Aktis Oncology Inc. has obtained IND approvals from the FDA enabling the company to proceed to a phase Ib trial with AKY-2519, a miniprotein radioconjugate targeting B7-H3-expressing tumors, including prostate, lung and other solid tumors. Specifically, the IND clearances relate to [64Cu]Cu-AKY-2519 for imaging and [225Ac]Ac-AKY-2519 for therapeutic use.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. is taking a neuroplastogen approach to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through its planned $1.22 billion acquisition of Transcend Therapeutics Inc. The deal gives Tokyo-headquartered Otsuka access to Transcend’s lead asset, TSND-201, an oral neuroplastogen that has begun patient recruitment for a phase III study in the U.S.
Endomet Biosciences Inc. (dba Endocyclic Therapeutics) has obtained IND clearance from the FDA for its lead program, ENDO-205, a first-in-class, nonhormonal targeted peptide therapeutic for endometriosis.
Innorna Co. Ltd. has obtained IND clearance from the FDA for IN-026, enabling the company to initiate a phase I study of this mRNA-based therapy for refractory gout.
Shanghai Unixell Biotechnology Co. Ltd. has obtained IND clearance from the FDA for UX-GIP001, its iPSC-derived allogeneic cell therapy for focal epilepsy. A phase I study will evaluate UX-GIP001 in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.
Rapport Therapeutics Inc. added $20 million to its cash runway for its lead phase III oral seizure drug, RAP-219, through a potential $328 million license deal signed with Tenacia Biotechnology Co. Ltd.
Great Novel Therapeutics Biotech & Medicals Corp.’s epigenetic immunoactivator, GNTbm-38, has received IND clearance from the FDA, enabling initiation of a phase I trial in the U.S.
Kestrel Therapeutics Inc. has obtained IND approval from the FDA for KST-6051, an oral, small-molecule pan-KRAS inhibitor being developed for the treatment of KRAS-driven cancers.
Belgian pharma giant UCB SA is putting skin in the bispecific T-cell engager (TCE) game, announcing a potential $1.1 billion deal to license Antengene Corp.’s ATG-201. ATG-201 is a CD19/CD3 bispecific TCE antibody aimed at autoimmune disorders, though specific indications were not disclosed.
In a boon for licensee Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Systimmune Inc.’s next-generation cancer drug, izalontamab brengitecan (iza-bren), hit both progression-free survival and overall survival endpoints in a phase III trial of Chinese patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer.