Pierre Charneau has discovered at the Pasteur Institute the sequence called DNA Flap which is involved in the nuclear import of the immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in non-dividing cells. The French Academy of Sciences recognized this fundamental discovery in 2004 by awarding Dr Pierre Charneau (Pasteur Institute) with a grand prize award from the French Academy of Science in 2005.
Based on this discovery, Pierre Charneau has developed specific viral vectors, known as lentiviral "DNA Flap" vectors to transfer a gene in non-dividing cells such as dendritic cells. This unique ability to genetically modify dendritic cells - which are specialized in the stimulation of the immune response – can be used as a very promising tool for the development of a new generation of vaccines.
TheraVectys has already achieved numerous convincing preclinical validations.