After 25 years of fundamental research at the CNRS, Véronique Gomord and Loïc Faye created Angany Genetics in Val-de-Reuil (Eure) in 2010. This highly innovative biomedicine production unit notably developed the first vaccines intended for diagnosis and treatment of allergic patients. But, after fourteen years of activity, the adventure ended suddenly. Since October 21st the laboratory doors have been closed and the curtains drawn. Seven researchers were fired.
However, during its first eight years of activity, thanks to the Research Tax Credit (CIR) and the financial support of its French shareholders, Angany Genetics managed to file four families of patents. In 2018, unable to find the necessary funding in France to start clinical trials of the products they had developed, the co-founders joined forces with two Canadian partners to create the company Angany Inc, based in Quebec. Angany Genetics then transfers its know-how, its four patents and all its equipment to the Canadian company. In exchange for this sale, the French obtained 25% of the capital of the Canadian company, but also the commitment to maintain the staff and the research and development activity in Val-de-Reuil.
A commitment that is all the more credible as the trans-Atlantic company did not limit itself to absorbing the French company, but created a subsidiary, Angany Innovation, to guarantee this position. Véronique Gomord had also been appointed president and scientific director of the French-Canadian group and director of the French branch. Thus, over the next five years, Angany Innovation was able, with total confidence in its future, to develop and validate the effectiveness of the first vaccines against cat allergy in humans and atopic dermatitis in dogs. Then launch the first clinical trials in December 2023.
Other projects were underway at the same time. The laboratory has thus developed another range of vaccines, this time intended for the treatment of peanut and dust mite allergies, but also for treatments against Covid-19 using monoclonal antibodies. And, in collaboration with the oncology department of the Montreal hospital, the small company from Val-de-Reuil was working on an extremely promising first product as part of a personalized cancer vaccination project.
The researchers thanked, then… they thanked
However, it was behind the scenes and on the other side of the Atlantic that the fate of Angany Innovation was decided. The ax finally fell on October 21st with the closure of the laboratory and the early retirement of Loïc Faye. The co-founder of the laboratory denounces the budgetary reasons given by the Quebec shareholders: “In less than a year, a huge reshuffle led to a change of management and the exit of thirteen employees, or 60% of the workforce. Science doesn’t work without money. Two weeks ago we were thanked for our work via a post and the same day we were invited to our pre-firing interviews! »
Véronique Gomord, for her part, was fired and dismissed “for alleged serious misconduct”, according to Loïc Faye, who took advantage of a letter to shareholders to clarify his position: “With regards to Angany Inc, there has been a buyout forced our shares to price $0.0001 per share in August 2024. We dispute these serious errors and, despite our repeated requests, no factual evidence has been provided. Three proceedings are underway. Thanks to my colleagues with whom we weathered the storm until the end in the face of so many injustices. »
Christine Guillen, CEO of the Angany group since November 2023, interviewed by “Paris-Normandie”, defended this closure by explaining that “the Canadian company faces financial challenges that force it to find new financing to avoid bankruptcy”. The closure of the laboratory is announced in the press release of October 21, 2024 of Val-de-Reuil, the group says it wants to “rebalance the allocation of its resources to fully support the clinical development of its two most advanced products”. After these trial periods, vaccines for the treatment of cat allergy and atopic dermatitis in dogs could then be marketed. With Angany’s “most sincere thanks” to his researchers.
Time.news Interview: The Rise and Fall of Angany Genetics
Interviewer (Time.news Editor): Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Véronique Gomord, co-founder of Angany Genetics and now a leading figure at Angany Innovation. After 14 years of groundbreaking work, it must be incredibly difficult to see your laboratory close its doors. Can you begin by sharing what led to the establishment of Angany Genetics in the first place?
Dr. Véronique Gomord: Thank you for having me. The inspiration behind Angany Genetics came from a shared passion between Loïc Faye and me for developing innovative solutions in biomedicine, especially in the realm of allergy treatment. After 25 years of fundamental research at the CNRS, we aimed to create something that could truly help patients suffering from allergies. Our goal was to pioneer diagnostic and therapeutic vaccines, and initially, we received considerable support through the Research Tax Credit and backing from French shareholders.
Interviewer: You were initially quite successful, managing to file four families of patents in your first eight years. What were some of the most significant breakthroughs during that time?
Dr. Gomord: Indeed, we achieved several milestones, one of which was developing the first vaccines for cat allergies in humans and atopic dermatitis in dogs. The scientific community had long awaited effective treatments in these areas, and we were excited to validate their effectiveness. Our work laid the groundwork for what we hoped would be a significant advancement in allergy treatment.
Interviewer: However, by 2018, funding challenges in France prompted a major shift. Can you elaborate on your decision to collaborate with Canadian partners and how that affected Angany Genetics?
Dr. Gomord: It was a difficult decision, but we realized we needed to seek resources beyond France to continue our essential work. By partnering with Canadian investors and creating Angany Inc. in Quebec, we aimed to sustain our research while transferring our know-how and patents. It was crucial for us that staff and R&D activities remained in Val-de-Reuil, which is why we established Angany Innovation as a subsidiary.
Interviewer: Looking back, it seems like Angany Innovation was set up with great optimism and commitment. How did it feel to take on leadership roles within this trans-Atlantic collaboration?
Dr. Gomord: It was an exhilarating experience. Being named president and scientific director allowed me to ensure that our mission was upheld while we pursued innovative science. With Angany Innovation, we established a solid foundation for launching clinical trials, including the noteworthy trials for our cat allergy vaccine that we initiated in December 2023.
Interviewer: Unfortunately, this promising trajectory took a turn when the laboratory was shuttered. Can you share what precipitated this sudden closure?
Dr. Gomord: The decision ultimately came from our Quebec shareholders, who cited budgetary constraints. Despite our clear progress, management changes led to significant layoffs—nearly 60% of our staff. It was shocking, especially after receiving an appreciation message for our work just two weeks prior to our termination.
Interviewer: The situation sounds incredibly distressing for the remaining team. With such a strong focus on innovation, what future do you foresee for allergy treatments and other projects that were in the pipeline, such as the personalized cancer vaccination?
Dr. Gomord: It is certainly disheartening, considering the potential impact of our work in treating allergies, COVID-19, and cancer. However, the scientific community is resilient. While Angany Innovation may have been disrupted, I firmly believe that our research and findings can inform future breakthroughs. I hope that new partnerships and funding avenues emerge, allowing other researchers to pick up where we left off.
Interviewer: What message would you like to convey to your colleagues and team who have shared this journey with you?
Dr. Gomord: My message is one of gratitude and resilience. To my colleagues, thank you for your unwavering dedication and hard work. Science faces challenges, yet it also offers us opportunities to innovate. I encourage everyone to stay hopeful and passionate about research. Together, we can find new paths to continue the work we started.
Interviewer: Thank you, Dr. Gomord, for sharing your insights and experiences with us today. We wish you and your colleagues the best in your future endeavors, whatever they may hold.
Dr. Gomord: Thank you for the opportunity to speak about our journey.