An interview with Guillaume Brachet: A repurposed life on July 25, 2024
Biography
My name’s Guillaume, 35yo French Pharm.D ph.D diagnosed with YOPD late 2018 at age 29. After a few hard years I decided to take arms against the disease with all that I had at my disposal: science, pharmacology, sports and music.
Today, I run a start-up company called CXS Therapeutics and I have patented a repurposed drug combination aimed at modifying the course of the disease.
Please tell me a little about your background.
Former hospital medical biologist and assistant lecturer in Tours, I used to teach immunology, biopharmaceutics and analytical chemistry at university. Left in 2020 to start a freelance Consultant activity which lasted until I launched CXS Therapeutics in September 2023.
Can you tell me more about your Advocacy?
I have read about 700 scientific articles about PD and underlying mechanisms during the last 3 years. Having seen the huge leap that occurred in understanding, I feel that it won’t take long till an effective disease modifying treatment -whether it’s ours or not has no importance to me- actually reaches the clinic. I try to encourage other patients to keep up the good work and mood until this day arrives.
What is your passion and how did you get involved in Parkinson’s awareness and hope for a cure.
I got involved in 2022 through a project named Parkinson sur Loire, a fundraising challenge I set up to fund my in vitro proof of concept, which consisted in rowing against the flow of the largest river in France during 15 days with a kayak. It was a success and so were the experiments. That was the beginning of CXS Therapeutics.
What type of goals do individuals with Parkinson’s have when seeing your Advocacy?
I try to instill motivation rather than a goal. I am a pharmacist and scientist; people know how deep my understanding of the disease goes. So, if they see me motivated, with a strong belief that things will get better soon, it feels reasonable to assume they’ll leave with a bit of my fire for themselves too.
What type of advocacy do you participate in?
I communicate through social media, documentary movies, press media and lately a photography exhibition at the French press club.
What effect can your Advocacy have on an individual with Parkinson’s?
I have messages from people saying they took up sport, some just say it gives them hope, one person said it had saved her from despair. That’s about all I wish to do so I’m very happy about it.
What would you like to see as a future goal for your Advocacy?
I just wish to spread the word. I’m working on a documentary movie and a book which should both be translated in English to start reaching out to people outside France.
What events do you participate in?
Kayaking ultra races, conferences, public meetings, France Parkinson meetings, anything I find useful m.
How does this also assist the caregivers?
The more people are motivated for sports and physical activity, the easiest caregivers’ action gets. It’s as simple as that.
How can someone get in touch? What is your website?
For any information regarding the treatment: cxstherapeutics.com and the specific Parkinson’s disease project: sappiens.eu both are available in French and English.
I’m also available on Instagram and Facebook: Guillaume vs. Parkinson
How can others also become advocates for awareness?
By finding their own way to cope. It’s as simple and as hard as that. Refocusing on the essentials, learning to accept their new condition and caring for themselves in all meanings. You gotta love yourself to take good care.
In your opinion, what is the key to effective advocacy?
I am involved with numerous ways to bring awareness. Working as one. No competition, no judgement. Share, like, repost, spread the word.
How can we better fundraise to support a cure for Parkinson’s?
Fundraising is not the point. There are millions of whatever currencies you’re looking at. It’s about how you spend. There’s work to do on that part.
What other activities do you undertake to help improve and support your daily living Eg exercise and alternative remedies?
I compose, write, sing and play the bass in a rock band called Oxblood Tone, helps with the coordination, speech, breathing and mental health.
Why should people who don’t have Parkinson’s care about this?
Because everybody’s potentially going to be concerned either directly or through a relative.
Have you had any family members or relatives affected by Parkinson’s disease?
Yes, one of my uncles was diagnosed a couple of years after me.
If you had one song that would tell us more about you or represent your life, which song would it be?
Oxblood tone, by Oxblood tone…
Or freedom by Elayna Boymton
If you had one final statement or quote you could leave for the Parkinson’s community, what would it be?
If you feel like you’re too old for rock’n’roll, you probably are.
Lemmy Kilmister