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08/01/2025 – 01:30 AM
LYON, France–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Breaking: Poxel SA (Euronext: POXEL), the French biopharmaceutical firm grappling with financial headwinds, has announced a major shakeup at the board level as it navigates insolvency proceedings (“déclaration de cessation des paiements“) and seeks court-led restructuring (“redressement judiciaire“) in Lyon.
Just days after announcing an agreement with its senior creditor, Poxel confirmed the immediate resignation of its entire existing board, including Pascale Boissel, Richard Kender, Thomas Kuhn, and Khoso Baluch. The move comes as the company faces significant challenges in the competitive biotech landscape, particularly concerning its innovative treatments for MASH (Metabolic dysfunction-Associated SteatoHepatitis) and rare metabolic disorders.
Effective July 31, 2025, the board has been reconstituted with the co-option of four new directors:
- Ms. Sophie Jacq Lapointe
- Mr. Nicolas Trouche
- Mr. Amit Kohli
- Mr. Alexandre Bragadir
Subject to ratification at the next shareholder meeting, these appointments signal a decisive shift in leadership as Poxel attempts to right the ship. Lapointe and Kohli are considered independent under MiddleNext Code standards. Bragadir’s ties to IPF Partners (a creditor, not a shareholder) preclude independence, as does Trouche’s new role as CEO.
In a swift succession of power, Sophie Jacq Lapointe has been named Chairman of the Board, replacing Khoso Baluch. Adding to the C-suite shuffle, Thomas Kuhn has resigned as Chief Executive Officer, with Nicolas Trouche unanimously appointed as his replacement.
Who are the new players?
Sophie Jacq Lapointe brings over two decades of pharmaceutical experience to the table, boasting executive roles at Roche, Sanofi, and Ipsen. Her expertise lies in commercializing innovative products across oncology, immunology, and rare diseases – a critical area for Poxel. With a proven track record of successful product launches across Europe and emerging markets, her strategic guidance will be closely watched. Lapointe holds a degree from ESSEC Business School.
Nicolas Trouche, formerly with restructuring specialists D&I, takes the helm as CEO amidst the company’s financial restructuring. Trouche’s background spans R&D to turnaround management, including leadership roles at Valeo, Faurecia and Kuka. His experience navigating operational restructurings and building businesses in challenging environments (including guiding a Tier 2 equipment group from €70M to €150M in turnover). He is an engineer in electrical engineering with a PhD in robotics.
Amit Kohli offers a unique blend of scientific, financial, and commercialization acumen, particularly within the diabetes therapy space, where he launched multi-billion euro products. His prior experience includes senior roles at Sanofi and Becton Dickinson. Most recently, he served as CEO of Antev, leading its $75M acquisition by Medicus (NASDAQ: MDCX). Kohli holds an MBA in Finance and a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering.
Alexandre Bragadir, as a Senior Investment Director at IPF Partners, brings a deep understanding of healthcare financing. His role involves structuring and overseeing debt investments in biotech, biopharma, medtech, and digital health – precisely the types of challenges Poxel faces. Bragadir holds a degree from ESCP Europe.
Poxel’s Portfolio: Assets in Play
Poxel’s core focus remains on developing novel treatments for MASH and rare metabolic disorders. Key assets include PXL065, which showed promise in Phase 2 trials for MASH, and PXL770, a potential first-in-class AMPK activator targeting adrenoleukodystrophy and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Its marketed diabetes drug, TWYMEEG® (Imeglimin), is a source of potential royalty revenue via its partnership with Sumitomo Pharma in Japan.
The future of Poxel hinges on the new leadership team’s ability to navigate the restructuring process, optimize its pipeline, and secure additional funding. Investors will be watching closely to see if these changes can reverse the company’s fortunes.
For more information, please visit: www.poxelpharma.com
Disclaimer: Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Poxel does not endorse the content of external hyperlinks.
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