PRESS RELEASE – Research against stroke: ETAP-Lab unveils its new private research laboratory
Inauguration of the STROK@LLIANCE building in the presence of local officials in Caen
CAEN – ETAP-Lab, an independent French contract research organization (CRO), will inaugurate its new research laboratory, STROK@LLIANCE, on September 17, 2024, at 14:30. The event will take place on the Jules Horowitz campus in Caen, with the participation of its partners and representatives from the University of Caen-Normandy, Caen la Mer, and the Normandy Region.
A multi-voice ceremony
For this inauguration ceremony at STROK@LLIANCE, Nicolas Violle, CEO of ETAP-Lab, is pleased to bring together employees from ETAP-Lab’s three sites, as well as its partners – notably ESR3P, CYCERON, and BB@C. ETAP-Lab also has the privilege of welcoming local stakeholders, with speeches from the President of the University of Caen-Normandy, representatives of the urban community Caen la Mer, and the Normandy Region. Professor Denis Vivien (PU-PH), a renowned scientist and Director of the BB@C institute and the PhIND Laboratory, will also speak, along with Hugues Contamin, President of AFSSI (French Association of Service and Innovation Companies for Life Sciences), representing the French preclinical CRO sector to which ETAP-Lab belongs.
A sustainable local presence, promoting employment, research, and innovation
Established in Caen for 7 years under the brand name STROK@LLIANCE, and leveraging the research of its academic partner PhIND, ETAP-Lab has experienced significant growth – directly creating 13 jobs on site. To support its growth, it decided to increase its capacity by acquiring a building on the Jules Horowitz campus. After a year of renovation and expansion work, the teams moved into this new building, fully operational since July 2024. ETAP-Lab invested 2.4 million euros in this project, mostly funded by its own resources, with financial support from Caen la Mer through a zero-interest loan of 250,000 euros and a 50,000-euro grant from the Normandy Region.
Stroke, a global health challenge, supported by preclinical companies
Each year, 15 million people worldwide suffer a stroke, with one-third of patients dying within the following weeks and another third suffering permanent disability. In France, 130,000 people are affected by stroke each year. STROK@LLIANCE offers preclinical stroke models and is involved in the early stages of drug candidate development for the pharmaceutical industry. By providing cutting-edge preclinical research services, it rigorously and independently evaluates the efficacy and safety of its clients’ molecules – a prerequisite before any clinical trial in humans.
STROK@LLIANCE: Enhanced capabilities to meet the accelerating stroke research needs of the pharmaceutical industry
Currently, there is only one emergency treatment for strokes, and epidemiological studies predict a 70-80% increase in their incidence by 2050. In this context, the pharmaceutical industry is intensifying its research to develop new therapeutic solutions. The new 700 m² facilities of STROK@LLIANCE meet clients’ needs by tripling neurology research capacities while remaining at the heart of biomedical research and innovation at the CYCERON center. With its extensive experience in preclinical pharmacology and the integration of innovations from the PhIND laboratory, ETAP-Lab offers its unique expertise to its clients. Since 2017, its research has contributed to the development of numerous molecules, representing new hopes for stroke treatment.
About ETAP-Lab
ETAP-Lab is an independent contract research organization (CRO) established in 1991 in Vandoeuvre-Lès-Nancy (Grand-Est). It offers efficacy and safety evaluation services for drug candidates to pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries – an essential step before any clinical trial of innovative therapies in humans. With over 30 years of scientific expertise, it supports clients with preclinical studies in various therapeutic areas, including Dermatology, Neurology, and Cardiology, through the integration of SYNCROSOME in October 2023. With a team of 45 employees across three sites in France, ETAP-Lab supports over 300 clients worldwide. In 2023, its turnover reached 3.4 million euros (+74%), with 80% from exports. It strengthens its market position through external growth and strategic research projects.
For more information:
ESR3P: Experimental platform dedicated to stroke at the University of Caen-Normandy, affiliated with INSERM UMR-S 1237, PhIND, directed by Professor Denis VIVIEN.
STROK@LLIANCE: Born from the virtuous association between ETAP-Lab and ESR3P, offering the best of academic and CRO expertise in the field of stroke within a state-of-the-art scientific and technological complex.
