Paris, 22nd September 2026 – AndzonBio2, a biotechnology company developing next-generation therapeutics for neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, today announced the execution of agreements with Inserm Transfert and the launch of a strategic research collaboration with Inserm, the University of Lille and the University Hospital de Lille to advance a novel small-molecule program targeting ACSL4, a key regulator of ferroptosis and neuroinflammatory processes.
AndzonBio2, a biotechnology company developing next-generation therapeutics for neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, today announced the execution of agreements with Inserm Transfert and the launch of a strategic research collaboration with Inserm, the University of Lille and the University Hospital de Lille to advance a novel smallmolecule program targeting ACSL4, a key regulator of ferroptosis and neuroinflammatory processes.
AndzonBio2 also announces it has secured state funding that will further support this program. The grant comes from the “i-Lab/France 2030” scheme, managed by BPI France on behalf of the French government, and a highly competitive contest recognizing the most innovative startup companies in France. The i-Lab grant that will complement funding provided by AndzonBio2 is a recognition of the potential of the ACSL4 program and the capabilities of AndzonBio2 to accelerate it.
This collaboration significantly expands AndzonBio2’s portfolio of differentiated neuroinflammation programs and reinforces the company’s strategy of combining breakthrough academic discoveries with translational drug development to address major unmet needs in neurological diseases. Under the agreements, the parties will combine AndzonBio2’s expertise in early drug development and translational strategy with LilNCog’s world-known medicinal chemistry and clinical expertise to advance a novel, first-in-class therapeutic program addressing neuroinflammatory diseases.
The ACSL4 program originates from pioneering research led by Pr David Devos and Pr Jamal ElBakali at the LilNCog laboratory (Inserm, Université de Lille, CHU de Lille) in Lille, France. Increasing scientific evidence identifies ferroptosis as a central mechanism contributing to neuronal degeneration across multiple neurological disorders, making ACSL4 an attractive therapeutic target with broad disease-modifying potential. Through this collaboration, AndzonBio2 will leverage its expertise in medicinal chemistry, translational neuroscience and early drug development to advance the program toward key preclinical milestones while exploring multiple neurological indications.
” Our ambition is to build a leading neuroinflammation portfolio in Europe. Adding a differentiated ACSL4 program strengthens our pipeline and illustrates our strategy of identifying exceptional academic science and transforming it into innovative therapeutic opportunities. By combining complementary mechanisms with strong translational development, we aim to create multiple value inflection points and partnering opportunities. We are also honored to receive the funding from the French government through the France 2030 initiative. This provides further recognition of the high scientific quality of the project, its potential to deliver therapeutic solutions, and validation of AndzonBio2’s approach and expertise” said Loïc Lhuillier, Chief Executive Officer of AndzonBio2. ”
Inserm Transfert continues to actively support the AndzonBio initiative, which reflects our commitment to long-term partnerships between academic research, biotech companies and investors.” Said Noémie Pellegrin, Director Business Developing & Licensing at Inserm Transfert.
“We are looking forward to seeing another ground-breaking program born from Inserm’s and its academic partners’ science progress toward therapeutic development through AndzonBio2.” This collaboration represents another important milestone in AndzonBio2’s strategy of assembling a diversified portfolio of mechanism-based neuroinflammation programs supported by leading European research institutions.
About AndzonBio2
AndzonBio2 is a preclinical biotechnology company developing next-generation therapeutics for neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. The company builds a diversified portfolio of CNS-optimized small molecules targeting validated mechanisms of disease, combining breakthrough academic science, translational biomarkers and medicinal chemistry to accelerate the development of disease-modifying therapies. Through strategic collaborations with leading academic institutions and disease foundations, AndzonBio2 is creating multiple value inflection points across its pipeline while addressing major unmet needs in neurological disorders.
About Inserm Tranfert
Inserm Transfert, the private subsidiary of the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), is responsible for the value creation of innovations at Inserm and its academic partners in human health and promotes long-term technology transfers in line with international best practices. Inserm Transfert SA was founded in 2000. It manages, under a Public Service Management Contract (Délégation de Service Public), the entire promotion and transfer of knowledge emerging from the Inserm research laboratories to the industrial world, from invention disclosure to industrial partnerships and start-up incorporation. Inserm Transfert also offers services relating to setting up and managing national, European and international projects, as well as supporting the technology transfer of clinical research and health data/databases. In 2009, Inserm Transfert and Inserm established an investment fund to finance proofs of concept. In 2005, Inserm Transfert Initiative, a dedicated seed money fund for life sciences, was created. Since 2017 a pathway for pre-entrepreneurship supports researchers/inventors who aspire to become involved in entrepreneurship. In 2022, Inserm Transfert decided to become LPs in AFB Fund II to increase the opportunity of investment of seed fund in Inserm Transfert spin-off. Inserm-Transfert is at the origin of the AndzonBio® initiative.
www.inserm-transfert.fr
For more information, please contact:
Loic Lhuillier, PhD
Chief Executive Officer
E contact@andzonbio2.com