Servier, an autonomous international pharmaceutical group governed by a foundation, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Kaerus Bioscience for the acquisition of KER-0193, a potential treatment for Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common genetic cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
This acquisition focuses on Servier's work towards establishing a neurology franchise by expanding its pipeline with assets targeting rare indications for patients with high unmet need.
KER-0193 was discovered and developed by Kaerus Bioscience, a UK-headquartered biotechnology company co-founded by Medicxi in 2016. Kaerus Bioscience successfully completed a Phase 1 clinical study of KER-0193 in healthy volunteers in March 2025, which made sure the treatment was safe as well as better tolerated with excellent pharmacokinetics.
In this partnership, Kaerus Bioscience will receive an upfront payment for the sale of KER-0193 and will also be liable for development and commercial earn-out payments. The total value of the deal could reach up to USD 450 Mn.
Executive Statement
According to Claude Bertrand, executive vice-president of R&D at Servier, KER-0193 is Servier's first asset acquisition in neurology and so marks a significant milestone in their 2030 strategy, reinforcing their long-term commitment to establishing a leading neurology franchise focused on rare diseases. It reflects our determination to build a differentiated pipeline of innovative therapies for patients with underserved needs. They are particularly excited to advance KER-0193 as they believe it holds meaningful promise for patients living with Fragile X syndrome, a condition for which no approved treatment options exist today.
According to Michèle Ollier, venture partner and co-founder of Medicxi, Kaerus Bioscience was created by Medicxi to advance a clear product vision to develop a potential first-in-disease therapy for Fragile X syndrome. They are extremely proud of the cutting-edge scientific progress achieved by the Kaerus team under Dr Ring's leadership and are excited that this deal with Servier will accelerate the development of KER-0193, bringing us closer to ensuring this innovative new therapeutic can reach those patients who are most in need.