Extending the first patent, it allows to target not only membrane proteins to the surface but also cytosolic proteins inside the exosome. This patent opens the way to create a new generation of virus-free therapeutic vectors.

Ciloa is founded

R. MAMOUN and B. TRENTIN  co-founded Ciloa to develop the exosome technology and  to produce fully native membrane proteins on exosomes. Located in Montpellier, France, the company is a spin-off of the CNRS and University of Montpellier.

 

Ubistart Tour

Dr. R. Mamoun, CEO of Ciloa, presented at UBISTART Tour 2014 (JULY 10, 2014 – New York Academy of Sciences – NYC, USA). Ciloa was selected by the Galien Foundation and UBIFRANCE to present its disruptive “native membrane proteins on exosomes” technology that allows to develop a new generation of vaccines and antibodies.

Chikungunya : Ciloa selected for funding by FUI

This program aims to develop a new generation of vaccine candidates, the first exosome vaccine against the Chikungunya virus.

More about 

Technology License

Ciloa signs its 1st major contract in technology license for therapeutic antibodies.

Application of Ciloa’s technology in Nature

A nature.group publication describing some of the unique potential of Ciloa’s exosome technology :  Affinity biosensors using recombinant native membrane proteins displayed on exosomes: application to botulinum neurotoxin B receptor

Technology License

2nd major contract in technology license for therapeutic antibodies.

BIO San Diego

Very positive record with 21 quality meetings expected to materialize partnerships.

AWARD-WINNING TECHNOLOGY

Ciloa won the OSEO – MESR Award of the ‘Emergence’ national competition for the creation of innovative companies and was twice nominated in the ‘Creation-Development’ category.

In 2013, Ciloa won the Innovation Award.

INNOVATION AWARD 2013

Robert MAMOUN receives the Innovation Award

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