The woman who wants (and will try) to end cancer

Laura Soucek (Rome, 1973) is an Italianocheca biologist founded in the US who has been developing its research work in Spain since 2011. Science Fiction? Not for her. The strength of your project, materialized in your company Peptomycearned the support of European Institute for Innovation (EIT) and the public price of the event that was held this year. Now, at the point of starting with clinical tests, it is confronted with the time of terrified truth but with enthusiasm.

– Can you describe your research project?

– Since I was a biology student, I decided to concentrate on cancer research. The reason is clear: I don’t know anyone who has not known this disease directly or because of their most loved beings and does not dream to end it. Science seemed to me the most effective tool to do this. When I was a student, I read about a protein called MyC, found in all cells, but that is specifically necessary for cancer to survive and resist treatments. I considered braking it. They told me that I was crazy that myc could not attack, because it is a protein hidden in the Cellern, a very difficult compartment to penetrate medicines and for fear of the side effects that it inhibit in normal cells. Fortunately I did not let myself be convinced and now, 20 years later, we have peptides (mini proteins) myc inhibitors that can in principle be applied to all types of cancer and effective and non-toxic therapy.

–Thy how do you do it?

-The two things go together and complement each other. For me, the two breeds are part of the same goal and do not assume a conflict. Wearing both papers is a remarkable workload, but it makes me very enthusiastic.

– How was it the transition from the research area to the company? Why made that jump?

– Deciding to be an entrepreneur was a big change compared to the scientific career. I had to learn from things, market studies, profit and losses, risks and intellectual property, all aspects far from my career in biology. It meant leaving my comfort zone and exploring a new world. But from the start I understood that it was the best and most effective way to translate what I had long done in the laboratory in something tangible and practical for cancer patients. It is just the logical consequence of my path as a researcher, not a deviation.

– What is your most important personal motivation?

– My goal has always been to offer cancer patients a more effective and, above all, less toxic therapy. I met too many people who decided not to cure for fear of the side effects of treatments. That is unacceptable. We are in the 21st century and we have to offer them something better.

– What do you define as an innovative person?

– yes, I like to think big or, as they say in English, ‘out of the box’, out of the box. I am very curious and I like to learn. In general, there are few things that seem impossible for me, and most of them may be impossible today, but they will be possible tomorrow or in the not too distant future. That’s my attitude.

– In his videos he talks about finding finding, not about the personalized remedy for cancer, but a “worldwide” solution. It is very ambitious.

–MYC plays an essential role in all types of cancer, because that means that if we can finally brake it, we can treat the majority, if not all types of cancer, independent of where they are, who wear mutations or the cause that they have arisen. This is true that science fiction seems, but also stepping into a plane and flying from Europe to America were in the nineteenth century.

–How appreciates the support of the European Institute for Innovation (EIT), which it has just rewarded for his work.

-The Eit has supported us since the start of our project, when we were still looking for the first investments. We have successfully participated in their business plan Aggregator, Catapult and Headstart programs and, in addition to receiving financial assistance, have the opportunity to become a member of a European network of companies, investors and experts in the sector, who have supported us with ‘Mentoring’ programs and adapted advice for each step of our development program.

– What other support did you receive?

–Marie-Eeve Beauleiu and I founded Peptomyc with our personal savings (not much scientific!) And the support of VHIO And Icrea. Since then we have been lifting 2.2 million euros in public funds (from the Spanish government, the Generalitat de Catalunya and of prestigious European programs such as the Horizon 2020) and 5.2 million euros in private capital, thanks to Business Angels, Healthchy and our most important life sciences with high investors. We foresee that we need around 10 million more to complete the clinical tests of phase I/II before the product has a license for a pharmacist who completes their commercialization.

– Will your examination become real treatment?

–Ore plan is to start clinical studies in patients in 2020 in at least two indications, lung and breast cancer. If everything goes well, we can expand the use of our peptides to more indications. This has been a long journey that led me to live in three different countries, to learn four languages ​​and bring personal and family sacrifices, but we have finally reached the moment of truth: we will soon know if I had an honest intuition when I started this. That scares me and fascinates at the same time.

Price for the European Institute for Innovation

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European Institute for Innovation

(EIT) This year this year held its tenth birthday with a price episode on the most promising projects in five categories: climate, health, food, materials, digital and energy. In the 2018 edition there were 38 nominees; 40% women. Since the launch, the Institute has created 6000 jobs thanks to the imposite of innovative projects. In this decade they have supported 1,250 business initiatives that have launched 640 new products on the market. It has 40 innovation centers. The created network has increased more than 890 million external investments since it was born in 2018.