Secarna and Vect-Horus Partner to Enhance RNA-Based CNS Treatments

Secarna Pharmaceuticals GmbH & Co. KG, based in MARTINSRIED, Germany, and Vect-Horus, located in MARSEILLE, France, have formed a strategic research collaboration in a bid to address diseases affecting the central nervous system (CNS). The partnership, announced on July 10, 2025, focuses on developing RNA-targeted therapeutics that can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a significant challenge in treating CNS disorders.

Secarna Pharmaceuticals specializes in the discovery and development of oligonucleotide therapeutics, leveraging its proprietary OligoCreator® platform. This platform is known for its AI-driven capabilities, enabling rapid discovery and refinement of effective and safe oligonucleotide therapies. Through this collaboration, Secarna aims to expand its targeted delivery portfolio, particularly in the realm of neurodegenerative diseases, by integrating Vect-Horus’s delivery technology.

Vect-Horus brings to the table its VECTrans® platform, a versatile system designed to shuttle therapeutic or imaging payloads across biological barriers, including the BBB. With over two decades of expertise, Vect-Horus has engineered peptide and single-domain, heavy chain-only (VHH) antibody vectors to efficiently target specific cells or tissues. This technology has been validated in multiple preclinical models for various diseases and is currently being tested in clinical stage programs targeting glioblastoma multiforme and pancreatic cancer.

The collaboration represents a merging of two distinct but complementary technological platforms. By combining Vect-Horus’s targeted delivery expertise with Secarna’s oligonucleotide discovery capabilities, the partnership aims to overcome the longstanding challenge of delivering therapies across the BBB. This synergy holds promise for developing innovative treatments for CNS disorders, offering new hope to patients with limited options.

Dr. Konstantin Petropoulos, CEO of Secarna Pharmaceuticals, emphasized the significance of this partnership in advancing CNS drug development. He noted that the collaboration marks a pivotal step in Secarna’s strategic expansion into targeted delivery for CNS diseases, potentially transforming patient care by addressing previously untreatable conditions.

Alexandre Tokay, co-founder and CEO of Vect-Horus, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, highlighting the unique opportunity to advance RNA-targeted therapies and overcome delivery challenges through the BBB. He underscored the potential of this partnership to bring forward innovative treatment options for patients with limited and often ineffective therapies.

The combined efforts of Secarna and Vect-Horus are expected to yield significant advancements in the treatment of neurodegenerative and other CNS disorders. By leveraging their complementary platforms, both companies aim to enhance the pharmacokinetics of therapeutic agents while minimizing off-target effects, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Secarna Pharmaceuticals is committed to redefining the discovery and development of oligonucleotide therapeutics. Its AI-empowered OligoCreator® platform is at the forefront of this mission, facilitating the rapid identification and characterization of novel therapies. This platform is pivotal in Secarna’s goal to revolutionize the treatment of challenging disorders.

Vect-Horus, a spin-off from the Institute for Neurophysiopathology, designs vectors that facilitate the targeted delivery of therapeutic and imaging agents to various organs, including the brain. Since its founding in 2005, the company has been instrumental in advancing the field of targeted delivery, with a significant portion of its 42 employees engaged in research and development activities.