Netris Pharma and the EIC Accelerator: Blocking Netrin-1 in Cancer

Immunotherapy has changed cancer treatment, but many patients do not respond or stop responding. Netris Pharma, a Lyon company led by CEO Patrick Mehlen, develops NP137, an antibody that blocks netrin-1, a protein that its research links to tumour survival and resistance to treatment.

The European Innovation Council granted €2,500,000 towards an €8.33 million project to test NP137 with immunotherapy and chemotherapy, and the EIC Fund joined its Series A. The ImmunoNET Phase 2 trial met its interim endpoints in 2025, pancreatic cancer results were published in Nature in 2026, and in May 2026 Netris won €7.25 million from Horizon Europe for a Phase 2b trial in head and neck cancer.

Where Netris Stands Today

In April 2026 Netris announced that Nature had published results of LAPNET-01, a trial of NP137 with chemotherapy in 43 patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer at nine French centres: median progression-free survival of 10.85 months, median overall survival of 16.43 months, and 23% of patients converted to surgery, 40% in patients with high levels of the receptor neogenin. It plans a randomised, "potentially registrational" Phase 2 trial in metastatic pancreatic cancer. The €7.25 million Horizon Europe grant funds a randomised Phase 2b in head and neck cancer in France and Spain with the GORTEC and TTCC trial groups.

The Technology: Taking Away a Survival Signal

NP137 binds netrin-1 and is tested in combination with standard treatments, the idea being that removing this survival signal makes tumours more vulnerable to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The company describes LAPNET-01 as its third Nature publication on the approach.

What the EIC Project Promised, and What CORDIS Shows

ImmunoNet aimed at "inhibiting resistance to immunotherapy in oncology by targeting netrin-1". Its main trial, ImmunoNET, started in January 2023 and enrolled 57 patients in France with head and neck cancer or lung cancer that had progressed on immunotherapy; it is active but no longer recruiting, with primary completion estimated for January 2027. In April 2025 Netris reported that the interim analysis met its primary and secondary endpoints in secondary refractory patients, with clinical benefit in about half. The CORDIS report states that safety "was confirmed for all indications and drug combinations included" and that LiverNET results are not yet mature.

1. Phase 2 proof of conceptDeliveredInterim endpoints met, 2025.
2. Safety in combinationsDeliveredConfirmed, per CORDIS.
3. Next-phase trial fundedDelivered€7.25M Phase 2b grant.
4. Final ImmunoNET resultsPendingCompletion estimated 2027.

What Has Happened Since the Award

The Money

Netris extended its Series A to €24.4 million in December 2023, with a €7.5 million extension "mainly" from new investors "including EIC Fund, following selection for the EIC accelerator program". It has also won public grants: €1.2 million from Eurostars in 2023 for a consortium it leads, €3.9 million to lead an endometriosis therapy project in 2024 and €7.25 million from Horizon Europe in 2026. The latest accounts in the French register data, for 2023, show revenue of €322,052 and a net loss of €1.16 million.

Why Europe Should Care

Netris is a French biotech built on French academic research, with EU money at several stages: the EIC grant and equity, Eurostars and now Horizon Europe. ImmunoNET targeted patients whose cancer had progressed on immunotherapy. The trials so far are small and open-label; the Phase 2b will be randomised.

The Verdict

Netris Pharma has not been asked for comment for this article. It is based entirely on company statements, EU project data, the trial registry and the French company register, linked throughout.