The Swiss biopharmaceutical company Debiopharm Research & Manufacturing and French contract research organization Oncodesign Services have announced a strategic license agreement for the use of AbYlink™ technology in preclinical research services, specifically targeting advancements in radiopharmaceuticals and cancer treatment approaches.
AbYlink™, developed by Debiopharm, is a cutting-edge regio-selective bioconjugation technology that enables rapid and covalent conjugation of off-the-shelf antibodies with imaging agents in a single step. The technology is particularly well-suited for preparing conjugates used in therapeutic and non-invasive diagnostic applications.
Strategic Collaboration Details
Under the terms of the agreement, Oncodesign Services will leverage AbYlink™ technology to prepare antibody chelator conjugates for preclinical studies. These studies aim to gain critical insights into the predictive effectiveness of novel treatment approaches in Molecular Radiotherapy, with a particular focus on Radioimmunotherapy for cancer treatment.
Frédéric Lévy, Chief Scientific Officer at Debiopharm, emphasized the technology's capabilities: "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. 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."
Aidan Synnott, CEO of Oncodesign Services, highlighted the benefits for their clients: "We are pleased to integrate this cutting-edge technology into our portfolio for our clients. The AbYlink™ technology gives the advantage of generating reproducible batches of bioconjugated antibodies and ADCs that secure specificity and efficacy of targeted radiotherapy."
Technical Advantages of AbYlink™
The AbYlink™ technology represents a significant advancement in bioconjugation methods. It employs a one-step process that results in stable conjugation at defined and invariable sites on the Fc domain of an antibody, without impacting antigen-binding regions. This approach enables seamless and reproducible conjugation of various payloads—including chelators for radiolabeling, fluorescent dyes, or drugs—to antibodies or antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).
The universal applicability of AbYlink™ has been demonstrated across various antibody isotypes and payloads, making it a versatile tool for researchers developing targeted therapies and diagnostics.
Upcoming Research Presentation
The collaboration will be showcased at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2025 in Chicago, where Debiopharm and Oncodesign Services will present a joint poster demonstrating the use of the non-invasive technology in Radioimmunotherapy. The presentation will specifically focus on targeting animal models bearing HER2+ tumors, highlighting the technology's potential applications in precision oncology.
Growing Interest in Radiopharmaceuticals
The partnership between Debiopharm and Oncodesign Services comes amid growing industry interest in radiopharmaceuticals and bioconjugation technologies. In February 2025, Sydney-based AdvanCell completed a $112 million Series C financing round to expand manufacturing capacity and accelerate clinical development of its radionuclide therapy pipeline.
Industry experts have noted the maturation of bioconjugate technologies. Christian Morello, vice-president and head of the Bioconjugates Business Unit at Lonza, recently highlighted how advanced linker technologies now enable developers to define specific payload-to-antibody ratios, allowing for fine-tuning of benefit-risk profiles for patients.
Company Backgrounds
Debiopharm Research & Manufacturing, a subsidiary of Lausanne-headquartered Debiopharm, manufactures treatments for prostate cancer, breast cancer, and precocious puberty at its Martigny facility in Switzerland. The company employs approximately 200 people and dedicates over 90% of its resources to innovation and drug development, focusing on high unmet medical needs in oncology and infectious diseases.
Oncodesign Services specializes in drug discovery and preclinical development, working with global biopharmaceutical partners to advance therapies in oncology, inflammation, and infectious diseases. The CRO offers integrated services in protein sciences, structural biology, medicinal chemistry, pharmaco-imaging, DMPK, and in vivo/in vitro pharmacology, with facilities in France and the Netherlands.
This strategic collaboration represents a significant step forward in the development and application of targeted radiotherapeutics, potentially offering new pathways for cancer treatment through improved bioconjugation methods and preclinical research tools.
