Resistance to microtubule-targeting agents such as taxanes and vinca alkaloids is often driven by drug efflux and changes in tubulin behavior. Targeting the colchicine-binding site provides an alternative strategy that may circumvent these resistance mechanisms.

Chengdu Origen Biotechnology Co. Ltd. and Vanotech Ltd. have announced IND clearance by the FDA for KHN-921 for the treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) associated with MYBPC3 mutations.

Shanghai Henlius Biotech Inc.’s HLX-48 for injection has received approval from the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) in Australia and been acknowledged by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The first-in-human phase I study in Australia will evaluate HLX-48 in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors.

Gene therapies rely on vectors to reach the target tissue where they act, such as adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) or lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), among other delivery strategies. Each combination is optimized for a specific cell type and indication, aiming to overcome challenges such as efficacy, specificity and toxicity. On May 13, 2026, two sessions included in the scientific symposia of the 29th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT), being held in Boston this week, addressed AAV-related toxicities, which have led to fatal cases in clinical trials and remain an area for improvement in approved therapies.

Circular RNA (circRNA) is not a new concept, but it is a novel strategy in the field of gene and cell therapy. While mRNA vaccines have revolutionized medicine, this RNA fragment without free ends surpasses their performance in both efficacy and durability, bringing it to the attention of several pioneering companies. The latest advances in circRNA presented at the 29th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) clearly surpass the performance achieved with linear mRNA.