Company Description
Biophytis SA (BPTS) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that focuses on the development of drug candidates for age-related diseases. According to company disclosures, its lead investigational product is BIO101 (20-hydroxyecdysone), a small molecule being developed across several therapeutic areas that include muscular, respiratory and metabolic disorders. Biophytis is described as a clinical-stage company because its programs are in human trials rather than commercial use.
The company reports that BIO101 is in development for muscular diseases such as sarcopenia and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), for respiratory disease in severe forms of COVID-19, and for metabolic disease in obesity. In multiple press releases, Biophytis states that its sarcopenia program with BIO101 is "phase 3 ready" and that a phase 1–2 study in DMD is planned. The company also reports completion of a phase 2–3 study (the COVA program) in severe COVID-19 and preparation of a phase 2 program (the OBA study) in obesity.
Therapeutic focus and clinical programs
Biophytis describes itself as specializing in age-related diseases, with a focus on conditions where muscle function, respiratory capacity, and metabolic regulation are impaired. Across its communications, the company consistently highlights BIO101 (20-hydroxyecdysone) as its lead drug candidate. The molecule is being evaluated in several named programs:
- SARA program (sarcopenia): Development of BIO101 in sarcopenia, which the company associates with age-related loss of muscle mass and function. Biophytis notes that this program has achieved results it characterizes as significant in terms of efficacy and safety, and that the program is described as phase 3 ready.
- MYODA program (Duchenne muscular dystrophy): Development of BIO101 for non-ambulant DMD patients with respiratory involvement. Biophytis states that it has obtained orphan drug designation for BIO101 in DMD in both Europe and the United States and that it is preparing a phase 1–2 clinical trial protocol in this indication.
- COVA program (severe COVID-19): A phase 2–3 clinical study of BIO101 in adults hospitalized for severe forms of COVID-19. The company reports that this program has completed its phase 2–3 study and that results show a favorable safety profile and a reduction in the relative risk of early respiratory failure or death, as well as a reduction in death rate over 90 days, as presented at a scientific congress.
- OBA program (obesity): A phase 2 clinical study design in obesity and overweight patients treated with GLP‑1 receptor agonists and hypocaloric dieting. Biophytis describes the OBA study as a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial intended to assess the efficacy and safety of BIO101 in this population, with primary and secondary endpoints focused on muscle strength, mobility and body composition.
In its public communications, Biophytis emphasizes the potential role of BIO101 in preserving muscle mass, strength and function in patients with obesity who are treated with GLP‑1 receptor agonists. It also highlights the potential of BIO101 to improve respiratory capacity and quality of life in non-ambulant DMD patients and to address severe forms of COVID‑19, particularly in older patients with co-morbidities.
Geographic footprint and listings
Biophytis states that it is based in Paris, France, and Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. In some disclosures it also refers to a subsidiary in Brazil. The company’s ordinary shares are listed on Euronext Growth Paris under the ticker ALBPS, and its American Depositary Shares (ADSs) are listed on the OTC market under the ticker BPTSY. The Stock Titan symbol BPTS corresponds to the company’s presence in U.S. markets via these depositary shares.
Biophytis has also reported entering into regional agreements and partnership activities. For Latin America, the company announced an exclusive license agreement with Blanver, a Brazilian pharmaceutical company, covering the registration, marketing and commercialization of BIO101 in indications that include obesity, respiratory infections due to COVID‑19, sarcopenia and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Biophytis states that under this agreement it may receive upfront and milestone payments up to a specified amount, as well as royalties on net sales in the collaboration territory.
Partnership and regional strategies
The company describes a strategy of regional pharmaceutical partnerships to support the development and potential commercialization of BIO101. In Latin America, Biophytis reports that Blanver will handle registration and commercialization of BIO101 once clinical development is successfully completed and marketing authorizations are obtained. The company also indicates that it is pursuing partnership development in Asia, including contracts with local agents in Japan, South Korea, China and Southeast Asia to help identify partners for BIO101 in those markets.
Biophytis communications highlight Asia, and particularly countries such as China and Japan, as important potential markets for sarcopenia, citing the large number of older adults affected. The company links these regional initiatives to its broader goal of deploying BIO101 across multiple geographies through co-development and licensing agreements rather than direct commercialization alone.
Financing approach
As a clinical-stage biotechnology company without reported product revenues, Biophytis describes its activities as funded through a combination of equity, bond financing and non-dilutive funding. In several news releases, the company explains that it has used a bond financing line with Atlas, a specialized investment fund, structured as bonds redeemable in cash and in new and existing shares (ORNANE). Biophytis has disclosed amendments extending this financing facility over multiple years, with the aim of supporting its clinical programs, including the OBA obesity program and the MYODA DMD program.
The company also notes that this type of financing can lead to dilution for existing shareholders and potential downward pressure on the share price when shares issued upon bond conversion are sold into the market. Biophytis has explicitly cautioned investors about these risks in its own communications. In addition, the company refers to non-dilutive financing such as subsidies and tax-related pre-financing in France.
Regulatory interactions and disclosures
Biophytis is a foreign private issuer under U.S. securities laws and files reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Form 6‑K current reports. These filings typically furnish press releases related to clinical milestones, regulatory authorizations, financing events and financial results. Examples cited in recent filings include announcements about:
- Obtaining Investigational New Drug (IND) approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the phase 2 OBA study in obesity.
- Filing an IND for the OBA obesity study with the FDA.
- Receiving orphan drug designation and preparing a phase 1–2 MYODA study in DMD.
- Presenting phase 2–3 COVA results in severe COVID‑19 at a scientific congress.
- Extending or completing bond financing lines.
- Publishing financial results for specific periods.
- Obtaining regulatory authorizations in Europe for sarcopenia and obesity trials, as reflected in later Form 6‑K filings.
Through these disclosures, investors can follow the evolution of Biophytis’s clinical pipeline, regulatory status and funding arrangements. The company also holds shareholder meetings and provides related documentation, as indicated by its notice of a combined general meeting.
Company status
Available SEC filings and company news describe Biophytis as an ongoing clinical-stage biotechnology company. The filings provided include multiple Form 6‑K reports in 2025 covering clinical strategy announcements, regulatory approvals, financing developments, and financial reporting. One filing notes a temporary suspension of trading of its shares, but there is no reference in the supplied documents to deregistration, delisting filings such as Form 25, or bankruptcy proceedings. Based on the information provided, Biophytis continues to report on its operations and clinical plans.
How Biophytis fits within pharmaceutical preparation manufacturing
Within the broader category of pharmaceutical preparation manufacturing, Biophytis positions itself as a developer of drug candidates rather than a commercial manufacturer of approved products. Its activities, as described in company communications, center on clinical research, regulatory interactions, and partnership-building around BIO101. Manufacturing aspects are addressed through third parties; for example, the company reports that Seqens, a contract development and manufacturing organization, has produced the first GMP-compliant industrial-scale batch of BIO101 for use in clinical development in DMD.
For investors and observers, Biophytis represents a biotechnology issuer whose value proposition is tied to the progress and outcomes of its clinical programs in sarcopenia, DMD, severe COVID‑19 and obesity, and to its ability to secure partnerships and financing aligned with these programs.