Servier has joined forces with biotech kyron.bio to develop next-generation antibody therapeutics, targeting breakthrough treatments for oncology and autoimmune diseases. The collaboration will leverage kyron.bio’s proprietary precision glycoengineering platform to optimise a specific antibody candidate selected by Servier.
Unlocking precision glycosylation
While glycosylation is critical to the function of most therapeutic antibodies, achieving precise control over glycan structures has historically been a significant bottleneck in drug design. Traditional cell-based manufacturing often produces a “noisy” mixture of different sugar molecules, leading to unpredictable drug performance. The biotech kyron.bio aims to solve this by providing a scalable method to engineer defined N-glycoforms. This level of control allows researchers to tailor the drug’s efficacy, safety profile and metabolic half-life.
Through this partnership, kyron.bio will put its platform to the test on a specific Servier antibody, proving it can fine-tune the exact sugar structure needed for peak performance. Servier is fuelling the research costs and holds the keys to expand the collaboration into full-scale drug development once these targets are hit.
From mentorship to partnership
The relationship between the two companies began in 2024 when kyron.bio won the Servier Golden Ticket award, set up to support high-potential biotech startups with a suite of high-value resources tailored for the industry. This early-stage support provided the mentorship necessary to validate the platform’s translational potential.
“Precision glycosylation represents a transformative approach in biologics development,” said Dr Emilia McLaughlin, Founder and CEO, kyron.bio. “By engineering defined glycan profiles, therapeutic antibodies can be optimised for improved immune engagement, pharmacokinetics and reduced variability.”
A growing footprint in Paris
A graduate of the French Entrepreneur First scheme, kyron.bio recently bolstered its operations with a €5.5m seed round in 2025. Based at the Paris Biotech Santé hub within Cochin Hospital, the company is positioning itself as a key partner for pharmaceutical players looking to enhance antibody performance.
Dr Emmanuel Nony, Director of External Innovation Europe, 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.”
The partnership marks a significant milestone for kyron.bio as it balances its own internal pipeline with high-value strategic collaborations in the oncology and autoimmune sectors.
