Now Iktos teams up with Pierre Fabre in oncology

In the same week that Servier announced its partnership with Paris, France-based Iktos, now Pierre Fabre Laboratories has revealed an integrated collaboration with Iktos – an AI and robotics drug discovery specialist – to identify and develop novel small-molecule drug candidates in oncology.

The initiative will bring together the companies’ complementary strengths across computational design, medicinal chemistry, biology, medical science, and preclinical development.

Founded in 2016, Iktos’ generative AI technology designs molecules in silico, optimised to meet all key success criteria of a discovery project. In 2025, Iktos was awarded a €2.5M grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator, with potential follow-on funding of €5M, to advance its integrated AI and robotics platform.

In 2024, Pierre Fabre Laboratories’ revenues in oncology came to €520 million, 88% of which was generated by international sales, out of a total sales figure of €3.1 billion.

Financial terms of the agreement between Iktos and Pierre Fabre have not been disclosed, but include an upfront payment, as well as several milestone payments.

Audrey Kauffmann, head of data science and biometry at Pierre Fabre Medical Care R&D, commented: “By integrating Iktos’ generative AI and automated chemistry technologies into our research platforms, we are taking a step toward realising our data and AI strategy. This cooperation exemplifies our ambition to leverage cutting-edge innovation to improve the quality and probability of success in drug discovery, while accelerating the delivery of meaningful advances for patients in oncology.”

For over 40 years, Pierre Fabre Laboratories has established itself as an international player in oncology, mastering the entire value chain from R&D to marketing. Its portfolio of oncology specialties covers colorectal, breast, lung and skin cancers, as well as certain haematologic malignancies and precancerous dermatological conditions such as actinic keratosis.

Based in southwest France since its creation, Pierre Fabre manufactures nearly 90% of its products in France and employs 10,200 people worldwide. The company has expanded its efforts in precision oncology by adding several assets to its R&D pipeline. PFL-241and PFL-721, two mutant-selective EGFR inhibitors, are being developed for the treatment of EGFR-driven non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Meanwhile, PFL-002 is undergoing clinical testing in solid tumours driven by MET genetic alterations, and the pan-RAF inhibitor exarafenib is being developed to expand targeted therapy options for RAS/RAF-driven solid tumours.

There is, additionally, a collaboration between Pierre Fabre and RedRidge Bio underway to identify and develop biparatopic antibodies for multiple targets in precision oncology, dermatology, and rare diseases.

These new additions to the discovery and clinical development portfolio complement Pierre Fabre Laboratories’ existing precision oncology portfolio targeting BRAF, MEK, HER2, as well as EBV-driven post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder.