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Socio-economic development


The CEPR boasts expertise which has traditionally led the laboratory to maintain close, regular ties with biotechs, pharma and medical device companies.

During the present mandate, partnership contracts have been entered into between the CEPR teams and international pharmaceutical manufacturers (Sanofi-Genzyme or Astra-Zenaca/MedImmune, Aptar Pharma) or SMEs/VSEs (Pherecydes, AxessVision, etc.). Several of these partnerships have proved fruitful and mutually beneficial, entailing the acquisition of substantial operational resources for the development of CEPR’s scientific research (staff, equipment, prototypes, etc.), the production of publications and joint scientific communications and papers as well as patent applications. Of these patents, several have since been licensed (e.g. Aptar Pharma) or are currently being negotiated (e.g. Nemera).

With regard to both the local and regional environment, the CEPR has formed collaborations with several SMEs (Chemineau (www.chemineau.com/index.php?lang=fr), Axessvision (www.axessvisiontechnology.com, etc), as shown in the illustration below.

These interactions between CEPR and private entities stem from the interest that the knowledge and know-how of our laboratory holds for these entities.

To illustrate our attractiveness to private sector companies, it is important to point out the excellent partnership of more than 8 years’ duration between the CEPR (and by the former U618 research unit) and DTF, a company located in St-Étienne (France). This interaction has led to the setup of DTF R&D department (known as Aerodrug; www.aerodrug.com/) in the CEPR premises and to the recruitment of L. Vecellio and S. Le Guellec, two DTF-employed engineers. In return, these two engineers dedicate half of their timetable to joint “DTF/CEPR” projects or solely to CEPR.

Given the many requests the CEPR receives from private partners for the provision of services, we have also taken steps to create a service entity in Tours, in relation with the French company Cynbiose, in order to commercially exploit our know-how in animal models of lung diseases (rodents, primates and pigs). A framework agreement defining the terms and conditions for the governance of this partnership, the conditions for knowledge transfer and the hosting is being finalised with INSERM and Tours University.

Lastly, the CEPR is aiming to develop effective translational research in the area of respiratory health and this can be done through regular interactions with clinical departments located in the Tours university hospital (i.e. pulmonology, medical intensive care, CRCM,…) or elsewhere.