User talk:Piquemal skuldtech

SKULDTECH


Biomarkers, diagnostics, and personalized medicine

From biomarker discovery to personalized medicine
Skuldtech is a biotechnology company specialized in discovering new biomarkers. To reach its goals, Skuldtech has continuously worked on developing its technology platform since the company was founded in 1999. This platform combines molecular biology techniques (high-throughput sequencing, quantitative RT-PCR...) and proprietary tools and programs in bioinformatics and biostatistics.

Skuldtech's business model is based on two main activities:
 * 1) Élément de la liste numérotée Developing and commercializing innovative diagnostic tests, notably for personalized medicine applications,
 * 2) Élément de la liste numérotée Providing various services in the fields of genomics, pharmacogenomics, and transcriptomics, both for research purposes and clinical studies.

For its service business, Skuldtech has been certified as an "approved Research Tax Credit company" in France, enabling industry clients to apply the company's services to their research tax credits.

Solutions for personalized medicine
Skuldtech is positioned in the field of "personalized medicine", which seeks to help determine the most adapted treatment to prescribe, so that the treatment matches the patient's profile as closely as possible. With biomarkers already identified using its technology platform, and leveraging its over 14 years of expertise analyzing this biological information, the company develops cutting edge diagnostics tools, companion tests, and patient stratification tests that take into account the biological and physiological differences of each individual.

This makes it possible not only to segment patients, but also to predict the efficiency of a given treatment and help clinicians over the course of their therapeutic effort.

Technology and expertise
Skuldtech developed its technology platform based on high-throughput sequencing and molecular biology techniques, such as quantitative RT-PCR, to perform or provide a variety of RNA and DNA analyses. To process and analyze the millions of pieces of data generated today by high-throughput sequencing, the company uses bioinformatics tools and proprietary databases, as well as biostatistics programs specifically developed to study genome and transcriptome data. In addition, Skuldtech's scientific team benefits from over 14 years experience analyzing and interpreting this type of data, thereby generating results with relevant biological meaning.

Product pipeline
Skuldtech is involved with several clinical studies to develop innovative diagnostic tests, including two studies in progress on personalized medicine:
 * 1) Élément de la liste numérotée A companion diagnostic test associated with Masitinib (drug developed by AB Science), to identify patients with pancreatic cancer most likely to benefit from this new treatment (AB Science filed Masitinib registration with regulatory authorities in September 2012),
 * 2) Élément de la liste numérotée A diagnostic test to stratify patients with Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML), identifying those patients with chances for 4-year survival.

Observed needs for greater therapeutic efficiency
Skuldtech's diagnostic products meet the increasing need to improve the therapeutic efficiency of patient treatments. In 2005 in the United States, it was observed that some 3 million prescriptions, representing 3.5 billion dollars, could be considered as inappropriate or ineffective (PriceWaterHouseCoopers "Personalized Medicine: The Emerging Pharmacogenomics Revolution", 2005). In addition, for 75% of cancer patients, a given molecule in a therapeutic class is considered as ineffective (Ernst&Young report: "Personalized Medicine Coalition", May 2009).

Market and forecasts
Based on various studies, the market for companion diagnostics associated with drugs should show 25-30% growth over the five next years. It is therefore likely that 10-20% of all new molecules will have a companion test. In addition, new guidelines have been published by the FDA (Feb. 2011) and EMEA (Dec. 2010) recommending the integration of pharmacogenomic analyses into clinical trials. Proof-of-concept for this type of approach has already been demonstrated in numerous cases, notably by showing that it is possible to adapt clinical pharmacology and promote, even "facilitate", market authorization for molecules (Warfarine, Clopidogrel, Abracavir…). The new recommendations by health authorities will favor future development for services related to pharmacogenomic studies. *BCC Research, Business Insight, Espicom Business Intelligence, Biomerieux, Bayer Diagnostics, Nature Biotechnologies, PWC.

Share capital and management team
Skuldtech share capital is held today by its founders (47%), scientific consultants (3%), and private and professional investors (50%). The management team is comprised of the company's founders:
 * Didier RITTER, CEO. Masters in Biology, MBA (IAE Montpellier). Company creator, consultant
 * David PIQUEMAL, CSO and Associated Professor. PhD in Biology. Expert in gene expression and transcriptome analysis techniques
 * Philippe OUTREBON, CFO. Masters in Mathematics. Company creator, consultant (Ernst & Young)

Clients
Institut Lejeune, GATC Biotech, Anti-doping agencies, Aveyron Labo, C.E.C. Mont le Soie, Horse Racing Laboratory, French and foreign research and educational organizations.

Partners
AB Science, Medesis Pharma, Virbac, Atheris Laboratories, Biobase, ApoH Technologies, Craig Venter Institute, Nîmes CHU (University Hospital Center), Inserm, Pasteur Institutes, CNRS, CEA, IRD, Ifremer, Cirad, Max Planck & Robert Koch Institutes, Sanbi…

Location
Laboratories & offices: 1682, rue de la Valsiere Cap Delta - CS77394 34184 Montpellier Cedex 4 - France

Phone: +33 (0)467 419 748

Fax: +33 (0)467 457 726

Email: info@skuldtech.com

Web: http://www.skuldtech.com

N 43° 38’ 27’’ (decim : 43,64078)

E 3° 49’ 41’’ (decim : 3,82797)

Link to the Map