Pierre Fabre Laboratories Strengthen R&D Portfolio and Announce the Acquisition of the Worldwide Rights for PFL-721 and PFL-241
16 June 2025
PFL-721 and PFL-241 are mutant-specific EGFR inhibitors with best-in-class potential, being developed as treatment options for emergent and unmet medical needs in non-small cell lung cancer ("NSCLC")
Castres, France, June 16, 2025 – Pierre Fabre Laboratories are pleased to announce the acquisition from Antares Therapeutics, Inc. (“Antares”), a spin-out of Scorpion Therapeutics, Inc., of the worldwide rights for PFL-721 and PFL-241 (formerly known as STX-721 and STX-241, respectively). Under the terms of the agreement, Pierre Fabre Laboratories will expand its previous agreement with Scorpion Therapeutics to hold the global rights for both assets and will be leading the clinical development of both programs.
PFL-721 is a mutant-specific EGFR exon 20 and HER2 exon 20 inhibitor, soon to transition to dose optimization within a first-in-human trial in NSCLC. PFL-241 is a mutant-specific, brain penetrant, 4th generation EGFR inhibitor, currently in dose escalation in a first-in-human trial, to address C797S resistance mutations in NSCLC patients.
NSCLC is the most common sub-type of lung cancer and various EGFR mutations are the most frequent drivers of NSCLC, occurring in approximately 14-38 percent of tumors, depending on geography. 1, 2, 3
With this agreement with Antares, Pierre Fabre Laboratories now own the global rights for all the assets within our R&D portfolio: exarafenib, PFL-002 (formerly VERT-002), PFL-721 and PFL-241. The R&D team is fully engaged and committed to progress the clinical development of these programs, aiming at providing novel and differentiated precision medicines to patient populations with significant unmet needs.
Pierre Fabre Laboratories is the world’s second-largest dermo-cosmetics company and one of Europe’s leading pharmaceutical laboratories. Its Dermo-cosmetics & Personal Care portfolio includes international brands such as Eau Thermale Avène, Ducray, Klorane, A-Derma, René Furterer, Même Cosmetics, Darrow and Elgydium. Its Medical Care activity covers 5 main therapeutic fields: oncology, dermatology, rare diseases primary care and family health care.
In 2024, Pierre Fabre Laboratories posted 3.1 billion euros in revenues, 71% of which came from international sales in 120 countries. Based in southwest France since its creation and manufacturing more than 90% of its products in France, Pierre Fabre Laboratories employs 10,200 people worldwide. Its R&D budget amounted to 219 million euros in 2024, of which 60% was allocated to targeted therapies in oncology and 35% to skin health and care solutions.
Pierre Fabre Laboratories’ majority shareholder (86%) is an eponymous Foundation, which is recognized by the French government as being a public-interest foundation. Employees constitute the company’s other shareholder. This capital structure guarantees the company’s independence, long-term vision and contribution to the common good. The dividends paid to the Pierre Fabre Foundation contribute to 35 healthcare-access programs deployed in 22 of the least developed countries in the world.
Pierre Fabre Laboratories’ CSR policy has been assessed by AFNOR Certification and has been awarded the “Exemplary” level of its CSR label (ISO 26 000 standard for sustainable development).
For more information, visit www.pierre-fabre.com, @Laboratoires Pierre Fabre, @Pierre Fabre Oncology
References:
1.The Prevalence of EGFR Mutation in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Oncotarget, October 2016
2. EGFR Mutation Incidence in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, J Cancer Res., August 2015
3. Molecular Epidemiology of EGFR Mutations in Asian Patients, PLoS ONE, November 2015