A world-class biotech company based in Nantes
All eyes are on the clinical progress of its therapeutic vaccine for lung cancer, as well as on the significant results from several other innovative products in immuno-oncology and immuno-inflammation. OSE Immunotherapeutics could soon join the select circle of world-leading biotech companies. The Nantes-based biotech employs around sixty people.
It all began in 2009 when Nicolas Poirier, now CEO of OSE Immunotherapeutics, met Maryvonne Hiance, founder of TCL Pharma in 2007 and then Effimune in 2012. “I was considering leaving for a post-doc in the US when Maryvonne offered me to stay in Nantes just days before my PhD defense to join her entrepreneurial adventure,” he recalls.
We have always maintained strong ties with the Nantes ecosystem, which is a real hub for research and innovation.
OSE Immunotherapeutics
A meeting of complementary visions
While Dominique Costantini was leading OSE Pharma, a Paris-based biotech company listed on Euronext since 2015, Maryvonne Hiance was looking to strengthen Effimune, her Nantes-based biotech, with a view to going public. In May 2016, the merger of OSE Pharma and Effimune created OSE Immunotherapeutics. “The synergies were obvious: both teams were working on the immune system, whether for cancer treatment or autoimmune diseases. Research was based in Nantes, while clinical development, regulatory affairs, and corporate functions were based in Paris. This allowed us to create a company capable of covering the entire life cycle of a drug, from fundamental research to market approval.”
Strategic international partnerships
The company follows a business model based on partnerships with pharmaceutical companies. OSE Immunotherapeutics has signed several major agreements: at the end of 2016 with Servier (France), in 2018 with Boehringer Ingelheim (Germany), and in 2021 with Veloxis (USA).
Two major deals in 2024
In 2024, OSE signed two more major strategic deals. The first with AbbVie, the American pharmaceutical giant, concerning the preclinical product ABBV-230 for immuno-inflammation, bringing in 48 million dollars upfront. A second agreement was signed with Boehringer Ingelheim on other therapeutic areas, particularly in metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). The total potential value of these agreements exceeds 2 billion euros, with 219 million euros already received. These partnerships involve upfront payments and milestone payments based on the progress of the products’ development. This funding helps finance clinical development and early-stage research.
Tedopi in 2021: hope for lung cancer
In 2021, Tedopi delivered positive phase 3 results in third-line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer. This therapeutic vaccine does not prevent cancer but helps prevent recurrence by retraining the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. “We have already published results showing better survival and quality of life compared to chemotherapy.” Tedopi is currently being evaluated in the US, Canada, Europe, and the UK in second-line treatment, the final step before registration.
Lusvertikimab: positive phase 2 results in ulcerative colitis
“Lusvertikimab has shown very significant positive phase 2 induction results in ulcerative colitis, demonstrating excellent efficacy and good tolerance. New data from a 24-week extension phase will be presented soon. This success is the result of ten years of research and development by OSE teams in Nantes and Paris.” The company is exploring strategic options to continue developing Lusvertikimab in ulcerative colitis and other chronic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Constant ties with the Nantes ecosystem
“We have always maintained strong ties with the Nantes healthcare ecosystem, working closely with Nantes University, INSERM, and the Nantes University Hospital. We are also on the board of Atlanpole Biotherapies.” Since 2018, the company’s laboratories have been located in Nantes Biotech, near the future hospital. A clinical trial is currently underway at CHU Nantes with Professor Gilles Blanchot on FR104, an immunosuppressant for kidney transplants, also partnered with Veloxis.
OSE Immunotherapeutics has 65 employees, 43 in Nantes and 22 in Paris.