The Catalan biotechnology company Xenopat , founded in 2014 as a spinoff of the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (Idibell), the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) and the Bellvitge University Hospital, has been in the news for its participation in the development of a potentially innovative treatment for colorectal cancer, the result of an international collaboration.
As ACCIÓ reports in its press release , Xenopat has collaborated with a UK pharmaceutical company (Neuro-Bio) to evaluate a drug originally designed to combat Alzheimer's. This drug acts by inhibiting the T14 peptide, a marker associated with this dementia. The preclinical research, carried out by Xenopat, focuses on determining whether this same inhibition can be effective in stopping metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer.
The key to Xenopat's contribution lies in its expertise in in vivo studies using patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. These models are generated by implanting small fragments of human tumors directly into immunosuppressed mice, often in the same organ of origin (orthotopic implantation), to more faithfully reflect the complexity and response of human tumors.
Within the framework of this specific project, which was supported by a Tecniospring INDUSTRY grant from ACCIÓ facilitating the incorporation of Dr. Raquel Boqué, Xenopat has achieved promising results: it has been determined that the maximum tolerated dose of the inhibitor is less toxic than current chemotherapy, a significant decrease in tumor volume has been observed in the treated PDX models and better therapeutic efficacy has been observed when combining it with standard chemotherapy. These initial advances justify the continuation of research to evaluate the effect of the treatment on metastatic dissemination, a critical factor in the mortality of oncological patients.
The company's participation in the Industrial Doctorate Plan
Xenopat's ability to obtain relevant results, such as those achieved in the study with the T14 inhibitor, is based on its solid and advanced platform of PDX models. In line with the most current trends in biomedical research, the company complements its expertise with strategic initiatives such as the project it is developing within the Industrial Doctorate Plan. A project focused on the creation and validation of cell lines derived from Xenopat's own PDXs.
The aim of this project is to develop in vitro tools that allow for more efficient pharmacological screening and model preselection before initiating in vivo studies. This approach is aligned with the demands for modernization of the sector and the ethical and practical need to reduce the use of experimental animals (following principles such as the 3Rs and guidelines from agencies such as the FDA). The establishment of this in vitro platform derived from PDX has the potential to accelerate the discovery and development of new oncological drugs, making the preclinical phase more agile, predictive and sustainable.
In this context, the Industrial Doctorate Plan becomes a key tool that allows leading companies like Xenopat not only to apply their knowledge in high-impact projects, but also to invest in the continuous improvement of their R&D capabilities, training highly qualified research talent in close collaboration with academia.
