Helicore Biopharma Inc. has emerged from stealth with $65 million in series A financing and a focus on first-in-class glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) antagonists for obesity and related conditions. The company’s portfolio includes GIP antibody conjugates designed to address specific obesity subpopulations.

“The [colorectal cancer field is moving, and thankfully it’s moving quickly,” said Marwan Fakih, gastrointestinal specialist at City of Hope, speaking about initial phase II data from Xilio Therapeutics Inc.’s ongoing trial with vilastobart (XTX-101) when paired with PD-L1-blocking antibody Tecentriq (atezolizumab, Roche AG) in metastatic microsatellite stable disease.

Malaria remains a significant global health challenge, causing over 600,000 deaths annually despite existing prevention and treatment measures. Current vaccines and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against Plasmodium falciparum, such as RTS,S/AS01 and R21, primarily target the central repeat region of the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) but have shown limited efficacy in completely preventing infection.

Among the companies to provide updates at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco was Vigil Neuroscience Inc., which has intrigued Wall Street more since the deal signed in December by Muna Therapeutics ApS, of Copenhagen, Denmark, with London-based GSK plc.

Roche AG’s disclosure in December that prasinezumab, partnered with Prothena plc, fell short of its primary phase IIb endpoint put the spotlight on microtubule binding region (MTBR)-targeting therapies in neurological disorders.

Iteos Therapeutics Inc. is advancing EOS-215, an anti-TREM2 monoclonal antibody, toward an IND filing.