Press Releases

Dijon, October 26, 2022 – Life Science Newswire – Oncodesign Services, a leading Contract Research Organization (CRO) specializing in drug discovery and preclinical services in oncology and immuno-inflammation, and Elyan Partners announce the completion of the acquisition of a majority stake in Oncodesign Services by ERES IV, from its main shareholders, including Mr. Philippe Genne, Founder of Oncodesign Services.

This acquisition is made in partnership with the management of Oncodesign Services led by Dr. Fabrice Viviani and with Dr. Philippe Genne (via his holding company P.C.G.), former CEO and Founder of Oncodesign.

This acquisition marks the culmination of various steps since 30 June, summarized below:

• Separation of the Biotech (Oncodesign Precision Medicine - OPM) andServices (Oncodesign Services - ODS) activities of the Oncodesign Group on 31 August 2022. Each entity, leader in its market, has reached a level of maturity that allows it to act autonomously in rapidly changing markets.
  • ODS, a leader in Drug Discovery services:  With 600 clients in 33 countries and 227 employees worldwide, provides services from target identification to hit-to-lead and lead optimization through to IND filing.
  • OPM, a leader in Precision Medicine: A biopharmaceutical company with several kinase inhibitors expected to enter clinical phase shortly.
• Concurrent listing of OPM on Euronext Access+ on 5 October 2022, with the historical company Oncodesign becoming Oncodesign Services (ODS).

On October 18, 2022, the Board of Directors took note of the resignations of directors, as well as the resignation of Philippe Genne from his position as Chairman and CEO and member of the Board. Jean-François Felix is appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors and Fabrice Viviani is appointed Chief Executive Officer.

Philippe Genne, Founder of Oncodesign said:“We have reached the end of a strategy started in 2020 with the establishment of the Business Units. Over the last few months, we have been able to establish a lasting relationship with Elyan Partners and I am confident that this change will be a development accelerator for Drug Discovery Services that will enable Oncodesign Services to achieve important international commercial successes in the future. A new adventure is beginning, and I am happy to entrust the keys of the Services house to Fabrice Viviani who has demonstrated the full extent of his qualities as the head of the Services BU in recent years.”

This transaction represents a new stage in the life of Oncodesign Services and is being carried out with a continuity of the management team: Fabrice Viviani, who headed the Services part of Oncodesign, is now CEO of Oncodesign Services (ODS) and Philippe Genne, Founder and former CEO of Oncodesign, remains a significant shareholder via his holding company P.C.G. and becomes Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the holding company that acquired ODS.

Fabrice Viviani, CEO of Oncodesign Services, comments: “Today marks a major milestone in the history and trajectory of Oncodesign Services, and I am particularly proud to have been able to contribute with Philippe Genne and his management team, as well as with all of my colleagues, to the growth dynamic of Drug Discovery's service activities, which has been underway for the past few years. We have solid foundations to capitalize on this momentum, and I am delighted to have the support of the Elyan Partners team, who shares our ambition and desire to continue to grow significantly in a service sector that is essential to the discovery of innovative drugs, and to become one of the key European players in drug discovery for our partners and clients of today and tomorrow.”

Jean-François Félix, Vincent Manès and Maxence de Vienne, Partners of Elyan, said: “We are delighted to have reached this important milestone and confirm our intention to support the management team of Oncodesign Services in the pursuit of organic growth, possibly combined with acquisitions aimed at increasing the company's scientific expertise, access to other customers or other geographies.”

About ONCODESIGN SERVICES

Oncodesign Services is a leading CRO specializing in drug discovery and preclinical services in oncology and immuno-inflammation. The company has world-renowned expertise in the preclinical evaluation of proof of concept of new experimental therapies in oncology and immuno-inflammation as well as numerous other skills and expertise in Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaco-imaging, Molecular Radiotherapy (MRT), pharmacokinetics, bio-analysis and humanized models. Based in Dijon, France, in the heart of the university and hospital cluster and within the Paris-Saclay cluster, Oncodesign Services has 227 employees in France, Canada and the United States.

More information on the website www.oncodesign-services.com.

About Elyan Partners

Elyan Partners SAS ("Elyan") is a financial investment advisor and partner of Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity. Elyan is the exclusive advisor to the ERES funds and advisor to the Privilege funds of the Edmond de Rothschild Group. Edmond de Rothschild Equity Strategies IV SLP ("ERES IV") invests in medium-sized companies in Europe and North America, primarily in four themes: the biotech ecosystem, e-commerce, financial services and new consumers.

Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity is the trade name of the Edmond de Rothschild Group's private equity entities and has over CHF 3.4 billion of assets under management. With an entrepreneurial approach to finance and supported by strong convictions, Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity builds and develops differentiated investment strategies that provide a sustainable response to environmental and social issues. Founded in 1953, the Group had nearly CHF 178 billion in assets under management as of 31 December 2021, 2,500 employees and 29 offices worldwide.

About ERES IV

ERES IV is a professional fund managed by Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity (France), authorized by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers ("AMF"), advised by Elyan Partners. ERES IV is a fund registered under French law with the AMF, currently being marketed and reserved for professional investors within the meaning of the MiFID Directive. ERES IV may not be authorized for marketing in the reader's country of residence. Any investment in private equity involves specific risks, including the risk of capital loss, discretionary management and liquidity risk. It is the responsibility of each investor to analyze his risk by reading the fund's regulatory documents, which are available free of charge on request from the management company.

The mention of certain investments does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell the securities or shares of the companies presented