On June 26, 2025 Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 4519) reported that it has filed a regulatory application with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for an additional indication of its anti-cancer agent/ALK inhibitor Alecensa (generic name: alectinib) for ALK fusion / rearrangement gene-positive unresectable advanced or recurrent solid tumors, including pediatric patients (Press release, Chugai, JUN 26, 2025, View Source [SID1234654135]).

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"I am very pleased that Alecensa has reached the regulatory application stage as a tumor-agnostic treatment for ALK fusion / rearrangement gene-positive solid tumors. This application represents an important step in expanding the treatment potential of Alecensa beyond non-small cell lung cancer and anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a hematological malignancy, for which it has already been approved, to various solid tumors with ALK fusion / rearrangement genes. We will work toward obtaining approval to deliver Alecensa as a new treatment option to patients with various cancer types as quickly as possible." said Chugai’s President and CEO, Dr. Osamu Okuda.

The application for this additional indication is based on the results of the TACKLE study, an investigator initiated Japanese Phase II clinical study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Alecensa in pediatric and adult patients with rare cancers harboring ALK gene abnormalities (fusion / rearrangement genes, activating mutations, and gene copy number amplification) in unresectable advanced or recurrent settings. In this study, the objective response rate as assessed by the central review committee, which was the primary endpoint, was 76.5% (95% CI: 50.1%-93.2%) (13/17 patients) in the ALK fusion / rearrangement gene-positive subpopulation. The incidence of adverse events was 73.1% (19/26 patients), with the main adverse reactions being lymphocyte count decreased, and neutrophil count decreased at 23.1% each (6/26 patients), anemia at 19.2% (5/26 patients), and blood creatinine increased at 15.4% (4/26 patients). The safety profile observed in this study was similar to the previously established safety profile of Alecensa, with no new safety signals identified.

Chugai Pharmaceutical, a leading company in the oncology field, remains committed to addressing unmet medical needs in cancer treatment with innovative medicines for patients and healthcare professionals.

About the TACKLE study

The TACKLE study (NCCH1712/MK003, jRCT2091220364) is an investigator initiated, multicenter, open-label, single-arm, Japanese Phase II clinical study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Alecensa in pediatric and adult patients with unresectable rare cancers harboring ALK gene abnormalities (fusion / rearrangement genes, activating mutations, gene copy number amplification). In this study, safety and efficacy were evaluated in 26 patients. The primary endpoint was objective response rate, and secondary endpoints included progression-free survival, overall survival, and safety. The TACKLE study is being conducted as a substudy of the MASTER KEY project,1 which promotes the development of treatments for rare cancers through industry-academia collaboration with the National Cancer Center Hospital.

About ALK fusion / rearrangement gene-positive solid tumors
ALK fusion / rearrangement genes are abnormal genes created when the ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) gene fuses with other genes (such as EML4, NPM) as a result of chromosomal translocation.2,3 ALK fusion / rearrangement proteins produced from these fusion / rearrangement genes are thought to promote cancer cell proliferation. ALK fusion / rearrangement genes have been identified in patients with inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors, lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and other cancers.2,4,5

About Alecensa
Alecensa is a highly selective, central nervous system-active, oral medicine created at Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for people with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors are identified as anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) positive. ALK fusion / rearrangement gene-positive lung cancer is found in approximately 3-5% of NSCLC cases.4 Alecensa is already approved in over 100 countries as an initial (first-line) and second-line treatment for ALK fusion / rearrangement gene-positive metastatic NSCLC, including in the United States, Europe, Japan, China, and Taiwan. For adjuvant therapy of ALK fusion / rearrangement gene-positive NSCLC, Alecensa received approval in the United States in April 2024, followed by Europe in June 2024, and Japan in August 2024. In Japan, Alecensa has also been approved for the treatment of recurrent or refractory ALK fusion / rearrangement gene-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

On June 26, 2025 The Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group ("AGITG"), the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre at the University of Sydney, and Lisata Therapeutics, Inc ("Lisata", Nasdaq: LSTA), reported promising positive preliminary Cohort B data from the ASCEND Phase 2b trial (NCT05042128) in metastatic pancreatic cancer, with AGITG sponsoring the study and Lisata providing funding (Press release, Lisata Therapeutics, JUN 26, 2025, View Source [SID1234654134]). Dr. Andrew Dean, Study Chair, is scheduled to present these findings at the European Society for Medical Oncology ("ESMO") Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on 2 July, 2025.

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The ASCEND trial is a 158-patient, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2b clinical trial evaluating standard-of-care ("SoC") gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel vs SoC plus certepetide or placebo in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma ("mPDAC"). Participants were enrolled from 24 sites across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand from May 2022 to December 2023. The study comprises two sequentially enrolled dosing regimens of either certepetide or placebo in combination with SoC. Cohort A employed one 3.2 mg/kg dose of certepetide administered as an IV push over 1 minute immediately after the infusion of gemcitabine and before the infusion of nab-paclitaxel. Cohort B mimicked the dosing regimen of Cohort A; however, it employed an additional dose of certepetide or placebo administered 4 hours after the initial dose.

As announced in January of this year, preliminary Cohort A data was presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. Those data showed a positive trend in overall survival, including four complete responses in the certepetide-treated group compared to none in the placebo-treated group.

The preliminary data from Cohort B demonstrate a six-month progression-free survival ("6MPFS") of 60.8% for the certepetide-treated group, whereas the 6MPFS in the placebo-treated group was 25%. Median progression-free survival ("mPFS") was 7.5 months for the certepetide-treated group and 4.7 months for the placebo-treated group. Objective response rate ("ORR") was 45.2% for the certepetide-treated group and 19% for the placebo-treated group. Median overall survival ("mOS") was 10.32 months for the certepetide-treated group compared to 9.23 months for the placebo-treated group.

A comparison of data from Cohort A and Cohort B indicates that the addition of two doses of certepetide (Cohort B regimen) to SoC chemotherapy resulted in a clinically meaningful improvement in both PFS and ORR for patients with mPDAC. These clinically significant findings provide compelling support for the continued and expedited investigation of certepetide as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Final data and key findings from both cohorts of the ASCEND study are anticipated to be available later this year, with more information to follow as it becomes available.

"We are pleased with the promising Cohort B data of the ASCEND trial. These data, taken with those previously reported for Cohort A, reinforce our confidence in the therapeutic promise of certepetide. Along with its attractive safety profile, we continue to believe that certepetide has the potential to transform the treatment landscape for mPDAC and many other devastating solid tumors", stated David J. Mazzo, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lisata.

Pancreatic cancer has one of the poorest prognoses among cancers, ranking as the 6th leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide1. In Australia, pancreatic cancer is the 3rd leading cause of cancer-related deaths2. With a five-year survival rate of just 13%, there is a considerable need for new treatment options.

Dr. Dean commented, "The data from ASCEND provides us with critical new knowledge that will significantly enhance our understanding of how to optimally treat patients battling pancreatic cancer. We are excited by the evidence of certepetide’s therapeutic effect and encourage the continued development of this potentially treatment paradigm-changing compound."

We thank the Gut Cancer Foundation for providing funding for trial sites in Aotearoa New Zealand.

1. Bray F, Laversanne M, Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Soerjomataram I, et al. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024;74(3):229–63.
2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2024) Cancer data in Australia, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 13 May 2025.

About Certepetide
Certepetide (formerly LSTA1), an internalizing RGD (arginylglycylaspartic acid or iRGD), cyclic peptide product candidate, is an investigational drug designed to activate a novel uptake pathway that allows co-administered or tethered anti-cancer drugs to target and penetrate solid tumors more effectively. Certepetide actuates this active transport system in a tumor-specific manner, resulting in systemically co-administered anti-cancer drugs more efficiently penetrating and accumulating in the tumor. Certepetide also has been shown to modify the tumor microenvironment resulting in tumors which are more susceptible to immunotherapies. We and our collaborators have amassed significant non-clinical data demonstrating enhanced delivery of a range of emerging anti-cancer therapies, including immunotherapies and RNA-based therapeutics. To date, certepetide has also demonstrated favorable safety, tolerability, and clinical activity in completed and ongoing clinical trials designed to test its ability to enhance the effectiveness of standard-of-care chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer. Lisata is exploring the potential of certepetide to enable a variety of treatment modalities to treat a range of solid tumors more effectively. Certepetide has been awarded Fast Track designation (U.S.) and Orphan Drug Designation for pancreatic cancer (U.S. and E.U.) as well as Orphan Drug Designation for glioma (U.S.) and osteosarcoma (U.S.). Additionally, certepetide has received Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for osteosarcoma (U.S.).

On June 26, 2025 Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved label updates for both of its CAR T cell therapies, Breyanzi (lisocabtagene maraleucel; liso-cel) for the treatment of large B cell lymphoma (LBCL) and other lymphomas and Abecma (idecabtagene vicleucel; ide-cel) for the treatment of multiple myeloma (Press release, Bristol-Myers Squibb, JUN 26, 2025, View Source;Food-and-Drug-Administration-Approves-Streamlined-Patient-Monitoring-Requirements-and-Removal-of-REMS-Programs-within-Bristol-Myers-Squibbs-Cell-Therapy-Labels/default.aspx [SID1234654133]). These label updates reduce certain patient monitoring requirements and remove the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) programs that had been in place since each product was initially approved.

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Despite the transformative potential of cell therapy, only about 2 in 10 eligible patients receive it, due to the confluence of complex logistical and geographic barriers affecting patients and providers. BMS is committed to a long-term goal of expanding access to cell therapy and supports today’s class-wide label updates that will help ease known barriers to treatment and administration while maintaining patient safety.

Across both labels, the FDA has approved the reduction or removal of specific patient monitoring requirements for Breyanzi and Abecma. These prolonged requirements posed burdens on healthcare delivery systems and for certain patients and their care partners, particularly those who live far from certified cell therapy treatment centers. The changes include:

Driving restrictions reduced from 8 weeks to 2 weeks post treatment
Requirement to stay within proximity of a healthcare facility following infusion reduced from 4 weeks to 2 weeks
"CAR T cell therapy is a transformational, potentially life-saving option for patients living with blood cancers, and we are working to challenge current practices, assumptions and barriers that limit access," said Lynelle B. Hoch, president, Cell Therapy Organization, Bristol Myers Squibb. "Today’s FDA-approved label updates reinforce BMS’ continued efforts to collaborate across the healthcare ecosystem, with the ultimate goal of reaching more patients and democratizing access to cell therapy."

The FDA has also approved removal of the REMS requirement from each product label. A REMS program is often required to help mitigate known or potential risks associated with new drugs or therapies. The FDA has since determined that the established management guidelines and extensive experience of the medical hematology/oncology community are sufficient to diagnose and manage the risks of side effects, including cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurologic toxicities (NTs), without a REMS for the class of CD19- and BCMA-directed autologous CAR T cell therapies. This change is likely to help further accelerate cell therapy into the community center setting.

Together, these label updates reflect the growing body of clinical and real-world evidence underpinning the favorable efficacy and safety profile of CAR T cell therapy. To date, more than 30,000 patients have been treated with a CAR T cell therapy, with recent studies, including an analysis BMS presented earlier this month at the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, showing that the vast majority of serious adverse events (CRS and NTs) occur within the first two weeks of infusion.

Following this announcement, BMS will work closely with the more than 150 treatment centers currently approved to administer Breyanzi and Abecma to remove the REMS programs. In parallel, BMS is focused on rapidly expanding the geographic footprint of cell therapy, with a renewed effort to add community cancer centers nationwide to administer Breyanzi and Abecma closer to patients, helping further reduce travel time and duration of stay away from home, family and work.

"Living with blood cancer is challenging, but patients and their loved ones still need to maintain jobs, take care of families, and plan for the future," said Sally Werner, chief executive officer, Cancer Support Community. "Today’s announcement reduces some of the most onerous requirements that may have previously discouraged patients, particularly those who live far from a treatment center, from seeking the potentially transformational effects of cell therapy. We applaud any and all efforts to continue to break down barriers, reduce time burden on patients and caregivers, and increase uptake of this life-saving therapy."

As BMS continues to bring cell therapy to more patients, we are committed to working across the healthcare ecosystem to implement these label updates and continue to design and implement measurable programs to increase uptake and equitable access to cell therapy. For a list of programs and services currently offered to support patients through their BMS cell therapy journey, visit celltherapy360.com.

On June 26, 2025 Aldeyra Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALDX) (Aldeyra) reported receipt of a Special Protocol Assessment Agreement Letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ADX-2191 (methotrexate injection, USP), an investigational drug candidate, for the treatment of primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL), a rare and potentially fatal cancer currently lacking FDA-approved therapy (Press release, Aldeyra Therapeutics, JUN 26, 2025, View Source [SID1234654131]).

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"Primary vitreoretinal lymphoma is treated today off label with intravitreal injections of compounded methotrexate," stated Todd C. Brady, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Aldeyra. "ADX-2191, a novel, vitreous-compatible formulation of methotrexate that is specifically designed for intraocular injection, potentially allows for a reduced injection volume relative to compounding."

Based on a pre-New Drug Application (NDA) meeting with the FDA in December 2022, Aldeyra submitted a literature-based NDA of ADX-2191 for the treatment of PVRL, which was accepted for Priority Review in March 2023. In June 2023, Aldeyra received a Complete Response Letter that stated that the available literature was not sufficient to demonstrate efficacy and that adequate and well-controlled trials were required for approval. The FDA subsequently agreed that a single clinical trial in addition to literature references will be sufficient to support NDA resubmission.

The clinical trial proposed in the Special Protocol Assessment will compare cancer cell clearance after 30 days of therapy in up to 20 patients following 1:1 randomization to receive either a single intraocular injection or eight intraocular injections of ADX-2191. The frequency of methotrexate injections has been linked to cancer cell clearance in patients with PVRL,[1] and approximately five injections are required on average to achieve cancer cell clearance.[2] The clinical trial is expected to begin in the second half of 2025 and conclude in 2026.

About ADX-2191

ADX-2191 (methotrexate injection, USP) is a sterile, non-compounded intravitreal formulation of methotrexate for the potential treatment of specific rare retinal diseases, including primary vitreoretinal lymphoma and retinitis pigmentosa. The ADX-2191 intravitreal formulation is preservative-free, is designed to be vitreous-compatible, and is optimized for excipient composition, viscosity, density, tonicity, pH, concentration, and volume of administration. ADX-2191 has received FDA Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of primary vitreoretinal lymphoma and retinitis pigmentosa.

About Primary Vitreoretinal Lymphoma

Primary vitreoretinal lymphoma is a rare, aggressive, and potentially fatal retinal cancer that is diagnosed in approximately 300 to 600 patients in the United States per year. The median survival for newly diagnosed patients is less than five years. No approved treatments are currently available, though intravitreal injection of compounded methotrexate represents the current standard of care.

On June 25, 2025 Vor Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: VOR) and RemeGen Co., Ltd. (HKEX: 9995, SHA: 688331) reported entry into an exclusive license agreement granting Vor Bio global rights (excluding China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) to develop and commercialize telitacicept, a novel dual-target fusion protein approved in China for generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (Press release, Vor BioPharma, JUN 25, 2025, View Source [SID1234654139]). Under the terms of the agreement, Vor Bio will pay RemeGen an initial payment of $125 million consisting of an upfront payment of $45 million as well as $80 million of warrants to purchase common stock with an exercise price of $0.0001 per share. The agreement also provides for potential regulatory and commercial milestones exceeding $4 billion, in addition to tiered royalties.

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Telitacicept is a novel, investigational fusion protein that targets key immune pathways involved in autoimmune disease. By selectively inhibiting BlyS (also known as BAFF) and APRIL—cytokines critical to B cell survival—telitacicept reduces autoreactive B cells and autoantibody production. RemeGen is conducting a global Phase 3 clinical trial which is now enrolling in the United States, Europe, and South America, with initial results expected in the first half of 2027.

Vor Bio also announced that its Board of Directors (the "Board") has appointed Jean-Paul Kress, M.D., as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, effective today. This follows Dr. Robert Ang’s resignation from the positions of Chief Executive Officer and director earlier today. Dr. Ang will continue with Vor Bio as a strategic advisor to assist in the transition through October 2025. Dr. Kress’s strategic vision and track record of transformative leadership position him to guide the company into its next phase of growth.

"I am absolutely thrilled to be leading Vor Bio as we transform the company to become a major player in autoimmune disease treatment," said Dr. Kress, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Vor Bio. "Targeting BAFF/APRIL signaling with telitacicept represents a significant advancement in addressing autoantibody driven diseases, which is highly differentiated from other modalities in this space. With a clinically advanced asset, we are uniquely positioned to develop this innovative therapy, with the goal of making a meaningful impact for patients living with autoimmune diseases around the world."

Dr. Kress brings decades of executive leadership experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. He most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of MorphoSys, where he led the development, approval and commercialization of Monjuvi (tafasitamab), and advanced the company’s pipeline through the landmark acquisition of Constellation Pharmaceuticals in 2021, strengthening MorphoSys’ position in oncology innovation and ultimately leading to its subsequent acquisition by Novartis in 2024. Prior to that, he was CEO of Syntimmune, guiding its lead immunology program through to acquisition by Alexion Pharmaceuticals. He currently serves on the Board of Sanofi S.A. and has held senior roles across leading biopharma companies.

"Today marks a transformative milestone for RemeGen and the global development of telitacicept," said Dr. Jianmin Fang, CEO of RemeGen. "The strategic out-licensing of telitacicept’s ex-China rights accelerates our mission to deliver this innovative therapy to patients worldwide and will help maximize telitacicept’s clinical and commercial potential on the global scale."

About Telitacicept

Telitacicept is a novel, investigational recombinant fusion protein designed to treat autoimmune diseases by selectively inhibiting BLyS (BAFF) and APRIL—two cytokines essential to B cell and plasma cell survival. This dual-target mechanism reduces autoreactive B cells and autoantibody production, key drivers of autoimmune pathology. In a Phase 3 clinical trial in generalized myasthenia gravis in China, telitacicept demonstrated a 4.8-point improvement in MG-ADL (Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living scale) vs. placebo at 24 weeks, the primary endpoint of the trial.

Telitacicept is approved in China for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). A global Phase 3 clinical trial in gMG is currently underway across the United States, Europe, and South America to support potential approval in the United States and Europe.