French biotech OSE Therapeutics has shifted focus to its later-stage clinical assets as it looks to prioritise near-term value creation.
OSE’s pipeline rejig comes as Boehringer Ingelheim relinquishes its stake in the company’s clinical-stage metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) therapy, BI 770371, which failed to show efficacy in an exploratory Phase II study (NCT06675929).
Boehringer originally signed a deal expansion with OSE to look into BI 770371’s potential in MASH back in May 2024. According to OSE, this agreement does not impact the oncology-focused agreements the biotech holds with Boehringer.
In line with its three-year strategic plan, OSE is pausing the development of ChemR23-targeted inflammatory disease candidate, OSE-230 – which the company began co-developing with AbbVie in February 2024 after the latter purchased the global rights to the drug for $48m. While AbbVie originally planned to take the reins on this asset’s preclinical and Phase I development, the big pharma company later handed back this responsibility to OSE in a deal amendment made in December 2025.
OSE will also discontinue the preclinical research activities associated with its C-type Lectin-like Receptor-1 (CLEC-1) oncology programme, as it “does not fall within the company’s immediate clinical or partnership priorities”.
OSE’s next steps
Now, OSE will focus on the development of two of its late-stage candidates – including T-cell cancer vaccine, Tedopi (OSE2101). The therapy is currently being evaluated in the Phase III ARTEMIA study (NCT06472245), which is assessing the Tedopi's potential in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors. The study is estimated conclude in December 2028, as per ClinicalTrials.gov. The biotech is also awaiting a Phase II readout of the drug in an investigator-led trial (NCT04713514) in ovarian cancer in Q2 2026.
Meanwhile, the company will also press on with the development of its anti-inflammatory disease interleukin 7 (IL-7) receptor inhibitor, lusvertikimab – which is currently being developed in ulcerative colitis (UC). Recently, lusvertikimab met its primary and secondary endpoints in the Phase II CoTikiS study (NCT04882007) in UC – meaning the company has drafted plans to start a Phase IIb/III trial within this indication in H2 2027.
OSE is also looking to expand lusvertikimab’s therapeutic scope to chronic pouchitis and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). This is due to the strong involvement of the IL-7 receptor in the pathology of both diseases.
CEO of OSE, Marc Le Bozec, said: “These decisions mark a disciplined evolution of our portfolio. By stepping away from selected early-stage programs which were not expected to generate meaningful value inflection points over our three-year strategic program, we are concentrating our resources where OSE can create the greatest value in the near term. This strengthened focus enhances our ability to deliver late-stage clinical progress, secure meaningful partnerships, and accelerate Tedopi and lusvertikimab, the cornerstone assets of our 2026–2028 roadmap.”
Late-stage assets in favour with investors
The tightening of OSE’s pipeline falls in line with several companies taking a similar approach amid geopolitical and funding acquisition challenges.
An example of this is Sarepta Therapeutics, which recently cut 500 jobs in July 2025 as part of its restructuring and pipeline prioritisation efforts. This came amid the public back-and-forth with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over the safety of its Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) gene therapy, Elevidys (delandistrogene moxeparvovec).
Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk also cut 11% of its workforce, equating to 9,000 jobs back in September 2025 as part of a savings plan. The company is currently looking to save funds while it battles for dominance in the obesity market with rival, Eli Lilly.
