This time, the business is concentrating on oncology and transplantation, two areas where its glyco-humanized antibodies promise to change the game. With funding of €4 million from the “France 2030” program, Xenothera is taking a decisive step towards developing its treatment for blood cancers.

LIS22: hope for haematological cancers

LIS22, Xenothera’s flagship drug, targets lymphomas, myelomas and leukaemias, serious diseases affecting blood cells where current treatments, such as chemotherapy or autotransplantation, remain limited. This new antibody, developed using a unique glyco-humanized antibody technology, stands out for its ability to eliminate cancerous lymphocytes, while preserving healthy cells.

Initial preclinical results are promising, with superior efficacy to chemotherapy observed in laboratory models. This advance means that early market access can be aimed for as soon as 2027, following analysis of the clinical data, expected in 2026.

At the same time, Xenothera is making progress on other treatments that could have a major impact in oncology.

• XON7: This drug targets solid tumours. Clinical trials began over a year ago and have already shown encouraging results. Odile Duvaux, President of Xenothera, sees significant potential, particularly in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Other indications, such as ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer and sarcoma, could also be explored.

• LIS1: This immunosuppressant, designed to prevent transplant rejection, is Xenothera’s long-standing product. With a potential market estimated at US$1 billion, LIS1 has already passed the critical validation phases in humans and is approaching phase III trials.

Financial challenges ahead

Since its creation in 2014, Xenothera has raised €43 million to finance its activities, but the next steps will require much greater resources. The firm plans to raise €50-60 million by 2025 to fast-track its projects and support the clinical development of its three drug candidates.

To support this ramp-up, Xenothera has invested in its own production facility in Nantes. This strategic investment of €7 million, supported by the French government via the “Capacity Building” call for expressions of interest, will enable the biotech firm to strengthen its independence and production capacity.

While the financial challenges remain significant, the market outlook and initial clinical results point to a promising future for Xenothera and its treatments.