Debiopharm and Oncodesign Services Partner to Advance Radiopharmaceuticals in Preclinical Research
Debiopharm Research & Manufacturing S.A. (Debiopharm), a privately held, Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing the treatment landscape for cancer and infectious diseases, has announced a strategic licensing agreement with France-based Oncodesign Services, a contract research organization (CRO) with specialized expertise in drug discovery and preclinical development. The agreement grants Oncodesign Services the rights to use Debiopharm’s proprietary AbYlink™ bioconjugation technology for a range of preclinical applications, marking a significant step forward in the development of more targeted and effective radiotherapeutic treatments.
The collaboration underscores both companies’ commitment to innovating at the intersection of antibody engineering and molecular radiotherapy, particularly in the rapidly evolving space of radioimmunotherapy—a modality that merges the targeting precision of monoclonal antibodies with the cell-killing power of radioactive isotopes. This promising therapeutic approach is gaining traction as pharmaceutical and biotech firms seek new strategies to tackle treatment-resistant and metastatic cancers.
A Powerful Bioconjugation Platform for Precision Imaging and Therapy
AbYlink™ is Debiopharm’s proprietary regio-selective bioconjugation platform designed to covalently attach payloads such as imaging agents, chelators, or therapeutic molecules to off-the-shelf antibodies. What distinguishes AbYlink™ from conventional conjugation methods is its site-specificity, enabling rapid and stable linkage at defined positions on the antibody molecule without compromising its structural integrity or binding activity.
According to Frédéric Lévy, Chief Scientific Officer at Debiopharm, the value proposition of AbYlink™ lies in its ability to generate homogeneous and reproducible antibody conjugates in a single-step process, which is especially critical for ensuring consistency in both preclinical and clinical applications. “We have demonstrated the effectiveness of this powerful technology to rapidly and covalently conjugate any off-the-shelf antibody in a single step with an imaging agent,” Lévy explained. “Our strategic collaboration with Oncodesign Services allows broader access to and usage of non-invasive imaging applications and provides an innovative solution to biotech and pharma partners to integrate imagery in the development of new antibody- and ADC-based therapeutics.”
This technology is particularly well-suited for the creation of antibody-chelator conjugates that can be labeled with diagnostic or therapeutic radioisotopes, enabling non-invasive monitoring of drug biodistribution and target engagement in animal models. Such capabilities are invaluable for de-risking therapeutic development and optimizing candidate selection prior to human trials.
Empowering Molecular Radiotherapy Through Preclinical Innovation
Under the terms of the agreement, Oncodesign Services will incorporate the AbYlink™ platform into its existing suite of preclinical services. The CRO will use the technology to develop a range of bioconjugated antibody constructs that will be employed in molecular radiotherapy (MRT) studies—an emerging field that includes radioimmunotherapy (RIT) as a key application.
Radioimmunotherapy, in particular, leverages monoclonal antibodies to deliver cytotoxic radiation directly to tumor cells while minimizing exposure to healthy tissues. This approach has shown great potential for treating hematologic malignancies and is now being actively explored in solid tumors with overexpressed surface antigens, such as HER2.
The utility of the AbYlink™ technology in this domain will be showcased at the AACR (American Association for Cancer Research) Annual Meeting 2025, where Debiopharm and Oncodesign Services will jointly present a poster demonstrating preclinical results. The study highlights how the bioconjugation platform was used to generate HER2-targeted radioconjugates, which were then tested in HER2-positive tumor-bearing animal models. The application of non-invasive imaging techniques enabled real-time assessment of tumor targeting and therapeutic response, providing a proof-of-concept for integrating AbYlink™ into early-stage radiotherapeutic development.
This level of insight into pharmacodynamics and biodistribution is crucial for evaluating the predictive effectiveness of new therapeutic approaches and refining dosing strategies ahead of human studies. It also supports translational research efforts by bridging preclinical models with clinical endpoints.
A Strategic Match: Combining Bioconjugation Expertise with CRO Execution
The licensing partnership brings together two organizations with complementary strengths. Debiopharm brings decades of innovation in oncology drug development and platform technologies, with AbYlink™ representing one of its latest contributions to the field. Oncodesign Services, on the other hand, has built a reputation for delivering high-quality, translational research solutions to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide.
Aidan Synnott, CEO of Oncodesign Services, expressed confidence in the transformative impact that AbYlink™ could have on the company’s service offerings. “We are pleased to integrate this cutting-edge technology into our portfolio for our clients,” said Synnott. “The AbYlink™ technology gives the advantage of generating reproducible batches of bioconjugated antibodies and ADCs that secure specificity and efficacy of targeted radiotherapy.”
Oncodesign Services operates across the full drug discovery pipeline, offering capabilities that span in vitro biology, in vivo pharmacology, imaging, and medicinal chemistry. The addition of the AbYlink™ platform enhances its bioconjugation and radiochemistry toolkit, which is vital for companies developing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), radiolabeled biologics, and diagnostic agents.
The move also positions Oncodesign Services to better support the growing number of biotech startups and mid-sized pharma firms that lack in-house radiochemistry expertise but are eager to explore the therapeutic potential of radiolabeled antibodies and imaging-enabled ADCs. With regulatory interest in radioimmunotherapy on the rise, particularly following recent clinical advances and approvals in the space, the need for robust, scalable preclinical solutions has never been greater.
Growing Momentum in the Radiopharmaceutical Sector
The announcement comes amid a surge of interest in radiopharmaceuticals, particularly in oncology, where demand is growing for more targeted, less toxic alternatives to conventional chemotherapies. A number of biopharma companies are investing heavily in radioligand and radioimmunotherapy platforms, with notable partnerships and acquisitions reflecting the commercial momentum in this field.
AbYlink™ fits neatly into this landscape, offering a plug-and-play bioconjugation solution that simplifies and accelerates the development of radiotherapeutic candidates. Its ability to work with commercially available antibodies eliminates the need for complex antibody re-engineering, while its regio-selective chemistry ensures consistent conjugate performance—a crucial factor for downstream regulatory approval.
For Debiopharm, the agreement with Oncodesign Services marks a key milestone in the company’s effort to expand access to its platform technologies through strategic partnerships. It also underscores Debiopharm’s belief in the value of collaborative innovation, where enabling technologies can be broadly applied across a diverse array of therapeutic programs.
As the oncology field continues to evolve toward precision-guided therapies, the integration of non-invasive imaging, molecular targeting, and radiotherapeutic payloads is expected to play an increasingly central role in drug development strategies. The partnership between Debiopharm and Oncodesign Services illustrates how platform technologies like AbYlink™ can bridge the gap between early discovery and clinical translation, providing the tools needed to evaluate therapeutic efficacy with speed, accuracy, and reproducibility.
With the planned AACR 2025 presentation offering a glimpse into the translational potential of AbYlink™, the industry will be watching closely as this collaboration progresses. By leveraging each company’s strengths in bioconjugation and translational research, Debiopharm and Oncodesign Services are poised to contribute meaningfully to the next wave of targeted radiotherapeutics—and ultimately, to better outcomes for patients facing difficult-to-treat cancers.
