Strokes are the second leading cause of death worldwide and one of the main causes of disability in adults. Three months after the onset of the stroke, 54% of patients still have a disability affecting their daily lives. Ischemic strokes are the result of a clot blocking an artery in the brain. It accounts for 80% to 85% of all strokes. 

Founded at the end of 2013, Acticor Biotech is a biopharmaceutical company from Inserm, founded on the scientific work of Martine Jandrot-Perrus and Philippe Billiald. Acticor Biotech is developing a monoclonal antibody fragment, glenzocimab, with an anti-thrombotic potential without additional bleeding risk. Results from the phase 1b/2a ACTIMIS study in 160 stroke patients are expected in the first quarter of 2022. A phase 2/3 registration clinical trial involving 1,000 patients has just begun in Europe. 

“Our ambition is to make glenzocimab the first emergency treatment for strokes that does not increase the risk of intracranial haemorrhage,” says Sophie Binay, General Manager and Scientific Director of Acticor Biotech

Increase efficacy of existing treatments and expand the window for therapeutic intervention

Currently, the only active drug approved is alteplase, a treatment known as thrombolytic treatment whose function is to dissolve the clot responsible for the stroke. This drug must be administered no later than 4.30 hours (3 hours in the USA) after symptoms onset, due to the associated haemorrhagic risks. Alteplase does not produce full recanalisation in 38% of cases. In only 5-10% of patients, can a mechanical thrombectomy be performed to remove the clot. 

ACTICOR BIOTECH’s approach is to combine glenzocimab with the standard of care treatment to reduce the number of disabled patients. It is given intravenously as a 6-hour infusion to cover the acute phase of a stroke. 

Ultimately, glenzocimab could be applied to other acute thrombotic conditions, such as pulmonary embolism and myocardial infarction or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) for which a phase 2 clinical trial was conducted in 60 severe patients with COVID-19. 

Acticor Biotech is nominated for the Prix Galien Medstartup in the category “Best cooperation in the Pharmaceutical Industry – Biotech” for its partnership with Prof. James Grotta at Memorial Hermann Hospital (TX) as part of the extension of its clinical programme in the USA.