The immune system is our first line of defense. When the body detects a virus, bacteria, toxins, or even an open wound, it is this system that comes to our aid to either destroy the pathogen or initiate repair.
When you fight an illness, the immune system responds with inflammation. It’s a natural and important process that allows the body to heal. However, when there is too much inflammation, it can result in a multitude of health problems.
Uncontrolled inflammation is what causes inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) like Chron’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC). These chronic and often debilitating conditions are becoming increasingly common and affect a total of 3 million people in the US, which is roughly 1.3% of the adult population.
IBDs, although hidden, can cause extreme abdominal pain, joint pain, and fatigue, which, during flares, can take a huge toll on one’s lifestyle and mental wellbeing. While existing treatment routes are available, they do not work for everyone – and there is currently no cure for such diseases.
Below we’ve spotlighted Abivax, a clinical-stage biotech who are striving to address this unmet need in IBDs. With their lead drug candidate obefazimod, the company believes they will be able to transform treatment for these patients by developing a novel class of anti-inflammatory drugs.
Founded in 2013 by immunologist Dr. Philippe Pouletty, Abivax is currently headquartered in Paris with US offices in the greater Boston area. Although the company is still at clinical stages, their pipeline and clinical progress have drawn major global attention in recent months – with word on the street being they’re one of 2026’s biotech companies to watch.
According to their website, their mission – opening possibilities through innovative science – is currently to prioritize their lead compound as a potential first-line advanced therapy for IBDs, including ulcerative colitis and Chron’s disease.
This compound, obefazimod, is a ‘the first and only molecule that enhances expression of microRNA-124, a natural regulator of the immune response’ and has potential to establish a new therapeutic class of drugs – which are currently being referred to as miR-124 enhancers.
Abivax’s lead drug candidate is called obefazimod. Designed as an oral, once-daily therapy, the company believes it has the potential to be a differentiated treatment option for IBDs. The compound is thought to stabilize the inflammatory response when it is dysregulated – bringing the immune system back to a stable and optimal state.
In July 2025, Abivax presented data from two phase 3 trial wins in ulcerative colitis where obefazimod showed much promise. According to the press release, the trials enrolled 1,275 patients from around the world, tested two daily doses of the therapy versus a placebo, and recorded 679 people achieving a clinical response.
Excitingly, both studies met their primary and key secondary endpoints – with the treatment generally well tolerated across both groups. As a result of this strong clinical readout, Abivax’s share price surged more than 500% last year, increasing its valuation to €3.5 billion ($4.11 billion).
According to Fierce Biotech, the company ‘plans to submit obefazimod to both the FDA and the European Medicines Agency for approval in the second half of 2026’, which could mean that UC patients will have access to a new treatment option within a matter of months.
This could become a possibility for patients with Chron’s disease too, as Abivax is mid-way through phase 2 testing for this condition. With outcomes and safety measurements also expected later this year, obefazimod’s potential for filling significant unmet needs appears to be on the horizon.
For people who live with these chronic IBDs – and whose symptoms take a toll on pretty much all of life’s aspects – Abivax’s hard work will hopefully provide them with an innovative therapy that will allow them to lead happier lives.
If you’re in the biotechnology space and looking to expand an important team or take the next pivotal step in your career, please reach out to us today. Our industry experts will be able to get the process started for you.
