Advanced BioDesign

Lyon, France – November 6th, 2025 –  Advanced BioDesign, a French clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapies for treatment-resistant cancers, today announced the publication of its latest research in HemaSphere, the official journal of the European Hematology Association. The article, titled “Upregulation of ALDH1 as an adaptive epigenetic response to anthracyclines in acute myeloid leukemia”, reveals a previously unknown enhancer-mediated mechanism that drives resistance to anthracycline-based chemotherapy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

The study found two key DNA regulatory sequence – called enhancers – that when cells are treated with daunorubicin, a common chemotherapy drug, enhanced the production of ALDH1A1 and ALDH1A2 genes which are commonly known as marker of resistance.

Importantly, the research shows that co-treatment with DIMATE (named as ABD-3001), a selective ALDH1A1/1A2 inhibitor, synergistically enhances daunorubicin efficacy in resistant AML models, providing strong preclinical evidence for combination strategies. High ALDH1 expression correlates with adverse genetic risk, prior anthracycline exposure, and inferior overall survival, particularly in relapsed/refractory AML.

“This discovery uncovers a critical mechanism of chemoresistance and validates ALDH1 as a therapeutic target in AML,” said Ismail CEYLAN, CEO of Advanced BioDesign. “It reinforces our clinical strategy to evaluate ALDH1 inhibition as currently being evaluated in our first-in-human ODYSSEY trial, but also we can now elaborate of potential combination with standard chemotherapy.”

The ODYSSEY trial is enrolling patients with relapsed/refractory AML to assess the clinical benefit of Advanced BioDesign’s proprietary ALDH1 inhibitor, ABD-3001, in monotherapy. These findings support the rationale for future combination approaches aimed at improving outcomes for patients with high-risk AML.

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About Acute Myeloid Leukemia

AML represents a $1.5 billion global market, with limited innovation in frontline and salvage settings. Despite the introduction of targeted therapies, anthracycline-based chemotherapy remains a backbone of treatment, and resistance continues to drive poor outcomes. By addressing a key resistance mechanism, Advanced BioDesign’s ALDH1-targeted approach has the potential to transform the standard of care, expand into combination regimens, and capture significant share in both relapsed/refractory and high-risk AML segments. Beyond AML, ALDH1 inhibition opens opportunities in solid tumors and other hematologic malignancies, creating a multi-billion-dollar market potential.

About ABD-3001

ABD-3001 is the pharmacological form of DIMATE, a first-in-class « suicide » inhibitor of class 1 aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDH1). This innovative molecule was developed to target a key survival mechanism of cancer cells. It works by blocking ALDH, which tumor cells often use to protect themselves from oxidative stress. By inhibiting this enzyme, DIMATE creates an internal imbalance that leads to cancer cell death, while largely sparing healthy cells. This approach aims to overcome resistance mechanisms to standard chemotherapy.

Currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial, ODYSSEY, ABD-3001 could offer an innovative therapeutic option for patients with no remaining treatment alternatives.

About Advanced BioDesign  

Advanced BioDesign is a biotechnology company dedicated to developing innovative therapies targeting metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer. The company’s proprietary platform focuses on aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) inhibition to overcome resistance and eradicate cancer stem cells.. Its first drug candidate, ABD-3001, a first-in-class « suicide » inhibitor of class 1 aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDH1) ius being developed for the treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). In January 2022, Advanced BioDesign obtained authorization from the French Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Médicament (ANSM) to launch its first human clinical trial, ODYSSEY, which began in November 2022. Based in Lyon, Advanced BioDesign is supported and accompanied by Xerys Invest funds, which have been financing its research and development programs since 2013.

For more information: https://www.a-biodesign.com; LinkedIn @Advanced BioDesign   

About Xerys Invest   

Xerys Invest is a French private equity firm that invests mainly in today’s significant sectors such as Health & Life Sciences and GreenTech. Xerys Invest thus supports companies in industrial sectors that are going through major transformations that meet economic, environmental, and societal challenges and that have strong ambitions in terms of development and international expansion. Xerys Invest stands out on the market both by its modus operandi and long-term strategic and operational support for the companies held in its portfolio and by its offer of traced or pooled investment opportunities offered to investors and the relationship with them. Finally, Xerys Invest has real sector expertise, supported by a strategic committee made up of specialists and recognized experts in key sectors. 

For more information: https://www.xerys.com; LinkedIn @Xerys.  

Contacts:  

Advanced BioDesign 

Ismail Ceylan ismail.ceylan@a-biodesign.com