On June 25, 2025 enGene Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: ENGN, or "enGene" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage, non-viral gene-based immunotherapy company, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation to detalimogene voraplasmid (also known as detalimogene, and previously EG-70), the Company’s lead investigational therapy for the treatment of high-risk, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) (Press release, enGene, JUN 25, 2025, View Source [SID1234654126]).

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The RMAT program is intended to expedite the development and review of regenerative medicine therapies for serious or life-threatening conditions, where preliminary clinical evidence suggests potential to address unmet medical needs. This designation provides enGene with several regulatory advantages, including early and frequent engagement with the FDA, potential for rolling review and priority review, and other benefits like Fast Track and Breakthrough Therapy designations.

"Receiving the RMAT designation highlights the promising profile of detalimogene and its potential to address the high unmet need in NMIBC," stated Ron Cooper, Chief Executive Officer of enGene. "Bladder cancer patients with limited options cannot wait, and we are enthusiastic about potentially expediting the regulatory process to bring a first-in-class treatment to patients."

The designation was based on previously disclosed preliminary results from the ongoing pivotal LEGEND study, which demonstrated compelling clinical activity and a generally favorable tolerability profile in patients with BCG-unresponsive NMIBC with CIS.

Detalimogene is designed for streamlined administration in urology clinics — including community practices, where approximately 70% of urologists provide care. The therapy is being evaluated for its ability to treat NMIBC though the non-viral stimulation of a local immune response in the bladder, presenting a potentially transformative option for patients who otherwise face limited choices beyond radical cystectomy.

About Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC)
Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is a disease that poses a significant burden on both patients and clinics and has a massive economic impact on our healthcare system. NMIBC occurs when cancer cells grow in the tissues that line the interior of the bladder, but the cancer has not yet penetrated the muscle of the bladder wall. NMIBC can take the form of papillary outgrowths from the bladder wall, which are typically resected, or carcinoma in situ (CIS), flat, multifocal lesions that are unable to be resected, and the two can co-occur. About 75-80% of new bladder cancer diagnoses are NMIBC. Patients suffering from high-risk NMIBC who are unresponsive to the standard of care, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), face high rates of disease recurrence (50-70%) and are subject to full removal of the bladder (cystectomy) as a curative but life-altering next step.

About Detalimogene
Detalimogene is a novel, investigational, non-viral gene-based immunotherapy for patients with high-risk NMIBC, including Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive disease. It is designed to be instilled in the bladder and elicit a powerful yet localized anti-tumor immune response.

Detalimogene was developed using the Company’s Dually Derivatized Oligochitosan (DDX) platform, a technology designed to transform how gene therapies are accessed by patients and utilized by clinicians. Medicines developed with the DDX platform can potentially overcome the limitations of viral-based gene therapies, simplify safe handling and cold storage complexities, and streamline both manufacturing processes and administration paradigms.

Detalimogene has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on its potential to address the high unmet medical need for patients with BCG-unresponsive CIS NMIBC, with or without resected papillary tumors, who are unable to undergo cystectomy. Fast Track designation is a process designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need.

About the Pivotal LEGEND Trial
Detalimogene is being evaluated in the ongoing, open-label, multi-cohort, Phase 2 LEGEND trial to establish its safety and efficacy in high-risk NMIBC. LEGEND’s pivotal cohort (Cohort 1) consists of approximately 100 patients with high-risk, BCG-unresponsive NMIBC with CIS (with or without papillary disease) and is designed to serve as the basis of the Company’s planned Biologics License Application (BLA) filing. In addition to this pivotal cohort, LEGEND includes three additional cohorts, including NMIBC patients with CIS who are naïve to treatment with BCG (Cohort 2a); NMIBC patients with CIS who have been exposed to BCG but have not received adequate BCG treatment (Cohort 2b); and BCG-unresponsive high-risk NMIBC patients with papillary-only disease (Cohort 3). The LEGEND trial is actively enrolling patients with sites participating in the USA, Canada, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.

On June 25, 2025 BeOne Medicines Ltd. (NASDAQ: ONC; HKEX: 06160; SSE: 688235), a global oncology company, reported that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency issued a positive opinion recommending approval of a new film-coated tablet formulation of BRUKINSA (zanubrutinib) for all approved indications (Press release, BeOne Medicines, JUN 25, 2025, View Source [SID1234654125]). The CHMP positive opinion will now be reviewed by the European Commission, which will grant the marketing authorization for the tablet formulation in the European Union and in the European Economic Area countries Norway and Iceland.

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"The CHMP’s positive opinion of our new tablet formulation of BRUKINSA is an important step toward bringing this thoughtful, patient-centered innovation to people facing certain B-cell cancers across Europe," said Giancarlo Benelli, Senior Vice President and Head of Europe, BeOne. "We look forward to a potential approval later this year and remain committed to delivering our impactful medicines to more patients in the region."

The BRUKINSA tablets have been shown to be bioequivalent to the BRUKINSA capsules based on the results of two single-dose, open-label, randomized Phase 1 crossover studies in healthy subjects. The recommended dose of BRUKINSA remains – 320 mg daily. The BRUKINSA tablets are 160 mg each, allowing patients to halve their daily pill intake and take two tablets daily. The new tablet formulation maintains BRUKINSA’s dosing flexibility by providing patients and prescribers with the option of once- or twice-daily dosing and is designed to simplify management of dose reductions as per label recommendation. Additionally, the BRUKINSA tablets are smaller than the capsules and have a film coat, which makes them easier to swallow.

BeOne Medicines will begin to convert BRUKINSA from capsules to tablets in regions outside China in 2025 as part of our commitment to sustainable business practices, including reducing our impact on the environment. This adjustment will decrease the bottle size by ~70% while also enabling the shipment of this medication with reduced temperature controls, which we expect to reduce energy needs, greenhouse gas emissions, and global transport costs.

Today’s announcement follows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the new tablet formulation of BRUKINSA for all five approved indications earlier this month. In the U.S., BRUKINSA is the leader in new patient starts for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) across all lines of therapy, and for the first time, has become the overall BTK inhibitor market share leader.1

Important Safety Information
The current European Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) of BRUKINSA is available from the website of the European Medicines Agency.

This information is intended for a global audience. Product indications vary by region.

On June 25, 2025 Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD) and Kymera Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: KYMR), reported that they have entered into an exclusive option and license agreement to accelerate the development and commercialization of a novel molecular glue degrader (MGD) program targeting cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) with broad oncology treatment potential including in breast cancer and other solid tumors (Press release, Gilead Sciences, JUN 25, 2025, View Source [SID1234654124]).

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CDK2-directed MGDs are a new type of drug designed to remove CDK2 – a key contributor in tumor growth – rather than just inhibiting its function. Traditional inhibitors of CDK2 prevent it from working but often interfere with similar proteins, which can cause undesired side effects. MGDs have the potential to provide more precise, safe and effective treatments for cancers that rely on CDK2 activity by selectively removing this protein from cells.

"MGDs are opening exciting new possibilities in cancer research by offering a way to eliminate disease-driving proteins rather than just blocking them. This mechanism aligns within our oncology scientific framework where we evaluate therapeutic agents that selectively target and kill cancer cells with minimal impact on healthy tissue," said Flavius Martin, MD, Executive Vice President, Research, Gilead Sciences. "We are delighted to partner with Kymera to advance this novel oral program with the potential to drive meaningful improvements in the standard of care for patients living with breast cancer and other cancers that are inadequately served with existing therapies."

"We are excited to announce this strategic collaboration with Gilead Sciences, highlighting our dedication to innovation in the field with our first disclosed molecular glue program. We are committed to developing highly selective, potent, oral degrader medicines that address key disease-causing proteins and pathways that are undrugged or inadequately drugged by existing technologies," said Nello Mainolfi, PhD, Founder, President and CEO, Kymera Therapeutics. "Our highly specific, orally active, CDK2 molecular glue degraders have demonstrated a compelling preclinical profile and have the potential to transform the therapeutic landscape for breast cancer patients and other tumor types with high unmet medical need. We are excited to work with the talented Gilead team to accelerate the development and commercialization of this important program."

Terms of the Agreement

Under the terms of the agreement, Kymera is eligible to receive up to $750 million in total payments, including up to $85 million in upfront and potential option exercise payments. In addition, Kymera may also receive tiered royalties ranging from high single-digit to mid-teens on net product sales under the collaboration. Kymera will lead all research activities for the CDK2 program. If Gilead exercises its option to exclusively license the program, Gilead will have global rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize all products resulting from the collaboration.

Gilead does not exclude acquired IPR&D expenses from its non-GAAP financial measures. This transaction with Kymera is expected to reduce Gilead’s GAAP and non-GAAP 2025 EPS by approximately $0.02 – $0.03.

On June 25, 2025 UP Oncolytics, a neuro-oncology biotechnology company based in Milwaukee and a spin-out of the Advocate Aurora Research Institute, reported to have received a $75,000 matching grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) in partnership with the University of Wisconsin (Press release, UP Oncolytics, JUN 25, 2025, View Source [SID1234654123]). The grant supplements the company’s $500,000 SBIR Phase I Fast Track award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), received last year.

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The funding will support further preclinical development of UP Oncolytics lead therapy — an oncolytic virus targeting gliomas, the most common form of brain cancer. The company is also exploring its application in other cancer types.

In early 2025, UP Oncolytics established and expanded its research laboratories at Rosalind Franklin University’s Helix 51 biomedical incubator. Under the leadership of Dr. Parvez Akhtar, chief scientific officer and co-founder, the company recruited senior scientist Dr. Steven Markwell from AbbVie. Dr. Markwell, a cell and molecular biologist, previously served as a postdoctoral research fellow at Northwestern University, specializing in pre-clinical glioblastoma models and tumor microenvironment research.

UP Oncolytics has also strengthened its leadership team. Dr. Gary Gordon, a former oncologist trained at Johns Hopkins, has joined the board. He brings more than 13 years of experience as vice president of oncology development at AbbVie, and has held senior roles at Abbott, Ovation Pharmaceuticals, Pharmacia, and G.D. Searle.

Michael Rosen, MBA, managing director of RFU’s Innovation and Research Park and Helix 51, has joined the board as an observer. With more than 20 years of industry experience at Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and G.D. Searle, and, as CEO, Mr. Rosen has contributed to the development of three cancer biotech companies in Europe and the U.S., including one that successfully went public.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the FDA granted Orphan Drug designation to UP Oncolytics for its oncolytic virus therapy for gliomas.

"We are pleased with our progress over the past year, including the establishment of our new laboratories at Helix 51," said neurosurgeon and UP Oncolytics President and CEO Dr. Richard Rovin. "There is an urgent, unmet need for new treatments for malignant gliomas. We are working hard to bring our oncolytic virus into clinical trials."

"We share Dr. Rovin’s enthusiasm for these milestones and look forward to the impact this work could have on glioma patients," said RFU Executive Vice President for Research Dr. Joseph DiMario.

On June 25, 2025 Senhwa Biosciences, Inc. (TPEx: 6492), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, held its 2025 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting, chaired by Chairman Mr. Benny T. Hu, reported that the company delivered updates on its ongoing drug development programs, outlining four key strategic milestones poised to drive its transformative growth (Press release, Senhwa Biosciences, JUN 25, 2025, View Source [SID1234654122]):

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Launch of a new HIV "Functional Cure" strategic program
Advancement of partnership discussions with leading global immunotherapy companies
Active negotiations of multiple licensing opportunities
Dual-engine therapeutic breakthroughs from CX-4945 and CX-5461
Silmitasertib (CX-4945): Unlocking New Hope for HIV Cure

In March, Senhwa made the strategic decision to discontinue its Community-Acquired Pneumonia clinical trial, prompting investor concern. This shift, based on compelling interim findings, redirected focus to the promising potential of CX-4945 in HIV treatment.

Dr. Jason Huang, Acting CEO and Chief Medical Officer, revealed that in HIV-positive participants within the Community-Acquired Pneumonia study, a significant and rapid increase in a key immune biomarker was observed, potentially reflecting a marked restoration of previously impaired immune function. This finding suggests that CX-4945 may represent a novel therapeutic option and a new opportunity for those affected by HIV.

At the same time, to address gastrointestinal side effects observed in previous studies, Senhwa is in the final stages of developing a new formulation of CX–4945. The updated formulation is designed to significantly reduce GI discomfort while also extending the compound’s intellectual property protection for an additional 20 years, supporting both patient tolerability and long-term commercial value.

The company is currently consulting with the U.S. FDA on its clinical development pathway and is planning a small-scale pilot study in Taiwan. The trial will focus on evaluating the combined effects of CX–4945 on latent HIV reactivation and immune enhancement. Given the lifelong adherence required by current HIV therapies, a successful approach incorporating CX-4945 could present a scalable and transformative path to functional cure for tens of millions of HIV patients worldwide.

CX-4945 for Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): Strong Clinical Efficacy in Refractory Patients

Recent trial results from CX-4945 in patients with advanced BCC who had failed standard and immunotherapy treatments showed highly encouraging outcomes. Among 25 evaluable patients: 3 achieved Partial Response (PR) and 10 achieved Stable Disease (SD). Two patients had Progression-Free Survival (PFS) exceeding 21 months. Senhwa is currently in active discussions with several potential collaborators.

Pidnarulex (CX-5461): Broad-Spectrum Oncology Innovation

As another globally first-in-class asset, CX-5461 is advancing through multiple clinical programs, including the NIH 5-Year Anti-Cancer Initiative and a trial in North America targeting solid tumors with specific genetic deficiencies (BRCA1/2, PALB2). In addition to a monotherapy study in late-stage solid tumors (HRD/non-HRD), the NIH NExT Program is preparing three other protocols: CX-5461 with immunotherapy for colorectal cancer, CX-5461 with ADC, now a major focus in oncology innovation, for breast cancer and CX-5461 monotherapy for MYC-driven lymphomas. All three projects are underway, with IND submissions and patient enrollment expected soon.

Among North American patients in the ongoing trial, several have achieved PR or SD despite failing previous treatments. Most notably, a patient with pancreatic cancer, considered one of the most lethal and treatment-resistant malignancies, has survived over 22 months on CX-5461 while maintaining quality of life. This represents an extraordinary outcome in clinical oncology. Senhwa aims to complete enrollment and data analysis for this trial in 2026 and is concurrently evaluating out-licensing or joint development options.

CX-5461 + Immunotherapy: A Dual-Engine Powerhouse

CX-5461 uniquely reprograms the tumor microenvironment (TME) by activating tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and dendritic cells (DCs), converting "cold" tumors into "hot" tumors. This transformation significantly enhances the responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors (e.g., PD-1/PD-L1), which currently benefit only 20–30% of patients.

Senhwa is planning clinical programs combining CX-5461 with immunotherapy across multiple cancers, including pancreatic cancer, head and neck cancer, and melanoma. The company is in strategic discussions with global immuno-oncology companies and aims to launch these studies in 2026, targeting a share of the multibillion-dollar global immunotherapy market.

A Year of Execution and Transformative Progress Ahead

From HIV to pancreatic cancer and beyond, Senhwa’s multi-front strategy signals its commitment to addressing unmet medical needs. The management team expressed sincere gratitude to shareholders for their patience and continued trust, and reaffirmed its commitment to delivering on key milestones in the shortest possible time to realize the value of shareholder support. Senhwa is positioning itself as a global leader in next-generation therapeutics and a comprehensive solutions provider for unmet medical needs.