Company Profile: Nova In Silico
Background
Overview
Nova In Silico, established in 2010, is a private company headquartered in Lyon, France. The company specializes in leveraging computational models to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of clinical trials. By integrating extensive biological and medical knowledge with disease-specific simulations, Nova In Silico aims to revolutionize the drug development process.
Mission and Vision
The company's mission is to improve clinical trial efficiency by utilizing computational models of diseases. Their vision is to accelerate the development of innovative medicines, making them accessible to patients more swiftly and cost-effectively.
Primary Area of Focus
Nova In Silico focuses on in silico clinical trials, employing digital simulations to predict clinical outcomes before actual human trials. This approach aims to streamline the drug development process, reduce costs, and minimize risks to human subjects.
Industry Significance
In the pharmaceutical industry, Nova In Silico stands out by integrating computational modeling into clinical trial design. This innovative approach addresses challenges such as high costs, lengthy timelines, and ethical concerns associated with traditional clinical trials. By providing a platform for virtual trials, the company contributes to more efficient and ethical drug development.
Key Strategic Focus
Core Objectives
- Accelerate Drug Development: Utilize in silico simulations to expedite the clinical trial process, reducing time to market for new therapies.
- Enhance Trial Design: Optimize clinical trial protocols through predictive modeling, improving the likelihood of successful outcomes.
- Minimize Risks: Identify potential issues early in the development process, reducing the risk to human participants and resources.
Specific Areas of Specialization
- Disease Modeling: Develop comprehensive models representing various diseases to predict treatment responses.
- Treatment Simulation: Simulate the effects of different therapeutic interventions on virtual patient populations.
- Regulatory Support: Provide data to support regulatory submissions, demonstrating the efficacy and safety of new treatments.
Key Technologies Utilized
- Computational Modeling: Employ mathematical models to simulate disease progression and treatment effects.
- Artificial Intelligence: Integrate AI algorithms to analyze complex datasets and predict clinical outcomes.
- Data Science: Utilize advanced analytics to interpret simulation results and inform decision-making.
Primary Markets Targeted
- Pharmaceutical Companies: Assist in optimizing clinical trial designs and accelerating drug development.
- Biotechnology Firms: Provide tools for efficient preclinical and clinical research.
- Academic Research Institutions: Support research through advanced simulation capabilities.
Financials and Funding
Funding History
As of May 2025, Nova In Silico has raised approximately $9.3 million in funding.
Recent Funding Rounds
- Series A2 (February 2021): Raised $3.03 million.
- Series A (January 2020): Amount undisclosed.
- Early Stage VC (August 2014): Raised $469,000.
Notable Investors
- Sanofi: A global healthcare leader investing in innovative drug development solutions.
- Bpifrance: A French public investment bank supporting high-growth companies.
- Debiopharm Innovation Fund: Invests in early-stage biotech companies.
- BigBooster: An international accelerator program for innovative startups.
- H2020 (Application Software): EU funding program supporting research and innovation.
Utilization of Capital
The raised capital is primarily allocated towards enhancing the jinkō platform, expanding research and development capabilities, and scaling operations to meet the growing demand for in silico clinical trial solutions.
Pipeline Development
Key Pipeline Candidates
Nova In Silico collaborates with various pharmaceutical companies to simulate clinical trials for multiple therapeutic areas, including:
- Hypoparathyroidism: Assisted Takeda France in applying jinkō’s virtual population simulation technology to support health technology assessment for innovative therapies.
- Hepatitis B: Collaborated with ENYO Pharma to assess Vonafexor’s efficacy in combination with different standard-of-care regimens through simulation studies.
Stages of Clinical Trials or Product Development
The company focuses on preclinical and early-phase clinical trial simulations, providing insights that inform the design and execution of subsequent human trials.
Target Conditions
Therapeutic areas include:
- Influenza: Modeling the interplay between viral infection and vaccination.
- Asthma: Simulating immune responses leading to airway inflammation.
- Atopic Dermatitis: Understanding the interaction between skin barrier and immune system.
- Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): Modeling disease progression and treatment responses.
- Hepatitis B Infection: Simulating viral replication and immune response in chronic infection.
Relevant Timelines for Anticipated Milestones
Specific timelines for milestones are project-dependent and are typically outlined in collaboration agreements with partner organizations.
Technological Platform and Innovation
Proprietary Technologies
- jinkō Platform: A collaborative clinical trial simulation platform that combines data science, biology, and medicine to predict clinical outcomes before human trials.
Significant Scientific Methods
- Mechanistic Modeling: Building mathematical models of the physiological and clinical impact of disease and treatment on virtual patients.
- Computational Biology: Utilizing computational models to simulate disease progression and treatment effects.
AI-Driven Capabilities
- Predictive Analytics: Employing AI algorithms to analyze complex datasets and predict clinical outcomes.
- Data Integration: Combining diverse data sources to inform simulation models and enhance accuracy.
Leadership Team
Key Executives
- François-Henri Boissel: Co-founder and CEO. Former CEO of Novadiscovery, with over 20 years in financial services and life sciences.
- Julie Pitrat: Vice President of Business Development. Holds dual Master's degrees in Engineering and Business, with experience in biotech business development.
- Jim Bosley: Senior Vice President of Modeling and Simulation. Over 15 years in systems biology modeling, previously at Rosa & Co. and Pharsight.
- Emmanuel Pham: Senior Vice President of Science & Customer Experience Europe. Over 20 years in pharmaceutical industry and academia, focusing on in silico technology integration.
- Prof. Jean-Pierre Boissel: Scientific Advisor. Emeritus Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, pioneer in in silico medicine, and co-founder of Novadiscovery.
- Claudio Monteiro: Executive Manager, Head of Content. Holds an MSc in Pharmacology and Clinical Trials Modeling, with expertise in systems biology and computational biology.
Competitor Profile
Market Insights and Dynamics
The pharmaceutical industry is increasingly adopting digital solutions to address challenges in drug development, such as high costs and lengthy timelines. In silico clinical trials are gaining traction as a means to streamline the process and reduce risks.
Competitor Analysis
- InSilicoTrials: Offers a platform for virtual clinical trials, focusing on simulation and modeling to optimize trial designs.
- Insilico Medicine: Utilizes AI and deep learning for drug discovery, including in silico trials, with a focus on genomics and big data analysis.
- AION Labs: An Israeli venture studio focused on AI and machine learning in pharmaceutical discovery and development processes.
Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships
Nova In Silico collaborates with various pharmaceutical companies to apply its jinkō platform in real-world scenarios, enhancing the credibility and applicability of its simulations.
Operational Insights
The company differentiates itself through its comprehensive approach, integrating disease modeling, treatment simulation, and regulatory support into a unified platform.
