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Agenus Announces Closing of $141M Strategic Collaboration with Zydus Lifesciences to Advance BOT+BAL and Strengthen U.S. Manufacturing Readiness

On January 15, 2026 Agenus Inc. (Nasdaq: AGEN), a leader in immuno-oncology innovation, reported the closing of its previously disclosed strategic collaboration with Zydus Lifesciences Ltd. The agreement is designed to accelerate global development and potential commercialization of Agenus’ botensilimab and balstilimab (BOT+BAL) immunotherapy combination program.

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The collaboration provides Agenus with strategic capital and committed, long-term biologics manufacturing capacity in the United States to support BOT+BAL clinical development, authorized early access pathways, and commercial supply preparation.

As part of the collaboration, Agenus has granted Zydus exclusive rights to develop and commercialize BOT and BAL in India and Sri Lanka, with Agenus eligible to receive royalties on net sales in those territories.

The collaboration, first announced on June 3, 2025, included the following key financial terms:

Upfront Consideration: $75 million cash payment to Agenus for transfer of biologics manufacturing facilities in Emeryville and Berkeley, California
Equity Investment: $16 million purchase by Zydus of Agenus (AGEN) common stock (~2.1 million shares at $7.50 per share)
Contingent Milestone Payments: Up to $50 million payable to Agenus, triggered by BOT+BAL production orders
Exclusive License: Zydus obtains exclusive rights to develop and commercialize BOT and BAL in India and Sri Lanka, with Agenus eligible to receive a 5% royalty on net sales in those territories
"Closing this collaboration with Zydus strengthens our balance sheet and, critically, secures dedicated U.S. manufacturing capacity at a pivotal moment for Agenus," said Dr. Garo Armen Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Agenus. "With these foundations in place, our focus in 2026 is disciplined execution—advancing our Phase 3 program, broadening paid patient access through authorized pathways, and progressing toward regulatory submission supported by one of the most substantial clinical datasets generated in MSS colorectal cancer."

In 2025, the BOT+BAL combination demonstrated a two-year overall survival rate of 42% and a now-mature median overall survival of 21 months in an expanded cohort of 123 patients with third-line or later microsatellite-stable (MSS) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) without active liver metastases. Building on these results, Agenus, in collaboration with Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) has initiated the global BATTMAN Phase 3 trial, with sites activated and prepared to enroll patients.

Following the closing, the Emeryville and Berkeley, California biologics manufacturing facilities will be transferred to Zydus and housed under a newly formed subsidiary named Zylidac Bio LLC. Agenus has secured committed manufacturing capacity at these U.S. sites to support BOT+BAL supply needs for their clinical trials, global access programs and future commercialization.

This transaction further positions Agenus to execute on its near- and long-term strategy as interest in BOT+BAL continues to grow globally.

Commenting on the finalization of the deal, Dr. Sharvil P. Patel, Managing Director of Zydus Lifesciences Limited., stated, "With this deal, Zylidac Bio LLC will now provide biologicals manufacturing sites offering CDMO services to biopharmaceutical companies globally. This supports the evolving landscape of biological product manufacturing in the U.S., which prioritizes secure, domestic, and high-quality supply chains for advanced therapies. Zylidac Bio LLC offers a critical, compliant solution for global innovators and allows for a localized supply chain. It reinforces our ability to serve the international biopharmaceutical industry with reliability and innovation."

Advisors

As part of this effort, Agenus was advised by Porrima Ltd and Biotech Value Advisors (BVA), who provided guidance on partner selection, transaction structure, and negotiations.

(Press release, Agenus, JAN 15, 2026, View Source [SID1234662065])

Ono Shares Replay Information for 44th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference Presentation

On January 15, 2026 Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (TSE:4528), reported that Toichi Takino, President and COO, presented at the 44th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 11:15 a.m. PST / 2:15 p.m. EST.

An audio recording of the event is available here and accessible until February 15, 2026.

(Press release, Ono, JAN 15, 2026, View Source [SID1234662064])

First Patients in the UK Receive Doses of Blue Earth Therapeutics’ Investigational Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Lutetium (177Lu) rhPSMA-10.1 Injection for Metastatic Castrate Resistant Prostate Cancer

On January 15, 2026 Blue Earth Therapeutics reported that the first patients in the UK have been administered with the investigational radiopharmaceutical therapy Lutetium (177Lu) rhPSMA-10.1 Injection in an ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial (NCT05413850) at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and The James Cook University Hospital. This milestone marks continued expansion of the clinical development programme for the company’s radiohybrid, lutetium-labelled, PSMA-targeted investigational radiopharmaceutical therapy in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Dr Kenrick Ng, Medical Oncology Consultant, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, said: "Dosing one of the first patients in the UK in this Phase 2 study is an important milestone as we work to advance new therapeutic options for men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Radiopharmaceuticals represent a promising area of investigation in this difficult-to-treat setting, and the team at our hospital is pleased to contribute to the generation of the clinical evidence needed to understand the potential of this investigational treatment."

Dr Darren Leaning, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, said: "Bringing this study to the UK is an important step in expanding access to complex radiopharmaceutical trials. Delivering studies of this kind requires close collaboration across clinical, research, and nuclear medicine teams, we at the James Cook Cancer Institute pride ourselves on bringing studies like this to our Teesside patients and we are pleased to be working with colleagues at other NHS trusts and the radiopharmaceutical industry to support the generation of high-quality clinical data for patients with advanced prostate cancer."

The milestone of administering the first doses to patients in the UK highlights growing momentum for the Lutetium (177Lu) rhPSMA-10.1 Injection clinical programme. Other sites in the UK are actively screening patients for this study. Activation of UK clinical sites broadens the study’s international footprint and supports the generation of high-quality evidence across multiple healthcare settings. The expansion supports ongoing efforts to evaluate novel dosing strategies and contributes to the future global development of this PSMA-targeted radioligand therapy.

David Gauden, CEO of Blue Earth Therapeutics, said: "Dosing the first patients in the UK marks a pivotal step in our mission to advance radiopharmaceutical treatments for prostate cancer. With our company being headquartered in the UK, this milestone reflects our commitment to the UK’s life sciences vision to accelerate clinical research and translate innovation into meaningful patient benefit. We are proud to work in partnership with UK investigators, the NHS and patients to help strengthen the UK’s position as a global leader in life sciences excellence."

The Phase 2 is evaluating multiple strategies to optimise dosing by delivering higher radiation doses during the early treatment cycles when tumour burden is typically greatest. This approach differs from earlier pivotal studies of radioligand therapies where fixed dosing was applied uniformly across all cycles(2). The study design aligns with the US FDA’s Project Optimus initiative, which encourages dose optimisation early in development to support a favourable benefit–risk profile.

Front loading of radioactivity in Phase 2 will be achieved either by (a) giving higher radioactivity injections in the first two cycles or (b) shortening the interval between the first three injections of radioactivity from six weeks to three weeks. The study also evaluates the potential clinical benefit of delivering higher cumulative administered radioactivity, up to 60 GBq. As part of the study design, the primary measure of efficacy will be the proportion of patients achieving a ≥50% reduction in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels alongside a detailed assessment of safety and capturing radiation dosimetry data for all patients.

About metastatic prostate cancer

In 2025 it is estimated that there will be 50,055 new cases of metastatic prostate cancer in the United States (de novo diagnoses plus recurrence from earlier stage diagnoses).(3) Five-year survival for newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer is low, 36.6%.(4) While death rates from prostate cancer have declined over the past three decades(4), there is still considerable room to improve patient outcomes.

About Radiohybrid Prostate‐Specific Membrane Antigen (rhPSMA)

rhPSMA compounds are referred to as radiohybrid ("rh"), as each molecule possesses four distinct domains. The first consists of a Prostate‐Specific Membrane Antigen‐targeted receptor ligand. It is attached to two labelling moieties which may be radiolabelled with diagnostic isotopes such as 18F or 68Ga for PET imaging, or with therapeutic isotopes such as 177Lu or 225Ac for radioligand therapy, all of which are joined together by a modifiable linker which can be used to modulate important pharmacokinetic characteristics. Radiohybrid PSMA offers the potential for targeted treatment for men with prostate cancer and originated at the Technical University of Munich, Germany. Blue Earth Diagnostics acquired exclusive worldwide rights to rhPSMA diagnostic imaging technology from Scintomics GmbH in 2018, and therapeutic rights in 2020, and has sublicensed the therapeutic application to its sister company Blue Earth Therapeutics.

(Press release, Blue Earth Therapeutics, JAN 15, 2026, View Source [SID1234662063])

Hoth Therapeutics Reaches Key EU Regulatory Inflection Point Advancing HT-001 Oncology Trial Toward Multi-Country Site Activation

On January 15, 2026 Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOTH), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapies for serious and underserved conditions, reported it has achieved a major European regulatory milestone for its HT-001 clinical program targeting cancer patients undergoing EGFR inhibitor therapies.

The Company received a positive regulatory conclusion under the European Union Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) for Part I. This determination confirms the scientific and regulatory acceptability of the trial design and investigational products. Hoth expects to activate clinical trial sites and initiate the study across multiple European countries.

In parallel, country-specific Part II regulatory decisions in Hungary, Spain, and Poland are expected by January 19, 2026, positioning the program for rapid, multi-national clinical execution.

"This marks a meaningful regulatory inflection point for Hoth and our oncology-focused pipeline," said Robb Knie at Hoth Therapeutics. "Regulators have confirmed the acceptability of our application for this cancer-related indication."

The HT-001 program is being developed to address EGFRI-induced dermatologic toxicities, a common and often dose-limiting complication experienced by cancer patients undergoing treatment. These side effects can negatively impact quality of life, disrupt treatment schedules, and increase overall healthcare burden.

Hoth expects to activate sites, initiate patient enrollment, and advance the program into active clinical execution, representing a critical step toward validating a potential new supportive-care therapy for oncology patients.

(Press release, Hoth Therapeutics, JAN 15, 2026, View Source [SID1234662062])

Kelun-Biotech Showcases Innovative Achievements and Future Development Strategy at the 44th Annual JPM Healthcare Conference

On January 15, 2026 Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. ("Kelun-Biotech" or the "Company", 6990.HK), reported Dr. Ge Michael, President and CEO was invited to attend the conference and delivered a keynote speech on the morning of January 15 (local time) and presented the Company’s latest achievements in drug R&D, commercialization, and globalization, and outlined its innovation strategy and future development plans at the 44th J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference (JPMHC) was held in San Francisco, California, USA..

Since initiating its innovation journey in 2012, Kelun-Biotech has rapidly emerged as a leader in China’s innovative drug field, building differentiated technology platforms and robust R&D pipelines. Leveraging its global leading OptiDC platform for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and novel drug conjugates (DCs), the Company continuously advances the differentiated development of ADCs and novel DCs, forming a gradient portfolio for treating multiple tumor types. Currently, Kelun-Biotech has two ADC products on market: sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT, 佳泰莱) and trastuzumab botidotin (舒泰莱), covering breast cancer and lung cancer indications. Additionally, nine uniquely designed ADC and novel DC drugs—including cutting-edge directions such as bispecific ADC and radiopharmaceutical conjugate (RDC) are in clinical stage. For high-incidence tumor types in China, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, and gastrointestinal tumors, the Company has initiated nine pivotal studies, while multiple Phase II clinical studies targeting gynecological tumors are progressing steadily. Furthermore, Kelun-Biotech has also developed several non-DC candidates and expanded indications into non-oncology areas.

Over the past year, Kelun-Biotech has presented multiple research findings at international academic conferences and published in authoritative journals: three were selected for oral presentations at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) annual meeting, and three were selected as Late-Breaking Abstracts (LBA) for oral presentations at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress. Among these, the results of the OptiTROP-Lung04 study of sac-TMT for treating EGFR-mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) after TKI therapy were presented at the Presidential Symposium session of ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) and simultaneously published in The New England Journal of Medicine, highlighting its global academic and clinical value.

In terms of commercialization, Kelun-Biotech has formed a competitive initial product portfolio. Its core product, the TROP2-directed ADC sac-TMT, has been approved in China for three indications: second-line and above triple-negative breast cancer, second-line and third-line EGFR-mutated NSCLC. The HER2-directed ADC trastuzumab botidotin was approved last year for second-line and above HER2-positive breast cancer, becoming the first domestically developed HER2-directed ADC approved for this indication. Furthermore, the anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody Cetuximab N01 (达泰莱) for RAS wild-type colorectal cancer and the anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody tagitanlimab (科泰莱) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma have been launched. Another small-molecule RET inhibitor A400 is expected to be approved within the year, bringing the total number of commercialized products in China to five. Currently, three of the Company’s commercialized products, covering five indications, have been included in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL), further benefiting a broad population of cancer patients.

While strengthening its presence in the domestic market, Kelun-Biotech is actively expanding overseas. It has established collaborations with MSD, Ellipses, Windward Bio and Crescent Biopharma to maximize the value of its pipeline value and corporate worth. Among these, MSD is evaluating 16 global Phase III clinical studies of sac-TMT.

The breakthroughs in both clinical development and commercialization are driven by the Company’s sustained investment in innovative R&D. With over a decade of accumulation in the ADC field, Kelun-Biotech’s proprietary OptiDC platform enables differentiated design of drug candidates, which combines specific targets or targeting mechanisms with the most suitable payload-linker strategy to balance efficacy and safety. Additionally, the company is adopting a "multi-pronged" innovation strategy to continuously enhance platform capabilities. By exploring novel targets, new payloads, and diverse conjugation technologies, it is expanding the application boundaries across both oncology and non-oncology fields.

Looking ahead, Kelun-Biotech will consolidate its foundations in R&D, technologies, platforms, and operations by executing five key development strategies. Concurrently, the Company will elevate its globalization strategy, enhancing its capabilities in product development, registration, and commercialization in ex-China market, advancing on its path to becoming a world-class biopharmaceutical company.