ImCheck ex-CEO on ASCO Oncology Trends, $1.2B Exit and French Biotech | Pierre d’Epenoux | E60

After ImCheck’s inception in 2015, Pierre took the helm through clinical development and guided the startup to a $1.2B buyout by Ipsen last year.

In a session at the Kadans Oncology Summit, he talks about how the exit materialised and about the oncology space, including highlights from ASCO 2026, ADCs, in vivo CAR-T and checkpoint inhibitors.

He also reveals some of the most shocking lessons he learned from his time at Imcheck.

---Learn more about Kadans’ Oncology Clusters, where oncology biotechs grow from start-up to global player: https://bit.ly/kadans-oncology---

⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKERPierre has 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, including 9 years at ImCheck and more than 3 years as EVP, Chief Strategy Officer at Theravectys. Prior to this, he also spent 10 years in senior roles in Sanofi and Baxter Healthcare.

🔗 LINKS MENTIONED

• Kadans Oncology Summit — https://www.kadansoncologysummit.com/
• ImCheck Therapeutics — https://www.imchecktherapeutics.com/
• ImCheck ASCO data (2025) — https://www.imchecktherapeutics.com/all-press-release/news/imcheck-reports-high-remission-rates-in-aml-patients-with-ict01-combination-therapy-at-asco-2025/
• ImCheck acquisition by Ipsen (2025) — https://www.ipsen.com/press-release/ipsen-to-acquire-imcheck-therapeutics-expanding-its-leadership-in-oncology-strengthening-its-pipeline-3170788/
• Pancreatic cancer ASCO data (2026) — https://www.asco.org/about-asco/press-center/multi-selective-ras-inhibitor-nearly-doubles-survival-pancreatic-cancer
• Dominik Schumacher, Tubulis 🇩🇪 | Founder-led ADC Biotech ⭐️ | E19 — https://flot.bio/episode/dominik-schumacher-tubulis/
• Ona Therapeutics raises $86.6M — https://ona-therapeutics.com/press-release/ona-therapeutics-raises-86m/
• Moderna five-year cancer-vaccine data (2026) — https://www.merck.com/news/moderna-merck-announce-5-year-data-for-intismeran-autogene-in-combination-with-keytruda-pembrolizumab-demonstrated-sustained-improvement-in-the-primary-endpoint-of-recurrence-free-survival-i/
• Sean Marett 🇩🇪 | BioNTech, Art of Dealmaking | E25 — https://flot.bio/episode/sean-marett-biontech-dealmaking/
• Laurent Levy, Nanobiotix 🇫🇷 | Nanoparticles, Radiotherapy | E45— https://flot.bio/episode/laurent-levy-nanobiotix-nanoparticles-radiotherapy/
• Marc de Garidel, Abivax 🇫🇷 | Ulcerative Colitis, Inflammation | E46 — https://flot.bio/episode/marc-de-garidel-abivax-ulcerative-colitis-inflammation/
• Jeito Capital €1B fund — https://www.jeito.life/en/jeito-capital-record-eur-1-billion-fundraise-jeito-ii-fund-therapeutic-innovation/

📜 TRANSCRIPTRead the full transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/pierre-d-epenoux-imcheck-oncology/

💸 DONATE

We welcome donations from individuals and businesses to support our podcast and allow us to create even more content: https://www.paypal.me/PhilipHemme

⭐️ SPONSORSHIPReady to amplify your brand to influential leaders in biotech and biopharma? Contact [email protected] and unlock sponsorship opportunities in our podcasts!

🫶 FOLLOW US

• Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/h_fnmH
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flot-bio/
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/FlotBio

🙏 LIKE/FOLLOW/REVIEWDid you enjoy the episode? Please hit the like and subscribe button. Also, please let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

🎙️ ABOUT FLOT.BIO

Flot.bio is a show to watch the best Europeans in biotech to help you grow. Hosted by Philip Hemme. 25k monthly views. Free.

⏰ TIMESTAMPS

• [00:00:00] Intro
• [00:02:43] Highlights from ASCO 2026
• [00:07:48] ADCs and In Vivo CAR-T: the Next Wave
• [00:11:25] Pierre d’Epenoux Explains How to Stand Out in Oncology
• [00:15:45] Checkpoint Inhibitors and the Rise of Combination Therapies
• [00:21:23] ImCheck: from Inception to Ipsen Buyout
• [00:28:36] Pipeline Focus and French pharma: Why ImCheck Chose Ipsen
• [00:35:55] The Decision to Exit and Shocking Lessons
• [00:42:05] Why Checkpoint Inhibitors Disappointed Beyond PD-1
• [00:43:48] Quick-Fire Questions