GenoTech Solutions develops genotype-guided antifibrotic therapies targeting the genetic drivers of liver fibrosis in MASH patients.
Explore Our Pipeline ↓GenoTech Solutions was born from the conviction that twenty years of genetic research on hepatic fibrosis must find their therapeutic conclusion. The company was founded to acquire and develop the scientific assets of Genepred Biotechnologies / BilhiGenetics, an academic spin-off from INSERM that ceased operations after building a unique genetic database on the determinants of hepatic fibrosis severity.
Genepred’s mission was the development of diagnostic tests to identify patients at high risk of severe fibrotic progression. Its research, conducted on over 6,000 patients across three continents (Africa, South America, Europe) and covering three major aetiologies (schistosomiasis, hepatitis C, MASH), identified and validated genetic variants predictive of fibrosis severity regardless of the underlying cause.
GenoTech Solutions made the strategic decision to go beyond the diagnostic approach and fully exploit the therapeutic potential of these discoveries. Rather than simply identifying at-risk patients, GenoTech’s ambition is to develop the targeted drugs capable of treating these genetically defined populations. This transition from diagnostics to therapeutics transforms an observational database into a genetics-guided drug discovery programme — the approach now recognised as offering the highest probability of clinical success.
The company thus holds a unique competitive advantage: therapeutic targets validated by two decades of prospective human genetic studies — an asset that traditional discovery programmes would require years and tens of millions of euros to build.
GenoTech Solutions SAS is a preclinical-stage French biotechnology company developing a new class of genotype-guided antifibrotic therapies for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) with advanced hepatic fibrosis.
Our approach is built on twenty years of human genetic research demonstrating that germline variants in specific fibrogenic pathways act as master regulators of fibrosis severity across aetiologies and populations. These discoveries enable a precision medicine strategy where patients are stratified by genotype and treated with therapies matched to their molecular drivers.
Current approved MASH therapies achieve only 26–36% fibrosis improvement, leaving 64–74% of patients as non-responders. GenoTech addresses this unmet need with direct antifibrotic mechanisms and companion diagnostics to identify the patients most likely to benefit.
The Schistosomiasis Burden. Over 250 million people are infected by schistosomes worldwide. In endemic regions of Uganda, Sudan, Brazil, China, and Mali, 5–30% of infected individuals develop severe hepatic periportal fibrosis leading to portal hypertension, variceal bleeding, and death. It remains unknown why only certain individuals progress to lethal disease while others are protected.
A Dual-Indication Strategy. GenoTech’s genetic discoveries were made in schistosomiasis cohorts but validated across MASH and HCV aetiologies. This universality enables a dual-indication strategy: a commercially-driven MASH programme (Western markets) coupled with a schistosomiasis programme targeting low- and middle-income countries through orphan drug designation (FDA/EMA) and global health partnerships.
Ethical Commitment. GenoTech is committed to ensuring that communities who contributed to the foundational science benefit from the resulting therapies. Our schistosomiasis programme is designed for non-dilutive funding through WHO partnerships, neglected tropical disease grants, and orphan drug incentives, ensuring accessibility in endemic regions.
Prof. Alain Dessein continues his INSERM-affiliated fieldwork through the Two Rivers Foundation in Uganda, maintaining longitudinal cohorts along the shores of Lake Albert in the West Nile region. For over 20 years, his team has established annual clinics to diagnose, treat, and monitor schistosomiasis in fishing communities — building the world’s most deeply phenotyped cohorts for the genetics of hepatic fibrosis.
Genetic associations have been replicated across five independent populations: Chinese (Hunan/Jiangxi), Sudanese (Gezira), Brazilian (Bahia/Pernambuco), Ugandan (West Nile), and European cohorts. This trans-ethnic consistency is the hallmark of true causal variants and distinguishes GenoTech’s targets from population-specific signals.
Repositioning of an approved drug with 15+ years of clinical safety data for a new antifibrotic indication in MASH. Genotype-guided patient selection via proprietary companion diagnostic.
Discovery of a first-in-class small molecule inhibitor targeting a key protein–protein interaction in the fibrogenic transcriptional cascade. Inherent isoform selectivity validated computationally.
Dual-pathway blockade interrupting the self-reinforcing fibrotic loop at both the transcriptional and hemodynamic nodes simultaneously. Expected superiority over monotherapy.
Proprietary SNP-based companion diagnostic identifying patients with genetically-driven rapid fibrosis progression. Enables precision enrichment of clinical trials and targeted prescribing.
Germline variants in fibrogenic pathways identified as master regulators of fibrosis severity in cohorts spanning Chinese, Sudanese, Brazilian, Ugandan, and European populations. Odds ratios 1.5–4.0 across aetiologies.
Partnership with leading computational chemistry platforms for structure-based drug discovery. Homology modelling, pharmacophore generation, and virtual screening of >8 million compounds to identify selective hit molecules.
Companion diagnostic development enabling genotype-guided clinical trial enrichment. Standard of Care Plus design layered on existing metabolic therapies to address the residual fibrosis gap (64–74% non-responders).
Background in pharmaceutical R&D, drug discovery programme management, translational medicine, and biotech operations. Leads scientific strategy, IP development, CRO partnerships, and investor relations. Responsible for the design and execution of both GT-001 and GT-002 programmes from target validation through clinical proof-of-concept.
INSERM research director with 25+ years of pioneering research in the genetics of hepatic fibrosis. Trained in immunology at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston), where he conducted seminal work on schistosome immunity under Prof. John R. David. Identified the genetic determinants of fibrosis severity across schistosomiasis, HCV, and MASH aetiologies in cohorts spanning China, Sudan, Brazil, Uganda, and Europe. Over 200 peer-reviewed publications including Nature Genetics, J Exp Med, and Hepatology. Continues fieldwork through the Two Rivers Foundation in Uganda.
Experienced business executive and co-founder. Oversees corporate governance, financial operations, and administrative management of GenoTech Solutions SAS. Ensures operational continuity and regulatory compliance across all corporate functions.
Senior researcher and pathologist with extensive experience in tropical liver diseases and hepatic fibrosis. Provides medical oversight and clinical development guidance for GenoTech’s translational programmes bridging preclinical validation and Phase 2 clinical design.
Professor of Medicine at Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. Former Chair of the Department of Medicine. Oversees clinical services for gastroenterology and hepatology at Mulago National Referral Hospital. Founder of the Digestive & Liver Disease Care Center (DILD). Extensive research in hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver disease management in East Africa.
Distinguished professor of organic and medicinal chemistry. World-renowned expert in total synthesis and structure-activity relationship studies. Advises on the GT-002 fragment-to-lead drug discovery programme, providing strategic guidance on hit-to-lead chemistry, SAR optimisation, and synthetic feasibility assessment for novel small-molecule inhibitors.
GT-001 leverages the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway, referencing the existing safety database from 15+ years of clinical use in another approved indication. This eliminates the need for de novo toxicology and Phase 1 safety studies, enabling direct Phase 2a initiation in genotype-enriched MASH patients.
GT-002 follows the standard first-in-class development pathway with full IND-enabling studies. The fragment-to-lead strategy is designed to reach Preclinical Candidate selection within 48 months and IND filing within 64 months of programme initiation.
GenoTech Solutions is actively seeking strategic partnerships and Series A investment to advance its antifibrotic pipeline through clinical proof-of-concept.
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