The science behind the company

Ermium Therapeutics is based on the recently published , breakthrough finding of Dr Jean-Philippe Herbeuval’s team at CNRS and University of Paris. They discovered that the well-known G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) chemokine receptor, CXCR4, acts as a master regulator of inflammation via a novel mechanism of action.

A Novel Master Regulator

This novel mechanism of action, in contrast to classical CXCR4 antagonists, allows to control efficiently the production of type 1 interferons by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) known to play a central and upstream role in the inflammatory cascade.


First chemical series generation, and proof of concept in several auto-immune disease animal models of auto-immune diseases have opened the door to the discovery of a brand-new class of drugs to be developed by Ermium.

Competitive advantages

1. Potency

Ability to potently downmodulate type I interferons and other key inflammatory cytokines.

2. Modularity

Modulation of a panel of key immune cells expressing CXCR4, including pDC.

3. Selectivity

CXCR4 expression is nearly exclusively expressed by immune cells.

4. ​Oral administration

A key property for drug candidates aimed to be used in chronic diseases.