Helios BioSciences joins Biocitech Park

Biocitech, the Paris life sciences technology park has welcomed Helios BioSciences, a provider of bioinformatics services in support of the drug discovery process. The company, which relocated in December 2011, specialises in research into new molecular targets and biomarkers. The company uses its proprietary, fully patented technological platform to build dynamic mathematic models of intracellular signalling cascades by combining available signalling data and experimental data. This makes it possible to identify potential targets whose activity can be modified in order to halt the disease. Another application of these models is the isolation of markers characterising the evolution of the pathology or the response to treatments. Helios BioSciences focuses primarily on cancer, neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases and helps companies rationalize their drug discovery processes in these areas in particular.

Biocitech president, Jean-François Boussard. “Helios is positioned at the beginning of the drug R&D cycle. Our plug and market concept corresponds perfectly to the stage of development Helios is now at, and we think it will find some customers on its doorstep by talking to neighbouring firms, as well as opportunities to develop joint product offers with other firms in the park.”

“Helios Biosciences’ novel positioning, downstream from the so-called “omic” platforms (transcriptomics, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics), gives us a real added value in the selection of therapeutic targets and biomarkers,” said company manager Jean-Baptiste Dumas. “Helios will be able to speed up its commercial development in a supportive environment. The premises, the services provided and the excellent standards with which Biocitech complies were behind our decision to relocate there.”