Tell us about your background.
I am Paul Bravetti, a passionate executive with a strong focus on scientific innovation and entrepreneurial ventures.
My background combines a Doctor of Pharmacy degree with an MBA in business management from HEC Paris. I joined Brenus Pharma in 2020 and became CEO in 2022, with a clear mission to (address the limitations of current cancer treatments and) create a meaningful impact for patients.
My international experience/journey in major pharmaceutical companies (Takeda, Servier, Roche) across Europe and Asia has been key to giving me a deep insight into launching therapeutics and addressing unmet medical needs.
You are currently leading the Brenus Pharma team as CEO. What is the team building?
At Brenus Pharma, we are building a company with a bold ambition to become a leader in immunotherapies, making patients active participants in their cancer treatment. Our team’s drive, dedication, and expertise are at the heart of this ambition.
It’s a challenging path, but our focus is on harnessing the power of innovation to bring new precision medicine to cancer patients in need. Cancer is an evolving target that constantly adapts to escape the immune system and resist treatment: every year, 19 million new patients are diagnosed worldwide, and the associated mortality is estimated at 10 million because current therapeutics fail to anticipate cancer’s evolution. There is an urgent need to anticipate tumour evolution and overcome immune evasion, that’s why our mission is to bring the immune system one step ahead of cancer.
Explain to the layman how the technology works against cancer cells.
Given this high unmet need, we developed a tech platform generating new therapeutic vaccines against cancer called STC for ‘Stimulated-Tumor-(ghost)-Cells’. STC mimics, in the laboratory, the relapse conditions of patients’ tumour cells to educate their immune systems to be able to anticipate, target and destroy these tumour cells as soon as they appear. In other words, it’s like giving the immune system a clearer map to navigate the fight against cancer and restore its role as the body’s sentinel.
Our patented platform uses an in-depth understanding of cancer’s complexity, validated by innovative proteomic analysis cross-matched with patient biopsies’ human databases to offer a new type of precision treatment.
With all the attention being aimed at mRNA and related technologies, how is the platform differentiated?
While mRNA technologies are getting a lot of attention, especially due to their success with vaccines, our platform offers a unique approach.
1. STC allows an efficient and more qualitative education of the immune system.
By replicating relapsing conditions, we have characterised a specific and unique signature of cancer’s evolution, with more than 200 targets linked to treatment resistance, cancer heterogeneity, and relapse mechanisms. This enables a more tailored and effective immune response. These kinds of targets are not accessible with mRNA vaccine and other cancer-vaccine approaches, which have only a maximum of 80 targets to present to the immune system.
2. STC is a more accessible treatment option for the patient.
mRNA technology is based on a patient-per-patient supply needed for a biopsy, which is invasive, not scalable, time and cost-consuming. Our technology is a fully off-the-shelf approach, standardised and adaptative. Patient access will not be limited by time or cost. It allows us to anticipate the needs of the majority of patients in a targeted indication.
Congratulations on the recent fundraising success! It’s a remarkable feat to raise money in a difficult climate. How did the team pull this off?
Thank you! This fundraising success is a testament to our team’s perseverance and expertise.
One of the key factors was our ability to de-risk manufacturing for our investors, showing them a clear path to scalability.
Internally, it took a lot of motivation, resilience, and belief in our mission to keep pushing forward in a challenging environment.
What is the next milestone for the team?
Our next big milestone is launching our “first-in-human” (clinical) study in France, Belgium and the United States for colorectal cancer patients. These patients are, in the majority, still treated by old chemotherapies, leading to toxicity and relapse for 90% of them. This pathology is the 2nd cause of mortality per cancer worldwide.
This will be a critical step in validating and leveraging our platform and moving closer to offering new treatment options for cancer patients who desperately need it.
What do you think are the main challenges when it comes to building a biotech startup?
One of the biggest challenges is managing the long timelines and high costs associated with R&D and innovation. You need a lot of patience and a clear vision to keep the team aligned and motivated through the ups and downs you will have to face. Securing funding in a competitive market and navigating complex regulatory environments also adds layers of difficulty.
But with the right team and a strong network of partners, it’s possible to overcome these hurdles.
Have you ever imagined doing this? What was the impetus for leaving Pharma to be part of a startup? How do you make decisions?
I always knew I wanted to be part of something that could make a real difference for patients. Leaving the pharmaceutical industry to join Brenus Pharma was driven by a desire to innovate at a faster pace and tackle unmet needs in cancer treatment. Decision-making, for me, is a balance between data-driven analysis and intuition. I rely on my team for their expertise, and together, we make decisions that align with our long-term vision and values.
What is your philosophy on leadership and conflict management?
I believe in leading by example and fostering a culture of transparency and trust.
In terms of conflict management, I approach it by listening carefully to all perspectives and finding solutions that align with our collective goals. Open communication is key, and I try to create an environment where challenges can be discussed constructively, allowing us to move forward together.
What does a day in your life look like?
My days are a mix of strategic planning, teamwork collaboration, and external meetings.
But I also make sure to carve out time for my family—I’m a father and a husband, and maintaining a balance between my professional and personal life is very important to me. It keeps me grounded and motivated.
What is one interesting fact about yourself that few people know of?
I’m a big fan of history, from the Egyptian empire to the European middle Ages. I really believe that knowing well what has been done before us and what the challenges of the past could help us to build a brighter future. The fact that few people know is that we still have the same brain that Sapiens from 30,000 years ago. They were as smart as us even if they didn’t have ChatGPT, and we have a lot to learn from our ancestors.
Do you have any final remarks/advice to share?
My advice to anyone in biotech or entrepreneurship is to stay focused on your mission and keep pushing forward, even when the path is tough. Surround yourself with people who share your vision and are ready to face challenges head-on. Innovation requires resilience, and if you believe in your impact, the results will follow.