<p>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.</p><p>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. </p><p>He also reveals some of the most shocking lessons he learned from his time at Imcheck.</p><p>---Learn more about Kadans’ Oncology Clusters, where oncology biotechs grow from start-up to global player: <a href="https://bit.ly/kadans-oncology" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://bit.ly/kadans-oncology</a>---</p><p>⭐️ 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.</p><p>🔗 LINKS MENTIONED</p><ul><li>Kadans Oncology Summit — <a href="https://www.kadansoncologysummit.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.kadansoncologysummit.com/</a></li><li>ImCheck Therapeutics — <a href="https://www.imchecktherapeutics.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.imchecktherapeutics.com/</a></li><li>ImCheck ASCO data (2025) — <a href="https://www.imchecktherapeutics.com/all-press-release/news/imcheck-reports-high-remission-rates-in-aml-patients-with-ict01-combination-therapy-at-asco-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.imchecktherapeutics.com/all-press-release/news/imcheck-reports-high-remission-rates-in-aml-patients-with-ict01-combination-therapy-at-asco-2025/</a></li><li>ImCheck acquisition by Ipsen (2025) — <a href="https://www.ipsen.com/press-release/ipsen-to-acquire-imcheck-therapeutics-expanding-its-leadership-in-oncology-strengthening-its-pipeline-3170788/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.ipsen.com/press-release/ipsen-to-acquire-imcheck-therapeutics-expanding-its-leadership-in-oncology-strengthening-its-pipeline-3170788/</a></li><li>Pancreatic cancer ASCO data (2026) — <a href="https://www.asco.org/about-asco/press-center/multi-selective-ras-inhibitor-nearly-doubles-survival-pancreatic-cancer" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.asco.org/about-asco/press-center/multi-selective-ras-inhibitor-nearly-doubles-survival-pancreatic-cancer</a></li><li>Dominik Schumacher, Tubulis 🇩🇪 | Founder-led ADC Biotech ⭐️ | E19 — <a href="https://flot.bio/episode/dominik-schumacher-tubulis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://flot.bio/episode/dominik-schumacher-tubulis/</a></li><li>Ona Therapeutics raises $86.6M — <a href="https://ona-therapeutics.com/press-release/ona-therapeutics-raises-86m/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://ona-therapeutics.com/press-release/ona-therapeutics-raises-86m/</a></li><li>Moderna five-year cancer-vaccine data (2026) — <a href="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/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">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/</a></li><li>Sean Marett 🇩🇪 | BioNTech, Art of Dealmaking | E25 — <a href="https://flot.bio/episode/sean-marett-biontech-dealmaking/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://flot.bio/episode/sean-marett-biontech-dealmaking/</a></li><li>Laurent Levy, Nanobiotix 🇫🇷 | Nanoparticles, Radiotherapy | E45— <a href="https://flot.bio/episode/laurent-levy-nanobiotix-nanoparticles-radiotherapy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://flot.bio/episode/laurent-levy-nanobiotix-nanoparticles-radiotherapy/</a></li><li>Marc de Garidel, Abivax 🇫🇷 | Ulcerative Colitis, Inflammation | E46 — <a href="https://flot.bio/episode/marc-de-garidel-abivax-ulcerative-colitis-inflammation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://flot.bio/episode/marc-de-garidel-abivax-ulcerative-colitis-inflammation/</a></li><li>Jeito Capital €1B fund — <a href="https://www.jeito.life/en/jeito-capital-record-eur-1-billion-fundraise-jeito-ii-fund-therapeutic-innovation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.jeito.life/en/jeito-capital-record-eur-1-billion-fundraise-jeito-ii-fund-therapeutic-innovation/</a></li></ul><p>📜 TRANSCRIPTRead the full transcript here: <a href="https://flot.bio/?post_type=episode&p=961" target="_blank" rel="external noreferrer noopener"><u>https://flot.bio/episode/pierre-d-epenoux-imcheck-oncology/</u></a></p><p>💸 DONATE</p><p>We welcome donations from individuals and businesses to support our podcast and allow us to create even more content: <a href="https://www.paypal.me/PhilipHemme" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.paypal.me/PhilipHemme</a></p><p>⭐️ SPONSORSHIPReady to amplify your brand to influential leaders in biotech and biopharma? Contact [email protected] and unlock sponsorship opportunities in our podcasts!</p><p>🫶 FOLLOW US</p><ul><li>Newsletter: <a href="http://eepurl.com/h_fnmH" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">http://eepurl.com/h_fnmH</a></li><li>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/flot-bio/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.linkedin.com/company/flot-bio/</a></li><li>X (Twitter): <a href="https://x.com/FlotBio" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://x.com/FlotBio</a></li></ul><p>🙏 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.</p><p>🎙️ ABOUT FLOT.BIO</p><p>Flot.bio is a show to watch the best Europeans in biotech to help you grow. Hosted by Philip Hemme. 25k monthly views. Free.</p><p>⏰ TIMESTAMPS</p><ul><li>[00:00:00] Intro</li><li>[00:02:43] Highlights from ASCO 2026</li><li>[00:07:48] ADCs and In Vivo CAR-T: the Next Wave</li><li>[00:11:25] Pierre d’Epenoux Explains How to Stand Out in Oncology</li><li>[00:15:45] Checkpoint Inhibitors and the Rise of Combination Therapies </li><li>[00:21:23] ImCheck: from Inception to Ipsen Buyout</li><li>[00:28:36] Pipeline Focus and French pharma: Why ImCheck Chose Ipsen </li><li>[00:35:55] The Decision to Exit and Shocking Lessons</li><li>[00:42:05] Why Checkpoint Inhibitors Disappointed Beyond PD-1</li><li>[00:43:48] Quick-Fire Questions</li></ul>