Pierre Fabre and XtalPi Forge AI-Powered Collaboration to Enhance Drug Discovery

New Partnership in Drug Discovery

Castres, France and Shenzhen, November 9, 2026 – In an exciting development in pharmaceutical research, Laboratoires Pierre Fabre and XtalPi (XtalPi Holdings Limited, 2228.HK) have announced a strategic agreement that focuses on enhancing drug discovery through artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics.

This collaboration aims to create innovative clinical drug candidates across several research programs, specifically targeting oncology, dermatology, and rare diseases. By merging their expertise, the two companies seek to tackle challenging medical conditions and develop new therapies where there is an unmet need.

XtalPi, a leader in AI-driven drug discovery, will deploy its integrated AI capabilities and robotics platform to develop novel small-molecule therapeutics designed to target undisclosed structures from the ground up. In parallel, Laboratoires Pierre Fabre will contribute its deep knowledge in disease biology and drug research, concentrating on the selection and advancement of the most promising drug candidates through clinical development.

According to Raymond Zheng, Head of Integrated Drug Discovery at XtalPi, “It is an honor to enter this collaboration with Laboratoires Pierre Fabre, a respected international pharmaceutical company. Our partnership combines XtalPi’s strengths in AI and robotics with the solid expertise of Laboratoires Pierre Fabre in therapeutic development. Our goal is to expedite the progression of promising preclinical drug candidates to assist patients with unmet medical needs.”

Francesco Hofmann, Head of Pharma Research and Development at Laboratoires Pierre Fabre, emphasized the significance of the partnership, stating, “Collaborating with XtalPi is a significant milestone for us. Utilizing XtalPi’s AI expertise to accelerate the delivery of high-quality clinical drug candidates for various target molecules represents a critical addition to our data and AI roadmap and our discovery platform.”

The collaboration marks a strategic enhancement of Laboratoires Pierre Fabre's roadmap for drug research, while also furthering XtalPi's efforts to integrate AI and robotics into de novo drug discovery. Each partner shares a common ambition to explore challenging and historically hard-to-treat target structures that present significant medical needs and opportunities for innovative drug development.

The agreement includes an upfront payment alongside multiple milestone payments and will also lead to a potential economic participation, although specific financial terms have not been disclosed.

For additional information, you can visit Pierre Fabre's website. The partnership is expected to not only streamline the identification of high-quality clinical candidates but also enhance the overall drug discovery process.

As advancements in technology reshape the pharmaceutical landscape, this collaboration stands out as a promising venture, blending cutting-edge technologies with years of accumulated therapeutic expertise. By working together, Laboratoires Pierre Fabre and XtalPi are poised to make significant strides in improving health outcomes through innovative drug development.