Introducing Cedric
Cedric kindly explains that he co-founded myNEO several years ago and continues to serve as CEO. myNEO combines “expertise from different academic institutions“.
What is myNeo’s approach?
myNEO may be relatively young, but the approach the team is taking seems to work! We asked Cedric about their efforts and what sets them apart from others’.
“We try to identify what is going on within the tumour, how it interacts with the immune system, and how we can make sure that the interplay between the two is optimised.”
This involves making sure the immune system can “recognise” the tumour, equipping it with the “proper targets”. To approach this challenge, the team at myNEO takes a “very extensive approach”.
“We start from whole genome sequencing material, that means we generate a lot of data, and then we apply big data learnings, machine learning, AI, to be able to investigate what’s going on within that tumour, which targets are relevant to that tumour, not only looking at the surface targets but really looking at everything going on within the tumour, and based on that we apply a lot of selection criteria to identify these are the best targets’.”
Data, data, data
Cedric mentioned “a lot of data” in his previous answer, so we asked about how this is drawn and developed so quickly, and why this is important. He explains that, through a collaboration with Amazon, every time a patient joins the platform their data is efficiently generated, analysed, and then reported in a matter of days. Cedric describes their system as a “nice, interactive way of playing with data” to produce results.
“We’re very flexible in the way that we can analyse hundreds of patients at the same time.”
This is so important because everyone, from pharma to patient, is “waiting on the results”.
“When looking at personalised analysis, and each patient’s treatment is dependent on the analysis that we do, then we need to have it as soon as possible.”
Partnerships
Cedric refers to partners, so how important is it that he and his team is able to secure and sustain good relationships? He reflects that “we’re a technology player”, with a “unique” platform. Therefore, they need to get this “state-of-the-art” technology to patients “as soon as possible”.
“We cannot do everything ourselves, right; we need to find the best partners that allow us and enable us to bring that into the patients.”
In the past, these partnerships have involved everyone from “big pharma” to academics. However, the team has recently had some “developments” with “good data”, which has allowed them to shift into some of their own clinical programmes. They are now collaborating with a “different set of partners”: CDMOs and CROs, for example.
What does the future hold?
With this recent change in mind, we asked about the future of myNEO. Cedric comments that his organisation is “shifting” to become a drug development company: “it’s very nice”! He suggests that this is complemented by changes in “expertise” within the board.
“So far all the clinical data has been very promising, so we’re looking forward to that future of actually, not only being being dependent on other players bringing our technology to the patients, but actually pushing for it ourselves.”
Why WVC?
As always, we invited Cedric to share his hopes for the Congress. He was looking forward to connecting with existing and future partners in person.
“You know, it’s always more interesting to have a physical conversation like we are having, than to have it via teams or zoom call.”
We hope Cedric was able to make the most of this opportunity!