On July 1, 2025 Alligator Bioscience (Nasdaq Stockholm: ATORX) Alligator Bioscience (Nasdaq Stockholm: ATORX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing tumor-directed immunotherapies, reported that new data from the ongoing OPTIMIZE-1 study, evaluating the CD40 agonist mitazalimab in combination with mFOLFIRINOX in metastatic pancreatic cancer, will be presented at the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress 2025, taking place in Barcelona on 2–5 July (Press release, Alligator Bioscience, JUL 1, 2025, View Source [SID1234654190]).

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The poster includes 24-month efficacy results and dose characterization data from OPTIMIZE-1 (NCT04888312), a Phase 1b/2 trial in patients with previously untreated metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC). Patients receiving 900 μg/kg mitazalimab showed a median overall survival of 14.9 months and a median progression-free survival of 7.8 months, supporting a sustained clinical benefit. The survival rate at 24 months was 29.4%, triple that of chemotherapy alone.

A comparison between the 900 μg/kg and 450 μg/kg cohorts revealed a higher response rate for 900 μg/kg of 54.4% versus 22.7%. This indicates a dose-response relationship further supporting mitazalimab’s contribution to the positive clinical response data observed in OPTIMIZE-1, reinforcing the candidate’s favorable safety profile and supporting 900 μg/kg as the recommended Phase 3 dose — a decision recently endorsed by the FDA.

Poster presentation details
Title: CD40 agonist mitazalimab + mFOLFIRINOX in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC): 24-month follow up and dose characterization from the OPTIMIZE-1 study
Topic: Upper digestive – Biliary, ampullary and pancreatic cancer
Presentation number: 265P
Session: Poster display session 1 and coffee break
Date: Thursday, 3 July 2025
Time: 15:30–16:30 CEST
Location: Foyer
Presenter: Dr. Aurélien Lambert

On July 1, 2025 Adagene Inc. ("Adagene or the Company") (Nasdaq: ADAG), a company transforming the discovery and development of novel antibody-based therapies, reported strategic investment and option exercise by Sanofi (Euronext: SAN FP) (Press release, Adagene, JUL 1, 2025, View Source [SID1234654189]).

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Sanofi has agreed to make strategic investment of up to US$25 million in Adagene. The Company plans to use the proceeds to fund its research and development activities, including clinical development of muzastotug (ADG126), an anti-CTLA-4 SAFEbody, through a randomized phase 2 trial in microsatellite stable colorectal cancer (MSS CRC).

To further explore the clinical potential of muzastotug, Adagene will supply Sanofi with muzastotug to evaluate the safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetics and biomarker data in combination with other anticancer therapies in over 100 patients in a phase 1/2 clinical trial in advanced solid tumors. Adagene continues to own worldwide commercial rights to muzastotug.

Sanofi has also exercised its option to select a third SAFEbody discovery program, utilizing Adagene’s proprietary masking technology and antibody engineering expertise. The bispecific therapeutic, with undisclosed targets, will be engineered by Adagene and induces an option exercise fee, as well as milestones and royalties as per the 2022 partnership agreement with Adagene.

"Expanding our partnership with Sanofi highlights the potential of our SAFEbody platform and the clinical proof of concept for ADG126, our masked anti-CTLA-4 program and the most advanced of its kind," said Peter Luo, Chairman, CEO and President of R&D at Adagene. "This strategic partnership reinforces our shared vision of ADG126’s promise in advanced solid tumors, including MSS CRC, where dose-limiting challenges have hindered anti-CTLA-4 therapies. We value our trusted relationship with Sanofi."

As of December 31, 2024, the Company had audited cash and cash equivalents of US$85.2 million. The proceeds from the investment of Sanofi, together with the current cash and cash equivalents, are expected to be sufficient to fund planned operations into 2027.

Following the equity investment and strategic collaborations, a Sanofi representative will join Adagene’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), which provides strategic advice on the scientific and clinical aspects of the Company’s activities.

On July 1, 2025 Abeona Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: ABEO) reported it has granted equity awards to new non-executive employees who joined the Company (Press release, Abeona Therapeutics, JUL 1, 2025, View Source [SID1234654188]). The equity awards were approved in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

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On June 30, 2025, the Compensation Committee of Abeona’s Board of Directors granted restricted stock equity awards as a material inducement to employment to 21 individuals hired by Abeona, which equity awards relate to, in the aggregate, up to 48,715 restricted shares of Abeona common stock. One-third of the shares subject to such restricted stock awards will vest yearly on each anniversary of the Grant Date, such that the shares subject to such restricted stock awards granted to each employee will be fully vested on the third anniversary of the Grant Date, in each case, subject to each employee’s continued employment with Abeona on the applicable vesting dates.

On July 1, 2025 MonTa reported completion of its phase I dose-escalation study with completion of the last cohort of patients after treating 85 patients in total. We look forward to design the expansion phase also called phase IB to move towards patients with less advanced cancer with unmed medical need (Press release, MonTa Biosciences, JUL 1, 2025, View Source [SID1234654187]).

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