Stipple Bio Inc. raised $100 million in a series A financing to support progression of the company’s lead drug, STP-100, an antibody-drug conjugate that binds an undisclosed target, and the company’s Pointillist discovery platform. The round was co-led by RA Capital, a16z Bio+Health and Nextech Invest. Existing investors, including Emerson Collective Investments (managed by Yosemite), GV (Google Ventures), Lola Capital Partners, GordonMD Global Investments and others, also participated in the round.

Researchers from Mabqi SAS presented the preclinical profile of MQI-181, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) composed of a human anti-CD30 antibody (18D03) linked to the cytotoxic payload monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) via a cleavable MC-VC-PAB linker, with a drug-antibody ratio of 4.

Canwell Pharma Inc. has obtained IND approval from the FDA for CAN-016, a novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). The company will initiate a phase I study in patients with HER2-expressing solid tumors who have experienced disease progression following prior ADC therapies.

Akari Therapeutics plc has established a strategic partnership with Wuxi XDC Cayman Inc. to accelerate the development of Akari’s novel PH1 payload. Akari’s lead program, AKTX-101, is initially targeting metastatic urothelial cancer.

Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has announced IND approval by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for SKB-103 for the treatment of advanced solid tumors.

Shanghai Henlius Biotech Inc. has presented preclinical data on HLX-403, its novel anti-CDH17 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), highlighting its potential for gastrointestinal cancers. A first-in-human trial is expected to commence in the third quarter of this year.

Valanx Biotech Gmbh has secured €3 million (US$4 million) in funding to advance its lead antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) program. The financing will enable preclinical development of VLX-ADC-001.