Nanobiotix is a biotechnology company that uses
nanomedicine
Nanomedicine is the medical application of nanotechnology, translating historic nanoscience insights and inventions into practical application. Nanomedicine ranges from the medical applications of nanomaterials and biological devices, to n ...
to develop new
radiotherapy
Radiation therapy or radiotherapy (RT, RTx, or XRT) is a treatment using ionizing radiation, generally provided as part of cancer therapy to either kill or control the growth of malignant cells. It is normally delivered by a linear particle ...
techniques for
cancer
Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...
patients. The company is headquartered in
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
, with additional corporate offices in
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
New York may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* ...
and
Massachusetts
Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...
.
History
Nanobiotix is a spin-off of the State University of New York (
SUNY) at Buffalo that was incorporated in 2003 and has been primarily funded by leading European venture capital firms (Matignon Technologies, OTC Asset Management, Cap Decisif, Amorcage Rhone-Alpes, CIC Vizille; Masseran Gestion-CGE).
Nanobiotix, founded in 2003 based on research by
Laurent Levyat
SUNY Buffalo
The State University of New York at Buffalo (commonly referred to as UB, University at Buffalo, and sometimes SUNY Buffalo) is a public research university in Buffalo and Amherst, New York, United States. The university was founded in 1846 as ...
.
Between 2007 and 2010, the company focused on the development of the NanoXray research program. In 2011, Nanobiotix initiated its first Phase I/II clinical study on NBTXR3 in humans, marking the commencement of treatment for the first patient in the study.
The company went public in 2012, listing on the Euronext Paris market and establishing a partnership with PharmaEngine.
By 2014, Nanobiotix expanded its presence to the United States with the creation of its first US subsidiary in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
In 2015, the company started its first clinical trial in the United States, targeting prostate cancer with NBTXR3.
In 2017, Nanobiotix opened a new facility to expand its manufacturing capabilities, increase production capacity, and prepare for commercialization. The same year, the FDA approved Nanobiotix's first immuno-oncology trial in the US, and the company opened two new affiliates in Germany and Spain.
Positive Phase II/III results for NBTXR3 in soft tissue sarcoma were reported in 2018.
In 2019, Nanobiotix launched nine new Phase I/II clinical trials treating six cancer indications and involving 340 patients at the
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (colloquially MD Anderson Cancer Center) is a comprehensive cancer center and autonomous university of the University of Texas System in Houston, Texas. It is the largest cancer center in the w ...
.
The company also received European market approval (CE marking) for NBTXR3 (Hensify®) for the treatment of locally advanced soft tissue
sarcoma
A sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that arises from cells of mesenchymal origin. Originating from mesenchymal cells means that sarcomas are cancers of connective tissues such as bone, cartilage, muscle, fat, or vascular tissues.
Sarcom ...
.
Additionally, Nanobiotix established a new subsidiary, Curadigm,
aimed at optimizing therapeutic balance across the pharmaceutical industry, and was awarded the 2019 Prix Galien Award for NBTXR3.
In 2020, the U.S. FDA granted Fast Track designation for the investigation of NBTXR3 in head and neck cancer.
Therapeutics
Nanobiotix is currently in the clinical stage of developing NBTXR3, a “radioenhancer” that uses nanotechnology to make cancer cells more receptive to radiotherapy. NBTXR3 is an
aqueous suspension
In chemistry, a suspension is a heterogeneous mixture of a fluid that contains solid particles sufficiently large for sedimentation. The particles may be visible to the naked eye, usually must be larger than one micrometer, and will eventually s ...
of crystalline metallic
nanoparticles
A nanoparticle or ultrafine particle is a particle of matter 1 to 100 nanometres (nm) in diameter. The term is sometimes used for larger particles, up to 500 nm, or fibers and tubes that are less than 100 nm in only two directions. At ...
approximately 50
nanometers
330px, Different lengths as in respect to the molecular scale.
The nanometre (international spelling as used by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures; SI symbol: nm), or nanometer (American and British English spelling differences#-r ...
in diameter, designed for injection directly into a malignant tumor. When exposed to ionizing radiation, NBTXR3 amplifies the localized, intratumoral killing effect. Upon activation by a standard dose of
radiation
In physics, radiation is the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles through space or a material medium. This includes:
* ''electromagnetic radiation'' consisting of photons, such as radio waves, microwaves, infr ...
, they release
free radicals
In chemistry, a radical, also known as a free radical, is an atom, molecule, or ion that has at least one unpaired electron, unpaired valence electron.
With some exceptions, these unpaired electrons make radicals highly chemical reaction, chemi ...
that destroys cancer cells, whilst the surrounding healthy tissues are preserved and receive the same dose of radiation as in standard
radiotherapy
Radiation therapy or radiotherapy (RT, RTx, or XRT) is a treatment using ionizing radiation, generally provided as part of cancer therapy to either kill or control the growth of malignant cells. It is normally delivered by a linear particle ...
.
The product is designed to enhance the overall efficacy of radiotherapy without resulting in additional side effects.
Clinical Trials
NBTXR3 is currently being evaluated in 7 clinical trials around the world, and the development plan will include 16 clinical trials in 8 different types of cancer. In 2019, Nanobiotix launched a clinical collaboration with MD Anderson that includes 9 new Phase I/II clinical trials will be launched in the United States for NBTXR3 in multiple indications, including head and neck, pancreatic, lung, esophageal, and colorectal cancers.
Nanobiotix obtained the first European marketing authorization (CE marking) for Hensify, the commercial name of NBTXR3, for the treatment of locally advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma.
Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are a rare type of cancer that develops in different types of soft tissues, including muscles, joint structures, fat, nerves and blood vessels. Although STS can develop at any anatomic site, it occurs in the extremities (arms and legs) in approximately 60% of cases. NBTXR3 completed Phase II/III clinical trials to treat
Soft tissue sarcomas in combination with
radiotherapy
Radiation therapy or radiotherapy (RT, RTx, or XRT) is a treatment using ionizing radiation, generally provided as part of cancer therapy to either kill or control the growth of malignant cells. It is normally delivered by a linear particle ...
and surgery in April 2020.
Head and Neck Cancer
Chemotherapy in combination with radiation is the standard treatment for locally advanced head and neck cancers in both the United States of America and the European Union. However, such treatment cannot usually be proposed to elderly and frail patients, as they are unable to endure the physical strain inherent in chemotherapy treatment.
NBTXR3 is currently in Phase II/III clinical trials to increase
radiotherapy
Radiation therapy or radiotherapy (RT, RTx, or XRT) is a treatment using ionizing radiation, generally provided as part of cancer therapy to either kill or control the growth of malignant cells. It is normally delivered by a linear particle ...
’s efficacy at treating
Head
A head is the part of an organism which usually includes the ears, brain, forehead, cheeks, chin, eyes, nose, and mouth, each of which aid in various sensory functions such as sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Some very simple ani ...
and
neck cancer
Head and neck cancer is a general term encompassing multiple cancers that can develop in the head and neck region. These include cancers of the mouth, tongue, gums and lips (oral cancer), voice box ( laryngeal), throat (nasopharyngeal, oropharyn ...
. As of 2020, the study is recruiting participants in
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...
.
Hepatocellular carcinoma and liver metastases
According to the
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a list of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is headquartered in Gen ...
,
liver cancer
Liver cancer, also known as hepatic cancer, primary hepatic cancer, or primary hepatic malignancy, is cancer that starts in the liver. Liver cancer can be primary in which the cancer starts in the liver, or it can be liver metastasis, or secondar ...
is currently the fourth most common cause of
cancer
Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...
death in the world. Surgical resection cannot be performed on many patients, while local and systemic treatment options are few in number and have significant limitations. Radiotherapy has been shown to improve outcomes for these patients, as a direct correlation between higher doses of radiation and increased survival rates have been observed from third party clinical trials. NBTXR3 is currently in Phase I/II clinical trials to increase
radiotherapy
Radiation therapy or radiotherapy (RT, RTx, or XRT) is a treatment using ionizing radiation, generally provided as part of cancer therapy to either kill or control the growth of malignant cells. It is normally delivered by a linear particle ...
’s efficacy at treating
liver cancer
Liver cancer, also known as hepatic cancer, primary hepatic cancer, or primary hepatic malignancy, is cancer that starts in the liver. Liver cancer can be primary in which the cancer starts in the liver, or it can be liver metastasis, or secondar ...
. As of 2020, the study is recruiting participants in
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
.
Rectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and the second most common cancer in women. The five-year survival rate for patients with Rectal cancer is 64.4%, but varies greatly depending on the stage of the cancer and whether the cancer has spread.4NBTXR3 is currently in Phase I/II clinical trials to increase
radiotherapy
Radiation therapy or radiotherapy (RT, RTx, or XRT) is a treatment using ionizing radiation, generally provided as part of cancer therapy to either kill or control the growth of malignant cells. It is normally delivered by a linear particle ...
’s efficacy at treating
rectal cancer
Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel ...
. As of 2020, the study is recruiting participants in
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...
.
NBTXR3 in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors
The NANORAY-1100 study is a multicenter, multi-arm, that aims to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of NBTXR3 activated by radiotherapy in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy in Locoregional recurrent (LRR) or recurrent and metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and lung and Liver metastasis. It aims to evaluate the hypothesis that the combination of NBTXR3 activated by RT with anti-PD-1 therapy will act synergistically to enhance the therapeutic window of radiation therapy by maximizing the local effect, overcoming radio-resistance, increasing the efficacy of immunotherapy, and potentially producing an abscopal effect for improved distant tumor control. As of 2020, the study is recruiting participants in several states in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
.
Corporate structure
As of 2022:
*
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a chief executive or managing director, is the top-ranking corporate officer charged with the management of an organization, usually a company or a nonprofit organization.
CEOs find roles in variou ...
: Laurent Levy
*
Chairman of the Board
The chair, also chairman, chairwoman, or chairperson, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a Board of directors, board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by ...
: Gary Phillips
*
Chief financial officer
A chief financial officer (CFO) is an officer of a company or organization who is assigned the primary responsibility for making decisions for the company for projects and its finances; i.a.: financial planning, management of financial risks, ...
: Bart van Rhijn
*
Chief people officer (Chief human resources officer): Anne-Juliette Hermant
* CEO Nanobiotix USA & Global Head of Business Development (CEO, United States): Patrick Tricoli
Research and development
Nanobiotix has already won 10 public and private awards and owns 9 original umbrella patents.
In the pipeline it has:
NBTXR3
A radiosensitizer is an agent that makes tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. It is sometimes also known as a radiation sensitizer or radio-enhancer.
Mechanism of action
Conventional chemotherapeutics are currently being used in con ...
, (a
radiosensitizer
A radiosensitizer is an agent that makes tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. It is sometimes also known as a radiation sensitizer or radio-enhancer.
Mechanism of action
Conventional chemotherapeutics are currently being used in con ...
), composed of
hafnium oxide
Hafnium(IV) oxide is the inorganic compound with the formula . Also known as hafnium dioxide or hafnia, this colourless solid is one of the most common and stable compounds of hafnium. It is an electrical insulator with a band gap of 5.3~5.7 eV. H ...
nanoparticle
A nanoparticle or ultrafine particle is a particle of matter 1 to 100 nanometres (nm) in diameter. The term is sometimes used for larger particles, up to 500 nm, or fibers and tubes that are less than 100 nm in only two directions. At ...
s. Has an
IND
Ind or IND may refer to:
General
* Independent (politician), a politician not affiliated to any political party
* Independent station, used within television program listings and the television industry for a station that is not affiliated with ...
for a cancer trial (in combination with a
PD-1 inhibitor
Cancer immunotherapy (immuno-oncotherapy) is the stimulation of the immune system to treat cancer, improving the immune system's natural ability to fight the disease. It is an application of the fundamental research of cancer immunology (immun ...
). Other clinical trials include : a Phase II/III in soft tissue sarcoma of the extremity and trunk wall, a Phase I/II for hepatocellular carcinoma, a Phase I/II for prostate cancer, and a Phase I for squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Nanotechnology companies
Oncology
Companies based in Paris
French companies established in 2003
Companies listed on Euronext Paris