Servier has partnered with biotech firm kyron.bio to develop advanced antibody therapeutics for oncology and autoimmune diseases. The collaboration will utilize kyron.bio’s precision glycoengineering platform to optimize a specific antibody candidate chosen by Servier.
Glycosylation is crucial for antibody function, but controlling glycan structures has been a challenge. Traditional methods yield unpredictable drug performance. kyron.bio offers a scalable method to engineer defined N-glycoforms, enabling tailored efficacy, safety, and half-life. This partnership allows kyron.bio to refine a Servier antibody’s sugar structure for optimal performance, with Servier funding research and holding rights for further development.
The companies' relationship began in 2024 when kyron.bio won the Servier Golden Ticket award, providing resources and mentorship. "Precision glycosylation represents a transformative approach in biologics development," stated Dr. Emilia McLaughlin, Founder and CEO of kyron.bio. "By engineering defined glycan profiles, therapeutic antibodies can be optimised for improved immune engagement, pharmacokinetics and reduced variability."
kyron.bio, a graduate of the French Entrepreneur First scheme, recently secured €5.5 million in seed funding. Based at the Paris Biotech Santé hub, the company aims to be a key partner for pharmaceutical firms seeking to improve antibody performance.
Dr. Emmanuel Nony, Director of External Innovation Europe at Servier, added, "This collaboration is opening new frontiers for antibody derivatives as well. Together, we are exploring innovative pathways to optimise drug design and production, with a shared commitment to bringing safer and more effective therapies to patients."
This marks a significant step for kyron.bio as it balances its internal pipeline with strategic collaborations.