ACOBIOM

Their core work

ACOBIOM is a French biotech SME specializing in biomarker discovery and the development of in vitro diagnostic (IVD) tools. Their core work involves using transcriptomic technologies (RNAseq, HTseq) to identify molecular signatures that predict treatment response or disease progression. They have applied this expertise across multiple therapeutic areas — from predicting lithium response in bipolar disorder (R-LiNK) to developing a diagnostic test for pancreatic cancer treatment decisions (GemciTest/ImOPac). Their business model bridges genomic research and clinical diagnostics, turning biomarker data into actionable medical tools.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

ACOBIOM's early H2020 work (2018) centered on psychiatric applications — specifically predicting lithium response in bipolar disorder through biomarker identification (R-LiNK). By 2019, they shifted toward commercializing their own diagnostic product, coordinating the ImOPac project to bring GemciTest (a pancreatic cancer IVD) closer to market via the SME Instrument. In parallel, they expanded into infectious disease research through LeiSHield-MATI, applying their transcriptomic methods to leishmaniasis. The trajectory shows a company moving from contributing biomarker expertise to others' projects toward leading its own product commercialization.

ACOBIOM is transitioning from a research-services biomarker company toward a product-driven diagnostics firm, with its own IVD (GemciTest) as the commercial focus.

How they like to work

ACOBIOM operates primarily as a specialist partner in larger consortia (2 of 3 projects), contributing biomarker and transcriptomic expertise to multi-partner research efforts. When they do lead (ImOPac), it is for their own product development via the SME Instrument — a solo or small-team format. With 33 unique partners across 14 countries from just 3 projects, they are comfortable working in large international consortia and bring a highly specific technical skill set rather than broad project management capacity.

Despite only three projects, ACOBIOM has built a wide network of 33 partners across 14 countries, reflecting their participation in large multi-disciplinary consortia. Their geographic reach spans well beyond France, with collaborators across Europe and likely beyond through the MSCA-RISE mobility scheme.

What sets them apart

ACOBIOM sits at the intersection of genomic research and diagnostic product development — they don't just discover biomarkers, they build tests around them. As an SME, they are more agile than large diagnostic corporations and more commercially oriented than academic labs. For consortium builders, they offer a rare combination: deep transcriptomic capability with a clear path to turning research findings into market-ready IVD products.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ImOPac
  ACOBIOM's own coordinated project to commercialize GemciTest, a pancreatic cancer diagnostic — their clearest product-to-market effort via the SME Instrument.
• R-LiNK
  Largest funding (EUR 550,000) and longest-running project, positioning ACOBIOM as a key biomarker partner in a major psychiatric research consortium.