CV Science

Emmanuel Moreau Development of theranostic tools in Translational Oncology

Course and current status

Emmanuel Moreau obtained a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Clermont-Ferrand in 2001, following an initial training in organic chemistry. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Saint-François d’Assise Research Center in Quebec City (Canada) from 2002 to 2004. He has been a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Clermont-Ferrand since 2005 and conducts his research within an INSERM unit.

Since 2021, he has been leading the team “Targets and Tools for Imaging and Therapy” within UMR 1240 IMoST (INSERM/Université Clermont Auvergne), a multidisciplinary structure bringing together chemists, radiochemists, biologists, and clinicians (47 people, 23.1 FTEs). His research focuses on the design, synthesis, and evaluation of innovative radiopharmaceuticals for imaging and targeted radionuclide therapy of diseases such as melanoma, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer.

He is the author or co-author of 71 publications in peer-reviewed international journals and has supervised around ten PhD theses. His involvement in the structuring of research themes contributes to the development of innovative (bio)molecular strategies, particularly in the field of theranostic radiotracers.

Scientific summary

Emmanuel Moreau’s research is positioned at the interface of chemistry, biology, and clinical applications, with a particular focus on radiopharmaceuticals and innovative tools for translational oncology. Initially trained as an organic chemist, he progressively specialized in radiochemistry, with expertise in radiolabeling techniques using isotopes such as F-18, Ga-68, I-125, C-14, Lu-177, and In-111.

Since 2005, his work has evolved from the synthesis of anticancer small molecules to the development of radiolabeled agents for molecular imaging and targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT). His scientific contributions are structured around six main thematic areas:

• Anticancer therapy: Development of original pharmacophores (imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and arylchloroethylureas) with antimitotic properties and topoisomerase inhibition.

• Tumor specificity exploitation: Vectorization of prodrugs for metastatic melanoma (e.g., ICF01012) and development of radiosensitizing agents for external radiotherapy.

• Molecular targeting: Design of PET/SPECT radiotracers (fluorinated and iodinated) targeting enzymes (PDE5) and transporters (MCT1/4) involved in tumor metabolism.

• Biomaterials and toxicology: Synthesis of plasticizer metabolites (DEHP, DEHT, DINCH, etc.), cytotoxicity studies, and biomonitoring for medical device safety.

• Radioimmunotherapy optimization: Implementation of two-step pretargeting strategies using TCO-functionalized antibodies and radiolabeled tetrazines to enhance therapeutic efficacy and reduce off-target toxicity, particularly in peritoneal carcinomatosis.

• Companion diagnostics: Use of [^99mTc]Tc-NTP 15-5 as a radiotracer to assess extracellular matrix remodeling and therapeutic response in chondrosarcoma.

The scientific strategy of the research team he coordinates (Targets and Tools for Imaging and Therapy, UMR 1240 IMoST) is built around three complementary research axes:

1. Chemistry and radioengineering of theranostic ligands: Development of innovative vectors (small molecules, peptides, antibodies, nanocarriers) suitable for radiolabeling, for applications in molecular imaging and TRT — including a specific focus on bicyclic peptides inspired by venom-derived scaffolds.

2. Targeted radionuclide therapy using beta and alpha emitters: Exploration of novel therapeutic radionuclides (²²⁵Ac, ²¹²Pb, ²¹¹At) and theranostic pairs (⁶⁴/⁶⁷Cu) to optimize therapeutic index, minimize toxicity, and enable personalized dosimetry.

3. Biological modulation and combination therapies: Development of synergistic therapeutic strategies combining TRT with targeted chemotherapies or immunotherapies to enhance efficacy and overcome resistance mechanisms.