Vasthera Co. Ltd. has received IND clearance from the U.S. FDA, enabling it to initiate a phase I trial for VTB-10 for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Vasthera identified a deficiency of the enzyme peroxiredoxin (PRX) in PAH lesions and used its Redoxizyme platform to develop VTB-10, a small-molecule enzyme that precisely replicates PRX function.

Opus Genetics Inc. has obtained IND clearance from the U.S. FDA application for OPGx-BEST1, a gene therapy for the treatment of bestrophin-1 (BEST1)-related inherited retinal disease (IRD).

Hangzhou Qihan Biotech Co. Ltd. has gained IND approval by the FDA for QT-019B, a universal, dual-target CAR T-cell therapy for refractory systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A phase I/II trial will be conducted in the U.S.

Evolveimmune Therapeutics Inc. has gained IND clearance from the U.S. FDA for EVOLVE-104, a novel trispecific T-cell engager for the treatment of solid tumors. The company will begin a phase I trial this year.

K36 Therapeutics Inc. has obtained IND clearance from the U.S. FDA for KTX-2001, a selective, oral, small-molecule inhibitor of nuclear receptor-binding SET domain protein 2 (NSD2), a histone methyltransferase and oncogene that activates gene expression in some cancers.

Proteinqure Inc. has received regulatory clearances from the U.FDA and Health Canada to initiate a phase I trial of lead candidate, PQ-203. The trial will begin in Canada and expand to U.S. sites later in 2025. The FDA also granted PQ-203 fast track designation for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Starlight Therapeutics Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Lantern Pharma Inc., announced that the FDA has cleared STAR-001 (LP-184) in combination with spironolactone for patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) at first progression.

The U.S. FDA has approved Innovent Biologics, Inc.’s IND application to initiate a phase I clinical trial of its oral GLP-1R agonist IBI-3032.

Casi Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced the U.S. FDA has cleared its IND application for CID-103, a monoclonal antibody targeting CD-38 for the prevention of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) of kidney allografts. The company plans to initiate a phase I study in adults with active and chronic active renal allograft AMR.

Hemispherian AS has received IND clearance for GLIX-1 for the treatment of glioblastoma from the U.S. FDA. GLIX-1 targets DNA repair mechanisms, specifically the enzyme TET2, selectively in tumor cells while sparing healthy tissues.