On November 13, 2025 JSR Life Sciences LLC ("JSR Life Sciences"), a global leader in life sciences materials and services, reported it has entered into a definitive agreement to transfer Crown Bioscience Inc. ("Crown Bioscience") to Adicon Holdings Limited ("Adicon"), a premier independent clinical laboratory provider in China and a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group. The transaction, subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close in 2026.

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This strategic move will enable Crown Bioscience to operate as a standalone entity under Adicon’s ownership. Crown Bioscience’s comprehensive portfolio of translational oncology services, including its world-leading patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, tumor organoid platforms, immuno-oncology assays, and bioinformatics solutions, will transition to Adicon, positioning the company to accelerate advancements in precision medicine and drug discovery for oncology.

Crown Bioscience’s Global Biospecimens business, headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, with facilities in Frederick, MD, will remain fully integrated within JSR Life Sciences. The Biospecimens team will continue to benefit from JSR’s robust global resources, innovation ecosystem, and focus on ethical sourcing, custom procurement, and advanced sample processing and storage capabilities.

"After careful strategic review, we believe this transaction represents an optimal path forward for both Crown Bioscience and JSR Life Sciences," said Tim Lowery, President and CEO of JSR Life Sciences. "Adicon’s deep domain expertise and financial backing from The Carlyle Group will empower Crown to scale its groundbreaking oncology services to new heights. As part of our long-standing onshore strategy, Crown remains firmly committed to serving clients through its global network of facilities, including its headquarters in San Diego and recent investments in the US and Europe. Initiatives like the launch of new Model Development Center in North Carolina and the expansion of biomarker and imaging capabilities in the UK ensure that customers have access to the same exceptional Crown experience, no matter where they choose to conduct their study."

Adicon, recognized as one of China’s largest independent clinical laboratory service providers, brings complementary strengths in high-throughput testing and data analytics to the partnership. Backed by global investment firm Carlyle’s extensive network and resources in healthcare and life sciences industry, Adicon is well-positioned to support Crown Bioscience’s growth trajectory.

Ms. Yang Ling, Chairwoman of Adicon and Head of Asia Healthcare at Carlyle, commented, "This acquisition represents an important milestone in Adicon’s growth journey. With Crown Bioscience’s world-class CRO capabilities, Adicon is expanding its reach across the global healthcare value chain– from clinical diagnostics to drug discovery and translational research. This transaction reinforces Adicon’s vision to become a trusted partner for biopharma innovation and precision diagnostics."

Until the transaction closes, Crown Bioscience will continue to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of JSR Life Sciences, with no anticipated disruptions to ongoing services, projects, or customer relationships. JSR and Adicon are committed to a smooth transition, maintaining the highest standards of quality, compliance, and innovation across all operations.

(Press release, Crown Bioscience, NOV 13, 2025, View Source [SID1234659945])

On November 13, 2025 Synthekine Inc., an engineered cytokine therapeutics company, reported that the company has dosed the first patient in the SYNERGY-101 study. SYNERGY-101 is a global, randomized Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating STK-012 combined with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy (PCT) vs. PCT in first-line, PD-L1 negative nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

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"This marks a key milestone for Synthekine as we advance STK-012 into a randomized Phase 2 trial," said Debanjan Ray, Chief Executive Officer of Synthekine. "Our promising Phase 1b data suggest that STK-012 may lead to a meaningful improvement in outcomes in PD-L1 negative NSCLC, a population with limited benefit from current therapies."

Positive Phase 1b results presented at SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) 2025 showed a 50% response rate in PD-L1 negative nonsquamous NSCLC patients treated with STK-012 in combination with PCT, substantially higher than the 23–32% response typically seen with standard of care alone. Notably, similarly high response rates were observed in patients with immune-resistant tumor profiles, such as those patients with STK11 or KEAP1 mutations, which have a high prevalence in PD-L1 negative NSCLC.

"PD-L1 negative patients represent 30-40% of new nonsquamous NSCLC diagnoses and typically face poor prognosis on standard-of-care therapy, highlighting the need for new treatment options in this setting," said Naiyer Rizvi, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Synthekine. "SYNERGY-101 will help determine whether STK-012 can offer a new standard of care for this underserved population."

For additional information about the trial, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov using the identifier NCT05098132.

About SYNERGY-101

SYNERGY-101 is a global, randomized Phase 2 study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of STK-012 in combination with PCT in first line, PD-L1 negative nonsquamous NSCLC patients. This trial aims to enroll approximately 105 patients, with a primary endpoint of overall response rate based on RECIST v1.1. Secondary endpoints include progression-free survival and safety.

About PD-L1 Negative Nonsquamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the third-most common cancer in the United States and is a serious and life-threatening disease, which is expected to account for 20% of cancer deaths in 2025.1 Nonsquamous NSCLC is the most common form of lung cancer and PD-L1 negative patients account for 30 – 40% of these patients, who have a poor prognosis despite currently available standard-of-care therapies.

1Cancer Facts & Figures 2025, American Cancer Society (ACS), Atlanta, Georgia, 2025

About STK-012

STK-012 is a first-in-class α/β-IL-2 receptor biased partial agonist engineered to selectively stimulate antigen-activated T cells, which are associated with potent anti-tumor activity, while minimizing activation of other lymphocytes, such as natural killer (NK) cells or naïve T cells, which are associated with IL-2 related toxicity.

(Press release, Synthekine, NOV 13, 2025, View Source [SID1234659944])

On November 13, 2025 Virometix AG, a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering fully synthetic vaccines, reported the completion of a $15 million financing round from existing shareholders. The funds will support continued clinical and development activities for V-212, Virometix’s lead serotype-independent pneumococcal vaccine candidate, currently in Phase I clinical evaluation.

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Proceeds from the financing will be used to:

Advance the ongoing Phase I clinical trial of V-212, with topline results expected in Q1 2026.
Prepare for a planned Phase Ib combination trial evaluating V-212 with an approved pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV).
Complete OPK assay validation to support immunogenicity and functional data read-outs.
Implement platform enhancements to the company’s proprietary Synthetic Virus-Like Particle (SVLP) technology.
Progress next-generation serotype-independent pneumococcal vaccine programs toward preclinical development.
"This financing demonstrates the continued confidence and commitment of our investors to Virometix’s mission and platform," said Anna Sumeray, Chief Executive Officer of Virometix. "Our fully synthetic SVLP technology enables the design of broad-spectrum, self-adjuvanted vaccines with highly scalable manufacturing. With V-212 in clinical development, we are well positioned to deliver a truly next-generation approach to pneumococcal prevention."

About V-212

V-212 is a fully synthetic, serotype-independent, peptide-based vaccine designed to prevent Streptococcus pneumoniaeinfections. The vaccine incorporates multiple conserved antigenic epitopes from key pneumococcal surface proteins conjugated to Virometix’s proprietary SVLP nanoparticles, which include built-in adjuvant elements such as T-helper epitopes and Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands. This unique design eliminates dependence on biological carrier proteins and allows for a streamlined, fully synthetic manufacturing process.

Preclinical studies demonstrated robust and durable immunogenicity in mouse and rabbit models, protection against lethal sepsis, and cross-reactivity with multiple pneumococcal serotypes, including non-PCV-13 types—underscoring V-212’s potential for broad protection.

The ongoing Phase I clinical trial (NCT06975319) is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, first-in-human study being conducted at the Centre for Vaccinology (CEVAC), Ghent University Hospital. Sixty healthy volunteers aged 18–45 have been enrolled, and topline safety and immunogenicity data are anticipated in the first quarter of 2026.

(Press release, Virometix, NOV 13, 2025, View Source [SID1234659943])

On November 13, 2025 Flashpoint Therapeutics, a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of structural nanomedicine, reported the publication of foundational research demonstrating the power of its proprietary Spherical Nucleic Acid (SNA) platform to create highly potent and targeted cancer therapies. The study, published in the journal ACS Nano by a team led by Flashpoint’s scientific co-founder Professor Chad A. Mirkin at the International Institute for Nanotechnology at Northwestern University, reports results of research with a new chemotherapeutic SNA that selectively targets and eliminates acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells in preclinical models.

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The publication highlights a revolutionary approach to nanomedicine design which incorporates the chemotherapeutic agent into the shell of the nanoparticle. Unlike conventional nanocarriers that encapsulate drugs within a core, Flashpoint’s SNAs are built with oligonucleotides made from units of a chemotherapeutic drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu), anchored to a nanoparticle core. This unique architecture, a key tenet of structural nanomedicine, drives the therapeutic’s biological activity, enabling preferential uptake by myeloid cells, the lineage from which AML originates.

The study reports exceptional efficacy and a promising safety profile. Key findings include:

Targeted Delivery: The SNAs were selectively taken up by myeloid cells, including AML cells, at rates up to 12.5 times higher than the free drug components.
Potent Efficacy: The SNA construct demonstrated up to a 10,000-fold enhancement in cancer cell killing in vitro compared to the free drug. In a human AML mouse model, the therapy exhibited 59-fold greater antitumor efficacy than 5-Fu.
Favorable Safety: The potent anti-leukemia activity was achieved without observable side effects in animal models, suggesting a wide therapeutic window and the potential to reduce the harsh toxicities associated with conventional chemotherapy.
"This groundbreaking research by Professor Mirkin’s laboratory validates the capability of Flashpoint Therapeutics’ technology platform to precisely control the structure of a medicine at the nanoscale, thereby unlocking unprecedented therapeutic properties," said Barry Labinger, Chief Executive Officer of Flashpoint Therapeutics. "The results in AML are a powerful demonstration of our platform’s ability to create targeted, highly potent drug candidates that overcome the limitations of conventional approaches. We are excited to advance this and other programs based on our structural nanomedicine platform to bring transformative new treatments to patients."

AML is a devastating blood cancer with low survival rates, particularly for older patients who cannot tolerate aggressive chemotherapy. Flashpoint’s approach offers the potential for a new precision medicine that can effectively eliminate cancer cells while minimizing collateral damage to the body.

"This is a new class of chemotherapeutic that is defined by its structure," said Professor Mirkin. "Today’s chemotherapeutics kill cancer cells but also a lot of healthy cells. Our structural nanomedicine preferentially seeks out the myeloid cells, where the AML resides. Instead of overwhelming the whole body with chemotherapy, it delivers a higher, more focused dose where it is needed."

The full article, titled "Chemotherapeutic Spherical Nucleic Acids," can be found in ACS Nano.

(Press release, Flashpoint Therapeutics, NOV 13, 2025, View Source [SID1234659942])

On November 13, 2025 Kiyatec, a leader in functional oncology testing with its proprietary 3D Predict platform, reported it has closed a strategic investment round led by MBD, a South Korea-based technology leader. This new investment solidifies a strategic commercial partnership aimed at leveraging MBD’s automated platform technology to rapidly scale Kiyatec’s U.S. testing capabilities and accelerate the launch of its diagnostic panels for multiple cancer types along with new AI tools.

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The partnership represents a significant step in Kiyatec’s mission to provide clinicians with essential drug response data for cancer patients worldwide. MBD’s state-of-the-art automation will be integrated into Kiyatec’s CLIA/CAP laboratory operations in Greenville, SC, dramatically enhancing throughput and quality control as the company expands its commercial footprint.

"This strategic investment marks a pivotal moment for Kiyatec," said Eric Perreault, CEO of Kiyatec. "MBD is not just a financial partner; they are a technological force multiplier. By integrating their advanced automated platform, we can immediately enhance our scale, reduce turnaround times, and solidify our path to providing drug response results to thousands of glioblastoma patients. Crucially, this partnership will accelerate the validation and launch of our testing panels for other high-incidence cancers, including ovarian, breast, and non-small cell lung cancer."

The immediate integration of MBD’s technology is designed to optimize Kiyatec’s operational efficiency, enabling the company to meet the growing demand from physicians across the United States.

Bosung Ku, CEO of MBD, commented on the partnership: "Kiyatec’s 3D Predict technology and its compelling clinical performance data—particularly in glioblastoma—represent the future of personalized oncology. Our investment reflects our firm commitment to supporting global leaders who are advancing patient care. We look forward to seeing the immediate impact of our automated platform integration as Kiyatec scales its commercial operations and moves swiftly to bring vital functional diagnostic information to patients with brain, lung, breast and gynecological cancers."

The investment will primarily be utilized to fund the company’s commercial expansion, AI tool integration and further drive clinical evidence generation necessary for broad reimbursement coverage.

(Press release, Kiyatec, NOV 13, 2025, View Source [SID1234659941])