An integrated partnership has been formed between Pierre Fabre Laboratories and Iktos to advance AI-driven oncology drug discovery. The collaboration focuses on identifying and developing new small-molecule drug candidates by combining Iktos’ AI and robotics technologies with Pierre Fabre’s oncology research and preclinical development expertise.
As part of the agreement, Iktos will apply its AI-driven generative design platform to generate optimized small-molecule candidates against an undisclosed oncology target. Pierre Fabre Laboratories will support candidate selection and early-stage development, drawing on its experience in oncology research and preclinical development.
“This collaboration with Iktos marks an important milestone in our journey to build an AI-powered R&D engine at Pierre Fabre Laboratories. By integrating Iktos’ generative AI and automated chemistry technologies into our research platforms, we are taking a step toward realizing 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.” said Audrey Kauffmann, head of data science and biometry at Pierre Fabre Medical Care R&D.
Olivier Geneste, head of drug discovery at Pierre Fabre Medical Care R&D, said the collaboration is expected to support faster and more efficient discovery efforts. “We are delighted to start a drug discovery collaboration with Iktos. Thanks to its well-established expertise in generative AI coupled to automated chemistry, we strongly believe that Iktos will help us in accelerating and derisking the discovery of innovative therapeutics targeting a highly valuable oncology target to serve unmet cancer patients’ needs.” he said.
Yann Gaston-Mathé, co-founder and CEO of Iktos, said the partnership reflects a strong alignment between the two organisations. “We are delighted to initiate this collaboration with Pierre Fabre Laboratories, a company with a distinguished track record in oncology. This collaboration exemplifies the powerful complementarity between Iktos’ generative AI and automated chemistry technologies and Pierre Fabre’s deep scientific and clinical development expertise. Together, we intend to create the optimal framework to rapidly and efficiently progress innovative small-molecule candidates in oncology, with the aim of bringing meaningful therapeutic advances to patients worldwide.”
The two companies said the integrated solution aims to provide a more streamlined approach to AI-driven oncology drug discovery to enable innovative small-molecule candidates to progress more rapidly toward clinical development.
