DOXANANO - Remotely Activated Chemotherapy®

remotely activated chemotherapy

pushing the limits of
conventional chemotherapy

Our mission

Doxanano is committed to pushing the limits of conventional chemotherapy for patients with solid tumors. Our goal is to significantly increase the selective delivery of chemotherapeutic agents into the tumor whilst dramatically limiting adverse effects on healthy organs.
We specialize in harnessing the unique properties of our DXN polymersomes drug delivery platform in combination with the precision of radiotherapy.

Cancer, the leading cause of death in France and the second worldwide. Every year, worldwide:

0 million

deaths

0 million

new cases

Although chemotherapy is the standard treatment for many types of cancer, its therapeutic potential has not yet been fully utilized. The dose administered is generally limited to what the patient can tolerate, rather than the most effective dose to eradicate the tumor. This compromise is due to the nature of cytotoxic molecules, which, when injected intravenously, affect all growing cells in the body, not just cancer cells.

Our ambition is to reverse this paradigm with our groundbreaking therapeutic approach, RAC® (Remotely Activated Chemotherapy). Towards more effective and less toxic chemotherapy.

Technological platform

DXNs are spherical nanoparticles made of polymers. They belong to the family of polymersomes, known for their exceptional robustness. The DXN technological platform is based on a patent from French academic research in nanosciences, where polymer chemistry meets the chemistry of ionizing radiation to create redox-sensitive polymersomes.

STABLE

CYTOTOXIC AGENTS SAFE

What is expected : thanks to their high stability, these vesicles act like safes, carrying toxic anticancer molecules in the organism without risk of premature or uncontrolled release and ensure their safe transport in the body.

CLEAVABLE under X-RAYS

Cytotoxic agents targeted release

What is expected : under X-rays, the DXNs open up and release their therapeutic payload exclusively within the tumor.

MULTIPLE PAYLOAD

Cocktail therapy

Their versatility also allows them to encapsulate both hydrophilic active principles in their core and hydrophobic substances in their membrane, paving the way for so-called “therapeutic cocktail” treatments. Last but not least, DXNs can be tracked by non-invasive imaging, and also surface functionalized for biological targeting.

Our therapeutic approach

RAC® (Remotely Activated Chemotherapy®) therapeutic approach aims at treating patients with cold solid tumors in a 2 step approach.

STEP 1 Systemic Injection

DXNs will be systemically injected into patients. Each “safe” contains cytotoxic molecules, ensuring their secure transport throughout the body and preventing them from unnecessarily damaging healthy cells.

STEP 2 Local Release

DXNs have a specific structure that weakens under the effect of X-rays, releasing anticancer molecules in a targeted manner. This X-ray irradiation approach will provide unparalleled precision in targeting even the deepest tumors, allowing for precise spatio-temporal control of drug release.

A more universal approach

that does not require biological targeting of tumors to deliver toxic agents. The release over the tumor will be triggered by an external physical stimulus, making RAC® a complementary treatment to targeted therapies and immunotherapies.

An accelerated clinical process

DXN are nanomedicines whose every element—polymers, redox-sensitive motifs, and toxic molecules—has been approved by regulatory authorities for use in conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy protocols.

An environmental commitment

Using biocompatible, biomimetic, and bio-sourced polymers to reduce our carbon footprint.
A technology that allows encapsulation of a wide variety of active substances, thus reducing the size and need for production facilities.
Modular microfluidic techniques for the production and purification of nanomedicines, decreasing the use of organic solvents and associated pollution.

A therapeutic platform

that can treat various types of cancers. The versatility of polymer chemistry, combined with the variety of molecules that can be encapsulated, will facilitate the accelerated development of nanomedicines suited for different cancer types.

Initially, RAC® implementation will focus on digestive and head and neck where it is crucial to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy and minimize side effects to improve survival outcomes.

Our team brings a complementary expertise essential for transforming scientific challenges into therapeutic solutions that change patients’ lives.

Guided by a principle of universality, our team positions itself at the forefront of medical research, combining rigor and collective intelligence to continuously innovate.

The team

Dr Isabel Marey-Semper

Co-founder & CEO

Isabel launched the Doxanano adventure in March 2023. A graduate of the École Normale Supérieure (ENS), she holds both a PhD and an MBA. With over fifteen years of experience in the executive committees of major industrial groups, she brings extensive expertise in general management, strategy, finance, research, innovation, and governance.

Pr Sébastien Lecommandoux

Co-founder & Scientific Director

Sébastien is a prominent internationally recognized specialist in the field of polymersomes. He is also the co-inventor of the patent core to our technology. Holding a PhD and an Habilitation to Direct Research (HDR), he has shaped his career at the Bordeaux University, where he continues to push the boundaries of science.