Sapreme Technologies B.V. is a Dutch Biotech company that develops a platform technology to enable cytosolic delivery of macromolecule therapeutics using proprietary endosomal escape enhancers.
Company
Sapreme was founded in 2016 by Aglaia Oncology Funds. The Company develops new technologies within the field of macromolecule therapeutics such as antibody-drug conjugates and oligonucleotide-based therapeutics, based on intellectual property originating from the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Charité) and Freie Universität Berlin (FUB). Sapreme develops a proprietary technology to ensure efficient escape of macromolecule therapeutics from endosomes (ENDOSCAPE®), currently the major hurdle in efficient drug target engagement. Sapreme R&D facilities are located at the Life Science Incubator in Utrecht at the Utrecht Science Park. The company has R&D partnerships with Charité, FUB and is part of the H2020 ENDOSCAPE consortium.
Ruben Postel, CSO
Ruben is the scientific founder of Sapreme and was previously CSO of the biotech company SomantiX. He worked as a postdoc at the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI-AvL) and holds a PhD in molecular biology and genetics from the Hubrecht Institute.
Guy Hermans, CEO
Guy joined Sapreme in 2020 as CEO. He previously held the position of CSO at Isogenica Ltd., where he was responsible for re-focusing the company as an antibody discovery technology provider and improving profitability. Prior to this, he held a number of positions at Ablynx NV. He holds a PhD in medicine from UHasselt and completed a postdoc at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Science
1. Endolysosomal trapping of macromolecules
Macromolecule therapeutics targeting intracellular targets are usually dependent on receptor-mediated endocytosis and consequent release from the endo-lysosomal compartment. The therapeutic efficacy of such drugs is therefore strongly dependent on sufficient release of these drugs from endo-lysosomal vesicles before degradation. The endo-lysosomal membranes, however, are evolutionary conserved barriers that prohibit efficient cytoplasmic access of such foreign substances. Therefore cytosolic delivery of macromolecule therapeutics requires very challenging technical optimizations, or specialized drug delivery platforms, if feasible at all. For most oligonucleotide-based therapeutics, delivery remains an unsolved problem.
2. ENDOSCAPE® technology
Researchers at the Charité and FUB have discovered certain plant-derived metabolites that have an evolutionary conserved ability to specifically permeabilize endo-lysosomal membranes to release trapped cargo without affecting plasma membrane integrity in a pH-dependent manner. Up to 1.000.000 fold increase in cancer cell killing activity, whereas up to 100-fold increased efficacy in tumor reduction have been observed in various mouse tumor models when these proprietary compounds were combined with antibody-conjugated toxins. In collaboration with the Charité, FUB and others, Sapreme is developing a proprietary module (ENDOSCAPE®) that can be incorporated in the design of current and future targeted cancer therapeutics as well as other non-oncology therapeutics that could benefit from enhanced cytoplasmic delivery (e.g. gene therapy).
Partners
Charité
Sapreme is collaborating with the research group of Prof. Hendrik Fuchs at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin in Berlin. His group has strong expertise in targeted delivery of macromolecular drugs into the cytosol of cells by use of endosomal escape enhancers. Sapreme is working with Charité to develop the ENDOSCAPE® technology for delivery of targeted toxins.
FUB
Sapreme is collaborating with the research group of Dr. Alexander Weng at the department of Prof. Matthias Melzig at the Freie Universität in Berlin (FUB). The group of Dr. Weng has considerable expertise in identifying and characterization of novel endosomal escape enhancers from natural sources and the development of non-viral gene carriers. Sapreme is working with the FUB to develop the ENDOSCAPE® technology for targeted delivery of DNA/RNA.
ENDOSCAPE consortium
Sapreme is working with a multidisciplinary consortium including 11 other academic and industrial parties on the development of a non-viral based gene therapy for cancer and haemophilia patients using Sapreme’s proprietary endosomal escape enhancers. The project is funded by the European Union (EU) through Horizon 2020.
Aglaia Oncology Funds
Aglaia Oncology Funds is an investment firm with a 100% focus on oncology. Aglaia Oncology Funds provides extensive know-how in cancer drug development and closely collaborates with inventors and entrepreneurs to develop early-stage technology into clinically and commercially successful biotech companies.
News
| Sapreme Technologies in a 6.8 M€ EU Alliance to Develop an Oligonucleotide Delivery Platform Based on Its Proprietary Endosomal Escape Enhancers
UTRECHT, the Netherlands, February 20, 2019 / B3C newswire / — Sapreme Technologies, a privately-held biotech company developing a technology platform to enable the cytosolic delivery of macromolecule therapeutics, has been awarded a 6.8 M€ grant together with a multidisciplinary consortium including 11 other academic and industrial parties. The grant was provided by the European Union (EU) through Horizon 2020 to develop a non-viral based gene therapy using Sapreme’s proprietary endosomal escape enhancers. Ruben Postel, CSO of Sapreme Technologies, “We are pleased to see that the EU has recognized the great potential of the ENDOSCAPE project and the expert multi-disciplinary consortium developing a novel oligonucleotide delivery technology for treatment of cancer and haemophilia patients” Ernst Geutjes, acting Managing Director, “The fact that the EU awarded the proposal with the maximum score demonstrates the potential of Sapreme’s proprietary endosomal escape enhancement technology as well as the exceptional quality of the proposal and the consortium spearheaded by Sapreme and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin”
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Careers
Sapreme Technologies is currently not seeking any new hires. If you are a talented individual and would like to contribute to our mission to develop new anticancer medicines, you may send your resume to info@sapreme-technologies.com
Contact
Telephone
+31 30 760 09 76
Address
LSI, Room 2.09
Yalelaan 62
3584 CM Utrecht
The Netherlands