Antoine Henninot

I trained as a pharmacist, but my fascination with research, particularly in chemistry, guided me toward drug discovery. My pharmacy background has enabled me to collaborate effectively across the various disciplines integral to drug discovery and development. My experience encompasses a broad range of modalities, including peptides, small molecules, and oligonucleotide (delivery), across multiple therapeutic areas such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, immunology, liver diseases, gastroenterology, and reproductive and maternal health.

My academic journey began with pharmacy school, followed by a master’s degree in chemistry and a PhD in medicinal chemistry from the Pasteur Institute in Lille, France, in collaboration with LFB Biotechnology. I moved to the United States to work at Ferring Pharmaceuticals, where I was introduced to peptides and their unique attributes. I worked in peptide chemistry and drug discovery improving potency and properties with a focus on various half-life extension technologies and orally stable gut peptides.
Subsequently, at Takeda in San Diego, I established and led the peptide and bioconjugation team, overseeing multiple peptide drug discovery projects leveraging known hormones or initiating campaigns for de novo ligands using various display technologies. I served as lead chemist on several programs, delivering clinical assets such as TAK-510, TAK-105, and TAK-004. I also contributed to efforts around siRNA delivery using lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and conjugates, spearheading projects that targeted specific cells with siRNA using monoclonal antibodies, antibody fragments, VHHs, and peptides.

At Curie.Bio, I serve as a Drug Maker in Residence and the in-house peptide expert. I dedicate roughly 20% of my time to conducting diligence on peptide and select oligonucleotide-related projects. The remaining 80% of my time is spent leading chemistry efforts for a few Curie portfolio companies. In this role, I work closely with founders to define scientific and strategic directions, design compounds that align with each company’s goals, and oversee execution with CRO to ensure high-quality results.