In a sweeping expansion of its cancer drug portfolio, global biopharmaceutical powerhouse Ipsen SAS announced Wednesday that it will acquire French biotech firm ImCheck Therapeutics for up to €1 billion ($1.16 billion), signaling one of the year’s most high-stakes oncology deals.
The transaction, which draws in a consortium of French, European, and U.S. investors, includes an upfront payment of €350 million, with additional milestone-based payouts tied to regulatory and commercial success. The acquisition positions Ipsen to deepen its presence in the global oncology market and push forward groundbreaking immunotherapy research.
Strategic Push Into Cancer Innovation
Ipsen, a Paris-listed pharmaceutical company on Euronext, said the deal is part of its aggressive strategy to broaden its oncology pipeline. At the heart of the acquisition lies ICT01, a clinical-stage program developed by ImCheck that targets acute myeloid leukemia (AML) — an aggressive blood and bone marrow cancer.
David Loew, Ipsen’s Chief Executive Officer, said the acquisition reinforces the company’s mission to bring transformative cancer therapies to patients worldwide.
“The acquisition of ImCheck Therapeutics presents an opportunity for us to expand our oncology pipeline and underscores our commitment to patients,” Loew stated. “With ICT01’s promising data and Ipsen’s development expertise, we aim to launch a Phase IIb/III trial by 2026.”
