Immune4cure: A New Standard of Care for Autoimmune Diseases

[Article] - Published on October 2, 2024 in Major Programs, Flagship Projects

Launched on September 17 by Inserm, the Montpellier University Hospital, and the University of Montpellier, the Immun4cure University Hospital Institute aims to become Europe’s^leading center for research and development in immunotherapy for autoimmune diseases. Led by Christian Jorgensen, it brings together 15 research teams dedicated to scientific excellence, patient care, and innovation.

Five million people in France live with an autoimmune disease, and approximately 5 to 8 percent of the world’s population does as well. Women are eight times more likely to be affected than men. More than 80 autoimmune diseases have been identified to date. Some of them are well known to the general public, such as type 1 diabetes, Crohn’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. Others are less well known, such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. What they all have in common is that they are chronic conditions in which the immune system malfunctions and turns against the body’s healthy cells, causing tissue damage and persistent inflammation that leads to chronic pain.

A Comprehensive Health Strategy

Christian Jorgensen is very familiar with these diseases and the pain associated with them, having headed the Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Biotherapy (IRMB) and the Department of Clinical and Therapeutic Osteoarticular Immunology at Montpellier University Hospital for the past ten years. While the IRMB has, since its creation in 2014, been entirely dedicated to understanding the mechanisms of tissue and cellular regeneration and the inflammatory processes involved in autoimmune diseases, the researcher and his colleagues wanted to go a step further by creating an innovation hub that brings together basic research, clinical research, and patient care.

This project was launched in 2024 as a university hospital institute (IHU) named Immun4cure, thanks to the collaboration of its three founding partners: the University Hospital (CHU), Inserm, and the University of Montpellier.“Following the project’s accreditation ExposUM and, more recently, the success of the digital health school  ESNbyUM, the creation of this university hospital institute is part of an overall strategy that positions the University as a key player in healthcare, at the forefront of research and innovation,” explains Philippe Augé, president ofUM.

New therapeutic tools

This new organization has multiple goals:“First, we want to break away from conventional therapeutic approaches by offering new cellular and biological therapies aimed at restoring immune balance in autoimmune diseases,” continues Christian Jorgensen, who, naturally, serves as its director. Immun4Cure aims to deepen our understanding of three key diseases in particular that are caused by an overactive immune system: rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and lupus.

To this end, the Immun4cure IHU will be able to rely on fifteen interdisciplinary research teams, comprising more than 300 researchers working in 8,000 m² of laboratory space spread across two sites: Saint Eloi and the Triolet campus.“The IHU’s scientific program aims to explore new avenues in the field of biotherapies. Recent advances in the use of T cells in oncology have highlighted the potential of cell therapies and revolutionized the pharmaceutical market.”

According to Didier Samuel, President and CEO of Inserm,“Research on autoimmune diseases is one of Inserm’s key research areas, as are innovative immunotherapies. The Montpellier site offers significant advantages for conducting this research, advancing science, and achieving results that benefit everyone’s health.”

A personalized care plan

The second goal outlined by Christian Jorgensen is the development of a personalized care pathway for patients with autoimmune diseases. “This multidisciplinary pathway is based on a detailed mapping of immune responses, enabling tailored follow-up.” The idea here is to be able to move seamlessly between the patient’s room and the laboratory—and vice versa—thanks to the clinical facility attached to the research center on the Saint Eloi campus.

Immun4cure will offer cutting-edge medical tests to improve the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, accelerate the development of targeted biopharmaceuticals, and provide access to precision immunotherapies and biotherapies developed specifically to offer innovative solutions tailored to each individual case.“Patients who wish to do so will be able to join a cohort and participate in clinical trials as early as 2025,” said Anne Ferrer, director of the Montpellier University Hospital . “This ambitious project aims to completely transform the care of patients with autoimmune diseases by improving diagnosis, treatments, and care pathways.”

At the heart of the healthcare ecosystem

The IHU also aims to be a driver of economic development by encouraging biotechnology companies specializing in biotherapies to set up operations in Montpellier, thereby contributing to the growth of cell therapies. While the IRMB was already a driver of innovation by hosting ten startups, Immun4Cure is building on this momentum by strengthening collaborations not only with startups but also with major national and international companies: Arthritis4Cure, Cantarelle, Flash Biosolutions, One Bioscience, Sanofi, ScientaLab, Servier, and SuperBranche.

Emerging biotech companies (Stem Genomics, Spima Therapeutics, Inist, Cell Easy Flash) are also active in the field of cell therapy and innovative therapies. This approach makes perfect sense within the broader Montpellier ecosystem created by Medvallée, a joint strategy aimed at breaking down barriers between higher education, research, and the business world to make Montpellier an international center of excellence in global health.

Training the Professionals of Tomorrow

Finally, the IHU Immune4cure places high-level training at the heart of its priorities and aims to help develop career paths tailored to professions related to autoimmune diseases and cell therapies. A working group coordinated by Marie Morille, a faculty member and researcher, is working to implement several initiatives, such as funding Master’s 2 scholarships, recruiting two doctoral students per year for four years to work on this topic, and creating the ImmunoCell university diploma program led by Yves-Marie Pers (IRMB) and Jean-Marc Brondello (IRMB). To mark this momentum, the first Immun4cure international conference, in collaboration with Jacques Courtin Day, will be held on November 28 and 29, 2024, at the Corum.

Keywords: Innovation, Research, Health, Science, University