Our team
Complementary talents and varied skills
Bertrand de Castelnau
CEO, HEC
Bertrand de Castelnau has experience in the pharmaceutical industry. After HEC, he made his career in the world of health, starting with Roche; his last positions were in the General Management of a world leader in hematology (Horiba-ABX), a leader in biochemistry (DiaSys) and the world leader start-up in monitoring of biotherapies (Theradiag), a market that Theradiag created and developed; his responsibilities have led him to be confronted with all business issues of all sizes, and his main skills are in the field of global strategy and international marketing, management and financing.
Bertrand de Castelnau plays the role of CEO within the company, in particular in charge of the operational implementation of the action plan and the representation of the company.
Antoine Touzé
Co founder, PhD, Professor
Professor Antoine Touzé carried out a PhD thesis on the interest of papillomavirus pseudo-viral particles for vaccination and gene vectorization. He was then recruited as a lecturer at the IUT of Tours (1998) then obtained his Accreditation to Direct Research in 2001 before being appointed University Professor at the IUT of Tours in the department of Biological Engineering where he teaches molecular biology and virology.
His research activities are carried out within the JRU 1282 INRAE of Infectiology and Public Health (ISP) in the Biology of Polyomavirus Infections (BIP) team of which he is responsible. The research work carried out within the team focuses on the association between Polyomaviruses and human pathologies and in particular between Merkel polyomavirus and Merkel cell carcinoma and between BK polyomavirus and BKVN. In these two models, in addition to fundamental work, aims are to develop diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic strategies.
Professor Antoine Touzé brings his scientific and technical skills to the company, particularly in the management of the BK virus in kidney transplant recipients. He is a member of the Scientific Council of the company
Etienne Brochot
Co founder, PharmaD, PhD, University professor, hospital practitioner
Holder of a doctorate in Pharmacy, a specialized studies diploma (DES) in medical biology and a doctorate in virology, Doctor Etienne Brochot began his career as a University Hospital Assistant at the University Hospital Center and at the Faculty of Pharmacy of Amiens.
While continuing his teaching and diagnostic activities at Amiens University Hospital, with strong involvement in the implementation of the accreditation of biological analyzes according to the ISO15189 standard, Étienne Brochot is appointed Professor of University Hospital Practitioner in 2022. Since 2015, his research has focused on the BK virus, which poses more and more problems in the context of transplants, particularly kidney transplants, and can compromise the outcome of the latter.
Pr. Etienne Brochot brings his scientific and technical skills to the company, particularly in the management of the BK virus in kidney transplant recipients. He is a member of the Scientific Council of the company
Pauline Gaboriaud
Co founder, CSO
A state graduate in medical biology laboratory technician in 2012 in Tours, Pauline Gaboriaud obtained a work-study professional degree in Analytical and Experimental Biology in 2013 in Tours through apprenticeship. She then joined a research team at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv, working on fertility preservation in women with ovarian cancer. Upon her return in 2014, Pauline Gaboriaud joined a research and development team at CitoxLab, a CRO located in Evreux to work on the development of 3D epidermis from human cells. She then joined the BIP team led by Professor Antoine Touzé to develop monoclonal antibodies directed against the BK virus. From 2018 to the end of 2019, she was Assistant Engineer within the AIM team led by Fabrice Laurent (JRU INRAE ISP). She is currently a research technician in the BIP team where she has taken up the various work on BK polyomavirus and Merkel polyomavirus.
Pauline Gaboriaud brings to the company her scientific and technical skills, particularly in the production of antibodies/antigens necessary for the development of the diagnostic test and the
development of immunotherapy. She is a member of the Scientific Council.
Isabelle Bourguin
Co founder, PhD theses
Dr. Isabelle Bourguin completed a Doctoral thesis on the study of immune mechanisms during oral vaccination against toxoplasmosis (University of Tours). She then carried out several missions in France (INRA, University of Tours, Pasteur Institute) but also abroad (Free University of Brussels). She also worked for the private company VIRSOL specializing in the research and development of biopharmaceutical products. During these different experiments, she used her skills in immunology to study the immune responses associated with various infections of parasitic, bacterial or viral origin. Dr. Isabelle Bourguin brings her scientific skills in immunology. She also ensures the financial management of the company. She is a member of the company’s Scientific Council.
Edouard Sèche
Co founder, PhD theses
Holder of a doctorate in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Biophysics from the University of Orléans, Dr. Édouard Sèche began his career as a Project Manager at the CNRS. Alongside Dr. Pascal Breton and relying on innovative technology developed within the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Tours, he then created the company VitamFero whose mission is the development of veterinary vaccines. The company’s first employee, from 2005 to 2016 he held the position of Director of Research in charge of research strategies, intellectual property, dilutive and non-dilutive financing and business development operations. In parallel with VitamFero, Dr. Édouard Sèche participated in the creation of the biotechnology company Acticor Biotech (www.acticor-biotech.com) which is developing an effective and safe antibody against stroke. This biomedicine is currently in Phase II clinical development. Within SPyDiag, Dr. Édouard Sèche brings his managerial skills as well as his experience in creating an innovative business. He is a member of the strategic committee.
