On January 27, 2026 Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. ("Simcere") (HKEX: 2096) and Boehringer Ingelheim, reported a license and collaboration agreement to develop SIM0709, a pre-clinical TL1A/IL23p19 bispecific antibody from Simcere, for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

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Globally, it is estimated that more than three million people are affected by IBD, a lifelong, progressive condition leading to frequent hospitalization and surgeries, significantly impacting patients’ quality of life. Current medical options cannot fully prevent or reverse these complications, leaving a clear unmet need. Through this partnership, Boehringer and Simcere aim to advance an innovative approach to potentially redefine treatment possibilities and improve outcomes for patients worldwide.

SIM0709 is a long-acting humanized bispecific antibody developed by Simcere using its proprietary multi-specific antibody platform. It simultaneously targets tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 15 (TL1A) and interleukin-23 (IL-23), thereby blocking two core pathways that drive the onset and progression of IBD. Both in vitro primary cell studies and in vivo animal studies, SIM0709 demonstrated superior synergistic efficacy, even outperforming the combination of the two corresponding monotherapies.

Carine Boustany, US Innovation Unit Site Head and Global Head of Immunology and Respiratory Diseases at Boehringer Ingelheim said, "In IBD, too many patients continue to progress and experience severe complications despite currently available anti-inflammatory therapies. We are excited to join forces with Simcere to accelerate the development of this therapeutic as a potential life changing option for patients living with IBD."

"Simcere’s bispecific antibody SIM0709 was engineered with our proprietary multi-specific antibody platform with first-in-class potential for IBD treatment. Partnering with Boehringer Ingelheim, with its long‑term commitment and deep expertise in immunology, positions the compound for rigorous global development," said Gaobo Zhou, Chief Investment Officer, Simcere Pharmaceutical Group. "Together we aim to accelerate the clinical development and advance a treatment option that could improve outcomes for patients world-wide affected by IBD."

Under the terms of the agreement Boehringer receives global rights to the asset, excluding greater China. Simcere is eligible to receive an upfront payment as well as success-based development, regulatory and sales milestones up to EUR 1,058 million, as well as royalties on net sales outside of the Greater China territory.

This marks Simcere’s second out- licensing transaction in the autoimmune field. As of January 2026, Simcere has completed a total of 5 out-licensing deals for its self-developed novel drug technologies, with a total potential transaction value of approximately $4.6 billion.

(Press release, Boehringer Ingelheim, JAN 27, 2026, View Source [SID1234662304])

On January 27, 2026 Insilico Medicine, a clinical-stage biotechnology company powered by generative AI, and Qilu Pharmaceutical Group, a major comprehensive modern pharmaceutical enterprise in China, as well as its subsidiary Shanghai Qilu Pharmaceutical Research Center, reported a strategic partnership on innovative drug development, leveraging Insilico’s proprietary Pharma.AI platform to jointly develop small molecule inhibitors, focusing on specific targets for cardiometabolic disease management.

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According to the agreement, Insilico Medicine will utilize its proprietary Pharma.AI platform to focus on the design and optimization of novel small molecules for treating metabolic diseases, while Qilu Pharmaceutical Group will be responsible for subsequent development and commercialization procedures. The total contract value approaches $120 million, including development and commercialization milestone payments, as well as single-digit royalties based on net sales.

Weikang Tao, PhD, Board Member, Group VP & Head of Global R&D, Qilu Pharmaceutical Group said, "As a leading pharmaceutical company in China, Qilu has always attached great importance to the quick advancement of AI technology, in particular, the application of AI in drug R&D and its potential. Insilico is a well-known biotech in AI-powered drug R&D with advanced AI technology and application capabilities. This collaboration marks a deepening of our partnership, evolving from initial software licensing to in-depth, R&D collaboration. We look forward to the smooth progress of this innovative drug discovery and development project through the synergy of Qilu’s extensive R&D experience and capabilities and Insilico’s advanced AI platform and expertise, thereby to address unmet medical needs and to bring new hope to patients worldwide."

Alex Zhavoronkov, PhD, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Business Officer of Insilico Medicine said, "We are pleased to see Insilico Medicine and Qilu Pharmaceutical further deepen their strategic collaboration driven by generative AI. Recently, Insilico Medicine unveiled its proprietary cardiometabolic portfolio at the BIO-Europe conference, covering 8 drug candidates ranging from hit to IND-enabling stage, all driven by Pharma.AI in their development process. I believe that strategies targeting cardiometabolic diseases have the potential to generate the first drugs to achieve large-scale healthspan extension, and I look forward to AI technology accelerating innovation in the field and maximizing potential."

Based on drug discovery and development, software solution licensing, and innovative expansion beyond drug development, Insilico Medicine continues to validate its diversified business model, securing software licensing agreements with 13 of the world’s top 20 multinational pharmaceutical companies, establishing research collaborations with upfront payments of tens of millions of dollars with Fosun Pharma and Sanofi; and reaching pipeline out-licensing deals with Exelixis and Menarini Group, with total transaction values exceeding $2 billion. Notably, Qilu Pharmaceutical first started using PandaOmics in 2021, thus leading to the near $120 million collaboration today, which will further deepen the empowering role of the artificial intelligence platform and drive innovative therapy development with even higher efficiency.

In 2016, Insilico first described the concept of using generative AI for the design of novel molecules in a peer-reviewed journal, which laid the foundation for the commercially available Pharma.AI platform. Since then, Insilico keeps integrating technical breakthroughs into Pharma.AI platform, which is currently a generative AI-powered solution spanning across biology, chemistry, medicine development and science research. Powered by Pharma.AI, Insilico has nominated 22 developmental/preclinical candidates (DC/PCC) in its comprehensive portfolio of over 30 assets since 2021, with the most advanced candidate Rentosertib achieving positive results in Phase IIa clinical trials, achieving the first proof-of-concept for AI-driven drug development in the clinical stage.

(Press release, Insilico Medicine, JAN 27, 2026, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/insilico-medicine-and-qilu-pharmaceutical-reach-near-120-million-drug-development-collaboration-to-accelerate-novel-cardiometabolic-therapies-302671276.html [SID1234662303])

On January 27, 2026 BridGene Biosciences, Inc., a leader in the discovery and development of small molecule drugs for traditionally "hard-to-drug" targets, reported the recent completion of a $28 million Series B+ financing round. The round was led by Bayland Capital, with participation from GTJA Investment Group, Proxima Ventures, and existing investors Lapam Capital and Grains Valley Venture Capital.

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Proceeds from the financing will be used to advance BGC-515, a covalent TEAD inhibitor for solid tumors, through ongoing clinical development and toward Phase 2. The funding will also support the company’s second program, expected to enter the clinic in 2027, and accelerate the development of additional programs in oncology and autoimmune diseases. In addition, the financing enhances BridGene’s capacity to expand strategic collaborations and further validate the broad applicability of its proprietary IMTAC chemoproteomic platform across oncology, immunology, and neurology.

"Our recent financing provides important resources to advance our lead program, BGC-515, a covalent TEAD inhibitor, through Phase 2 clinical development," said Ping Cao, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of BridGene Biosciences. "This funding will also enable us to progress additional pipeline programs toward the clinic and further expand the reach of our IMTAC chemoproteomic platform through strategic collaborations, as we continue to translate our discoveries into transformative therapies for patients."

"We are excited to lead this financing round for BridGene Biosciences," said Yuexing Su, Founding Partner of Bayland Capital. "BridGene’s IMTAC platform represents a powerful and differentiated approach to drug discovery, enabling the company to discover small molecules against traditionally undruggable targets. With a growing pipeline led by the covalent TEAD inhibitor BGC-515 and multiple follow-on programs across oncology and autoimmune diseases, we believe BridGene is well positioned to deliver transformative therapies to patients and generate substantial value in the biopharmaceutical field."

(Press release, Bridgene Biosciences, JAN 27, 2026, View Source [SID1234662302])

On January 27, 2026 Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 4519) reported that the preclinical study results of ROSE12, an anti-CTLA-4 switch antibody discovered by Chugai and currently being evaluated in a Phase I clinical study in patients with solid tumors, have been published in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer. The Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer is a prestigious academic journal in the field of cancer immunotherapy, published by the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper).

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"ROSE12, a novel anti-CTLA-4 FcγRs binding-enhanced antibody activated by extracellular adenosine triphosphate, shows tumor selective regulatory T-cell depletion and antitumor efficacy without systemic immune activation"
View Source

This study demonstrated the following:

ROSE12, an anti-CTLA-4 antibody that binds to CTLA-4 in an ATP-dependent manner and selectively depletes Tregs in tumors where ATP is present at high concentrations, was discovered
ROSE12 binds to CTLA-4 in the presence of ATP, exhibits antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity, and depletes Tregs. In contrast, ROSE12 does not bind to CTLA-4 or exhibit activity in the absence of ATP (in vitro studies)
ROSE12 demonstrated antitumor efficacy in mouse models bearing multiple cancer cell lines, including those resistant to existing immune checkpoint inhibitors (mouse studies)
ROSE12 reduced systemic immune reactions mediated by mechanisms such as Treg depletion in normal tissues (mouse studies)
ROSE12 was confirmed to be tolerable in toxicity studies using monkeys
About ROSE12
ROSE12 is an anti-CTLA-4 switch antibody utilizing Chugai’s proprietary antibody engineering technology, Switch-Ig. It is designed to recognize adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is known to be present at high concentrations in tumor tissues, as a switch molecule to become activated and selectively deplete regulatory T cells (Tregs) that highly express CTLA-4. Phase I clinical study in patients with solid tumors is currently underway to demonstrate that ROSE12 exerts antitumor efficacy while avoiding systemic immune-related adverse events through its tumor-selective mechanism of action.
ROSE12 was discovered using Chugai’s drug discovery technologies, originating from the joint research project with Professor Shimon Sakaguchi, Distinguished Honorary Professor of the University of Osaka and Specially Appointed Professor at the Immunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC), a leading authority in Treg research.

About Switch-Ig
Switch-Ig is a technology that enhances the disease site selectivity of antibodies. Conventional antibodies can bind to target antigens not only at disease sites but also in normal tissues, potentially causing problems such as adverse events. Switch-Ig antibodies are designed to bind to target antigens in the presence of molecules (switch molecules) that are selectively present at high concentrations at disease sites, and are less likely to react with target antigens in normal tissues where the concentration of switch molecules is low. By using this technology, antibodies can be made to react selectively at disease sites, which is expected to reduce toxicity issues caused by binding to normal tissues.

About Regulatory T Cells (Tregs)
Tregs play a central role in immune suppression and are one of the important target cells in cancer immunotherapy. The primary role of Tregs is to regulate the activity of other immune cells. For example, they suppress excessive immune responses. However, reduced Treg function can disrupt the balance of the immune system, potentially leading to autoimmune diseases, such as IPEX syndrome*, rheumatoid arthritis, type-1 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. Conversely, overactive Tregs can suppress antitumor immune responses, potentially worsening cancer.

(Press release, Chugai, JAN 27, 2026, View Source;category= [SID1234662299])

On January 27, 2026 Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 4519) reported that it filed a regulatory application with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for the anti-cancer agent/humanized anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody Tecentriq 840mg Intravenous Infusion [generic name: atezolizumab (genetical recombination)] for an additional indication of adjuvant therapy for MRD*-positive bladder cancer (MIBC).
* Minimal Residual Disease

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"Muscle-invasive bladder cancer has a high recurrence rate after surgery, underscoring the need to optimize adjuvant treatment based on each patient’s individual risk. Tecentriq offers a new adjuvant treatment option for patients identified as having a high risk of recurrence through the detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in blood tests. By advancing the personalization of cancer care, we remain committed to securing approval so that every patient can receive the most appropriate treatment for their condition," said Chugai’s President and CEO, Dr. Osamu Okuda.
** circulating tumor DNA

This filing is based on the results from a global phase III IMvigor011 study, which evaluated the efficacy and safety of Tecentriq monotherapy or placebo, as adjuvant therapy in patients with ctDNA MRD-positive MIBC. In this study, both the primary endpoint, disease-free survival (DFS), and the main secondary endpoint, overall survival (OS), showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements. The safety profile observed in this study was consistent with the well-established safety profile of Tecentriq in previous studies.

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

About IMvigor011 study
The IMvigor011 study is a global Phase III clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of Tecentriq monotherapy or placebo as adjuvant therapy in patients with ctDNA MRD positive muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). The primary endpoint was disease-free survival, and the secondary endpoints included overall survival and safety.

About muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC)
Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is a type of bladder cancer, and about 25% of bladder cancers are MIBC.1) The annual incidence of MIBC in Japan is estimated to be approximately 6,000 cases as of 2021.2) MIBC has a high risk of recurrence after radical cystectomy and remains an area of unmet medical need, amid concerns about unnecessary treatment. More personalized development of new therapeutic options is desired.

About Tecentriq
Tecentriq is a cancer immune checkpoint inhibitor targeting PD-L1, which is a protein expressed on tumor and tumor-infiltrating immune cells. PD-L1 blocks T cell activity by binding with PD-1 and B7.1 receptors on T cell surface. By inhibiting PD-L1, Tecentriq may enable the activation of T cells and boost immune response against cancer cells. In Japan, Tecentriq was launched in April 2018 and has obtained approval for 7 tumour types (extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, alveolar soft part sarcoma, extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma nasal type, and thymic carcinoma).

(Press release, Chugai, JAN 27, 2026, View Source;category= [SID1234662298])