In October, the Nobel Committee awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Shimon Sakaguchi, Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell for their discoveries in the field of autoimmunity. As has become typical for the scientific Nobel Prizes, the award-winning research is by now several decades old. But the discoveries were the basis for ongoing research into how to prevent autoimmunity that notched significant wins in 2025, in both basic research and in the clinic.

Secondary lymphedema is a chronic condition that often affects the upper or lower extremities and is characterized by progressive retention of lymphatic fluid at affected sites. At the affected sites, this progressive fluid retention often leads to pain, decreased function and wounds. The condition is commonly associated with cancer surgery that requires the removal of draining lymph nodes.

In October, the Nobel Committee awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Shimon Sakaguchi, Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell for their discoveries in the field of autoimmunity. As has become typical for the scientific Nobel Prizes, the award-winning research is by now several decades old. But the discoveries were the basis for ongoing research into how to prevent autoimmunity that notched significant wins in 2025, in both basic research and in the clinic.

Zelluna ASA has submitted a clinical trial application (CTA) to the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for ZI-MA4-1 (ZIMA-101), the company’s lead candidate. ZI-MA4-1 is a novel MAGE-A4-targeting T-cell receptor-natural killer (TCR-NK) therapy.

Vycellix Inc. has successfully completed preclinical development for its universal cell engineering platform (VY-UC) and will now seek clinical trial clearance in Sweden to begin a phase I study of VNK-101, an allogeneic natural killer (NK) cell therapy engineered with VY-UC for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

Shares of San Diego-based Capricor Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: CAPR) closed Dec. 3 at $29.96, up $23.60, or 371%, as investors cheered top-line data from the pivotal phase III Hope-3 trial testing cell therapy deramiocel in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Immunotherapy-focused biotech company LTZ Therapetics Inc. and GSK plc are partnering to develop up to four potential first-in-class myeloid cell engagers using LTZ’s immune-engager platform to target blood cancers and solid tumors.

Fibrobiologics Inc. has received public and private Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) approvals in Australia for a phase I/II trial evaluating CYWC-628 for the treatment of refractory diabetic foot ulcers.