Poxel Appoints Yves Decadt as Chief Executive Officer to Lead Next Phase of Growth and Strategic Development
French biopharmaceutical company Poxel has announced the appointment of Yves Decadt as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective June 10, 2026. The leadership transition marks a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing recovery and growth strategy following a major restructuring process that began in 2025.
Decadt succeeds Nicolas Trouche, who was appointed to guide the company through a critical period of financial and operational restructuring. His mandate focused on supporting the development and implementation of Poxel’s Continuation Plan, a recovery strategy designed to stabilize the company and position it for long-term success. The transition had been planned as part of the company’s governance roadmap and was scheduled to take place during the first half of 2026.
The Board of Directors acknowledged Trouche’s contribution during one of the most challenging periods in Poxel’s history, crediting his leadership with helping the company navigate a complex restructuring process and laying the groundwork for future growth.
A Planned Leadership Transition
Poxel’s announcement underscores that the appointment of Yves Decadt is not a change in strategic direction but rather a continuation of the transformation initiated by the company’s leadership team since mid-2025.
Decadt has been closely involved in shaping Poxel’s strategy for nearly a year. He joined the company’s Board of Directors in October 2025 and has worked extensively with management teams on evaluating business opportunities, reviewing the company’s asset portfolio, and identifying pathways to maximize shareholder value.
His appointment is viewed as a natural progression of the governance and recovery initiatives already underway. Having participated directly in the development of the Continuation Plan approved by the Lyon Commercial Court in January 2026, Decadt is expected to oversee its operational execution while pursuing new commercial and development opportunities.
The Board believes his experience in pharmaceutical business development, licensing, and international partnerships will be instrumental in advancing the company’s priorities and strengthening its position within global healthcare markets.
Focus on Commercial Expansion and Strategic Partnerships
One of Decadt’s primary responsibilities as CEO will be accelerating partnership discussions related to Imeglimin, Poxel’s flagship metabolic disease therapy.
Imeglimin has already achieved commercial success in Japan, where it is approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The company now aims to expand the product’s reach into additional markets, particularly across Asia.
China and other Asian countries are expected to represent major growth opportunities because of the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes and the need for innovative treatment options. Securing licensing agreements and commercial partnerships in these regions remains a key component of Poxel’s growth strategy.
Under Decadt’s leadership, the company intends to intensify discussions with potential pharmaceutical partners capable of supporting regulatory, commercial, and market-access activities in target territories.
The company believes that expanding Imeglimin’s global footprint could significantly enhance its commercial prospects while generating new revenue streams that support future research and development activities.
Advancing the Development of PXL065
In addition to expanding Imeglimin’s commercial opportunities, Decadt will oversee the continued development of PXL065, another important asset within Poxel’s pipeline.
PXL065 is currently being evaluated for two significant disease areas: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a chronic cardiovascular condition characterized by abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, which can impair cardiac function and lead to serious complications. The disease remains an important area of unmet medical need despite recent advances in treatment options.
MASH, previously known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is a progressive liver disease associated with metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. The condition has become a major focus of pharmaceutical research due to its growing prevalence worldwide and limited treatment options.
Poxel sees substantial value in advancing PXL065 across these indications and intends to continue investing resources into clinical and development activities designed to unlock the asset’s therapeutic and commercial potential.
Extensive Experience Across the Pharmaceutical Industry
Yves Decadt brings more than 25 years of international pharmaceutical and healthcare experience to his new role.
A significant portion of his career was spent at Johnson & Johnson, where he worked for nearly two decades in international business development. During this period, he was responsible for licensing activities, strategic alliances, and contract negotiations involving pharmaceutical products and healthcare technologies.
His experience includes extensive engagement with Asian healthcare markets, providing him with a deep understanding of the region’s regulatory environments, commercial dynamics, and partnership ecosystems.
Beyond Johnson & Johnson, Decadt has held senior leadership positions within both biopharmaceutical and medical technology organizations, further broadening his expertise in corporate strategy, product commercialization, and business development.
His background aligns closely with Poxel’s current priorities, particularly as the company seeks to establish international partnerships and maximize the value of its clinical-stage and commercial assets.
Key Contributor to Poxel’s Recovery Strategy
Although officially appointed CEO in June 2026, Decadt has already played a major role in Poxel’s recent transformation.
Since August 2025, he has worked closely with the company as a strategic consultant, helping leadership evaluate the company’s operations and long-term opportunities.
One of his most significant contributions was leading a comprehensive strategic review of Poxel’s asset portfolio. The findings of that review became a foundational component of the recovery plan ultimately presented to creditors and approved by the court.
The review helped identify priority assets, assess commercialization opportunities, and establish a roadmap for sustainable growth.
Decadt also played a key role in negotiating and completing the sale of PXL770 to SCYNEXIS. The transaction represented an important strategic decision for Poxel, allowing the company to monetize a non-core asset while generating resources that could be redirected toward higher-priority programs.
Management viewed the sale as a crucial step in streamlining operations and strengthening the company’s financial position during its restructuring process.
Strong Academic and Governance Credentials
In addition to his extensive industry experience, Decadt possesses a diverse educational background that combines scientific, business, and governance expertise.
He holds degrees in bioengineering and industrial management from the University of Ghent and the Vlerick School. He also earned qualifications in pharmacology and pharmaceutical medicine from the Université Libre de Bruxelles.
Recognizing the growing importance of corporate governance in the life sciences industry, Decadt also completed Board Director certification through Duke University.
These academic credentials complement his practical experience and provide a strong foundation for leading a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company navigating both scientific and commercial challenges.
Board Expresses Confidence in New Leadership
Sophie Jacq Lapointe, Chairwoman of Poxel’s Board of Directors, described Decadt’s appointment as a logical next step in strengthening the company’s leadership structure.
According to Lapointe, his detailed understanding of the company’s assets, combined with his pharmaceutical business development expertise and extensive network throughout Asia, positions him uniquely to secure the partnerships needed to create long-term value for shareholders and other stakeholders.
The Board believes that maintaining continuity while introducing commercially focused leadership will help accelerate execution of the company’s strategic objectives.
As he assumes leadership of Poxel, Decadt inherits a company that has emerged from a difficult restructuring period with renewed focus and a clearly defined roadmap.
In his first comments as CEO, he emphasized the commercial potential of the company’s portfolio, particularly Imeglimin, whose success in Japan has demonstrated its value as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. He stated that securing strategic partnerships to expand the reach of Poxel’s assets will be an immediate priority.
Outgoing CEO Nicolas Trouche expressed confidence in the transition, thanking shareholders, creditors, partners, and employees for their support throughout the restructuring process. He noted that he and Decadt had worked closely together to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities and continuity of operations.
With a recovery plan now in place, an experienced leadership team, and a renewed emphasis on partnerships and asset development, Poxel is entering a new chapter focused on commercial execution, pipeline advancement, and long-term value creation. Under Yves Decadt’s leadership, the company aims to build on the progress achieved during its restructuring and position itself for sustainable growth in the global biopharmaceutical market.
About Poxel
Poxel S.A. is a biopharmaceutical company whose shares are listed on Euronext Paris (ISIN: FR0011428571 – symbol: POXEL). The Company conducts its business under a Continuation Plan approved by the Lyon Commercial Court in January 2026. Its portfolio includes Imeglimin (TWYMEEG®, marketed in Japan by Sumitomo Pharma for the treatment of type 2 diabetes) and PXL065 (a clinical candidate for HCC). The Company has also transferred PXL770 to Scynexis as part of the implementation of its continuation plan.
