Oncodesign, Navigo End Cancer Deal, Highlighting Biotech Hurdles

DIJON, France – December 29, 2025 – Oncodesign Precision Medicine (OPM) and German biopharma Navigo Proteins have mutually terminated their collaboration to develop next-generation cancer therapies, a move that underscores the high-stakes, high-risk nature of advanced drug discovery. The partnership, announced in May 2024, aimed to combine their respective technologies to create novel radiotheranostic agents for treating resistant and metastatic cancers.

In a joint announcement, the companies attributed the decision to a "standard prioritization process" and "challenges encountered with the first targets selected" within the program's timeline. While the end of any collaboration can signal a setback, the move also reflects the rigorous and often unforgiving realities of early-stage biopharmaceutical research, where companies must constantly optimize resources and pivot away from programs that don't meet demanding early milestones. For OPM, the termination prompts a strategic refocus on its robust internal pipeline and existing key programs.

A Calculated Pivot in a High-Risk Field

The dissolution of the partnership highlights a common narrative in the biotech industry, where scientific promise must consistently align with timelines and resource allocation. Such terminations are an inherent part of the R&D portfolio management that is critical for survival and success. Companies in this space must make difficult decisions to shelve programs that, while scientifically interesting, may not demonstrate the required potential for success quickly enough.

OPM's CEO, Philippe Genne, acknowledged this reality, stating, "This collaboration has enabled us to explore relevant Affilin® leads, even if our collaboration has not demonstrated the expected potential within the program timelines due to the challenges encountered with the first targets selected." He emphasized that the relationship with Navigo remains excellent.

For Oncodesign Precision Medicine, a company trading on the Euronext market under the symbol ALOPM, managing investor expectations and capital is paramount. The company's stock has seen significant volatility over the past year, and strategic clarity is key. The decision to end the Navigo collaboration allows OPM to conserve capital and redirect its efforts toward assets with more immediate or clearer paths to value creation. With a reported cash position of €2.5 million as of mid-2025, supplemented by a research tax credit and an unused equity financing facility, the company's financial runway is a constant consideration in its strategic planning.

Doubling Down on a Diversified Internal Pipeline

With the Navigo partnership concluded, OPM is sharpening its focus on its three core technology platforms and its flagship internal programs. The company's resilience is bolstered by a diversified pipeline that extends beyond radiotheranostics.

A primary focus is the COMETE program (moleCular radiOtherapy for METastatic Colorectal and gastric cancErs), a major strategic initiative that will continue unabated. This project, which aims to develop a portfolio of radiotheranostic molecules for advanced digestive cancers, is a collaboration with local Dijon partners, including the Centre Georges-François Leclerc cancer center and the University of Burgundy's Institute of Molecular Chemistry. The program is backed by a significant grant of up to €7.8 million from the European Regional Development Funds, de-risking its early development and signaling strong regional support for OPM's research.

Beyond COMETE, OPM's pipeline includes several promising candidates derived from its Nanocyclix® platform, which specializes in designing highly selective kinase inhibitors:
* OPM-101, a first-in-class RIPK2 inhibitor, is advancing into a Phase 1b/2a oncology trial for treating advanced melanoma resistant to standard immunotherapies. The trial protocol was accepted in September 2025, with completion anticipated by the end of 2027.
* OPM-201, an LRRK2 inhibitor for Parkinson's disease, was recently reintegrated into OPM's portfolio after Servier, its former partner, strategically shifted its neurology focus. Having successfully completed a Phase 1 trial, OPM now holds full rights to what it considers a potential "Best-in-Class" asset and is actively seeking new partnerships.

The company also continues its work with its OncoSNIPER artificial intelligence platform in a separate partnership with Servier to identify new therapeutic targets in pancreatic cancer, demonstrating that its collaborative strategy remains active where it proves most fruitful.

The Challenging but Promising Frontier of Radiotheranostics

The OPM-Navigo collaboration was aimed at one of the most exciting and complex fields in modern oncology: radiotheranostics. This approach combines diagnostic imaging with targeted radiation therapy, offering a "see what you treat, treat what you see" paradigm. The market potential is immense, with some analysts projecting it to grow from around $10 billion in 2025 to over $34 billion by 2035.

However, the path to developing and commercializing these agents is fraught with challenges that extend far beyond initial target selection. The field grapples with:
* Complex Logistics and Supply Chains: The radioisotopes used have short half-lives, demanding just-in-time manufacturing and delivery to clinical sites.
* Stringent Regulatory Hurdles: As combination products involving both a drug and a radioactive component, radiotheranostics face a complex and evolving regulatory landscape.
* Specialized Infrastructure: Development, manufacturing, and administration require specialized facilities and highly trained personnel, adding significant cost and complexity.

These industry-wide obstacles create a high bar for success, making it understandable why a program might stumble on early "challenges with targets." The failure to quickly validate a target can render the subsequent, and far more expensive, development stages untenable. The termination serves as a practical example of the discipline required to navigate this demanding therapeutic modality.

Separate Paths Forward with Mutual Respect

While the joint program has ended, both Oncodesign Precision Medicine and Navigo Proteins are moving forward independently with their core technologies. Navigo Proteins will continue developing its program based on its Affilin® and HEAD® platform technologies, with a specific focus on gastric cancers and a stated goal of accelerating its path toward human clinical trials.

The amicable tone of the announcement suggests the door remains open for future opportunities. Henning Afflerbach, CEO of Navigo Proteins, commented, “We have enjoyed working with OPM and maintain a strong mutual appreciation for their core expertise...we wish our partner OPM all the best for the future and remain open to discussions when new opportunities arise.”

For OPM, the path forward involves leveraging its PROMETHE® platform to evaluate other vectorization technologies while advancing its COMETE program and its portfolio of kinase inhibitors. By concentrating its resources on its most advanced and promising internal assets, the company is executing a classic biotech strategy: focusing fire on the targets with the highest probability of hitting the mark.