Global Finance: What has been your biggest challenge as CFO?

Anne-Laure Autret-Cornet: In the biotech sector, we are always fundraising. In Europe, it is even more challenging, not only because of the economic and political challenges, but also because the markets have been rather sluggish since 2023. That said, OSE managed to secure funding until first-quarter 2027. Of course, the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic were very challenging. The uncertainty and rapid changes in the global market required quick adaptation and strategic financial planning to ensure the stability and continuity of our operations.

GF: Where has the bulk of your energy and time been directed in the last year?

Autret-Cornet: Along with our CEO and chief business officer, I was focused on securing funding for our ongoing and upcoming research and development projects. We received a grant of €8.4 million in non-dilutive public funding to support a Phase 3 clinical trial of our cancer vaccine, Tedopi, in lung cancer. In addition, we signed a major strategic partnership with AbbVie last February. This involves the development of OSE-230, a novel monoclonal antibody, and included an upfront payment of $48 million with potential milestone payments and royalties. And we have ongoing important collaborations with other companies such as Boehringer Ingelheim and Veloxis Pharmaceuticals.

These partnerships underscore our commitment to advancing innovative therapies and highlight the value of our research and development capabilities. All this effort last year, in addition to some positive clinical trial results, has increased confidence in our company, resulting in a solid financial position until 2027 and a stock price increase of around 69% year-on-year.

GF: How important is having a top team?

Autret-Cornet: In small companies like ours, resources are stretched, and so it is critical to have the best talent to achieve our strategic goals. I aim to bring on board team members who not only have the right skills and experience but also align with our company values and culture. As CFO, I also head up human resources, legal, and information technology—so it’s critical to have people who are highly accountable, incredibly engaged, and collaborate well across the organization.

GF: Can European governments do more to boost innovation?

Autret-Cornet: European countries can increase investment in research and development, provide tax incentives for innovative companies, and foster collaboration between academia and industry. We are seeing an increased use of artificial intelligence to speed up drug discovery and development processes. OSE recently announced a strategic collaboration in this space with Scienta Lab, a leader in AI-driven precision immunology.

GF: How are you making use of AI in finance at OSE?

Autret-Cornet: AI has been implemented for two years in our financial system. Already we have seen how it helps improve efficiency, accuracy, and decision-making processes: for example, in predictive analytics, scenario modeling, risk management, and automating routine tasks. I see AI evolving to become an integral part of financial operations, providing deeper insights and enabling more strategic decision-making. Beyond the AI tools we are using in our research and development processes, we are deploying tools that help employees in some of their daily tasks, and I’ll be keeping an eye out to see what more we can do.

GF: What keeps you up at night?

Autret-Cornet: Ensuring the financial health and sustainability of the company is always on my mind. Additionally, staying ahead of market trends and regulatory changes is a constant challenge.