Fabentech has received Marketing Authorisation in France for Ricimed, an antidote designed to treat ricin poisoning, marking a significant milestone for the Lyon-based biopharmaceutical company and for European biodefence readiness.
Ricin is considered one of the most toxic naturally occurring substances and is recognised internationally as a priority biological threat. Exposure can lead to death within hours or days, regardless of the route of entry, and until now no vaccine or specific treatment has been available. Ricimed offers a new therapeutic option for severe cases requiring rapid intervention, complementing supportive care.
The therapy uses polyclonal antibodies to target and neutralise ricin before irreversible damage occurs. Its approval follows evidence demonstrating its ability to counteract the toxin effectively, addressing a long-standing unmet medical need in the management of acute ricin intoxication.
The authorisation also marks a turning point in Fabentech’s commercial development. The company has already secured more than €20 million in multi‑year contracts with several European countries and is preparing for the international rollout of Ricimed.
The programme has been supported by the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs, including the Directorate General of Armaments and the French Military Health Service.
Fabentech’s broader pipeline includes five active programmes focused on medical countermeasures, three of them dedicated to biodefence and two targeting emerging infectious diseases. In 2024, the company received €20 million in financing from the European Investment Bank under the HERA Invest programme to accelerate research, bioproduction and commercial expansion.
Sébastien Iva, Chief Executive Officer of Fabentech, said: “Ricin represents a critical challenge at the crossroads of security and public health. Its toxicity and potential use as a biological weapon make it a major threat, closely monitored by governments and public authorities worldwide. Ricimed contributes to the deployment of a European health shield against intentional biological threats. The granting of this Marketing Authorization represents a decisive step for Fabentech, which now positions itself as the European leader in the fight against biological threats.”
