On April 1, 2026 Adagene Inc. ("Adagene") (Nasdaq: ADAG), a platform-driven, clinical-stage biotechnology company transforming the discovery and development of novel anti-body-based therapies, reported financial results for the full year 2025 and provided corporate updates.
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"Our clinical data for muzastotug plus pembrolizumab consistently demonstrate potent, dose-dependent efficacy," said Peter Luo, Ph.D., Chairman and President of R&D at Adagene. "The 10 mg/kg data reported at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) have now matured into the classic long survival tail of CTLA-4 inhibition. By significantly mitigating severe toxicities, patients remain on therapy longer, allowing CTLA-4-mediated intratumoral Treg depletion, alongside PD-1-mediated reinvigoration and CTLA-4-mediated priming of effector T cells, to drive durable disease control. Importantly, these data provide a clear, de-risked read-through to the 20 mg/kg dose, which already shows an encouraging 29% ORR with median duration of response not yet reached.
"Supported by Fast Track Designation and FDA alignment under Project Optimus, we are on track to finalize the optimal combination dose regimen for a potential MSS colorectal cancer registrational trial. The expanded therapeutic window also helps to establish muzastotug as a foundational combination backbone. At AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper), we will showcase this potential with data from triplet regimens—combining with fruquintinib in 3L+ MSS CRC, alongside results from the Morpheus Liver study evaluating a triplet of muzastotug, atezolizumab, and bevacizumab versus atezolizumab and bevacizumab alone in first-line HCC. These readouts underscore our ability to safely unlock deeper responses in hard-to-treat tumors."
2026 OBJECTIVES & CASH RUNWAY INTO EARLY 2028
· Data update from the ongoing Phase 1b/2 study of muzastotug in combination with Merck’s (known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada) anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in 3L+ MSS CRC, including 41 patients in the 10 mg/kg cohorts and 26 patients in the 20 mg/kg cohorts
· Complete enrollment of the ongoing randomized Phase 2 dose-optimization study with muzastotug, which is being conducted in alignment with FDA Project Optimus, and designed to allow dose regimen selection for Phase 3.
· Provide preliminary clinical data, including pathological responses, to inform future development from investigator-initiated Phase 2 trial for neoadjuvant muzastotug + pembrolizumab in colorectal cancer.
· Provide initial clinical data from a new cohort of patients in the ongoing Phase 1b/2 study of muzastotug + pembrolizumab in combination with standard of care (fruquintinib) in MSS CRC patients.
· Share results of the clinical trial collaboration with Roche, which evaluates muzastotug in triplet combination with atezolizumab and bevacizumab in first-line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; liver cancer).
· Establish additional collaboration/licensing agreements.
With cash and cash equivalents of $74.5 million as of December 31, 2025, plus proceeds raised from the ATM Offering in 2026 year-to-date, Company expects a cash runway extending into early 2028.
PIPELINE HIGHLIGHTS
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH 2026 PRESENTATIONS
The following abstracts have been selected for presentation at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2026:
1) Title: Ph1b evaluation of ADG126 (muzastotug, an anti-CTLA-4 masking antibody) pembrolizumab (Pembro) IO doublet in combination with fruquintinib (Fruq) in advanced and metastatic microsatellite stable colorectal cancer
This poster will provide initial clinical data from a new cohort of patients in the ongoing Phase 1b/2 study of muzastotug + pembrolizumab in combination with standard of care (fruquintinib) in MSS CRC patients.
2) Title: Results from the phase 1b/2 Morpheus Liver study in patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): Muzastotug (ADG126: masked anti-CTLA-4 Ab) combination arm
This poster will share results of the clinical trial collaboration with Roche, which evaluates muzastotug in triplet combination with atezolizumab and bevacizumab in first-line treatment of liver cancer.
3) Title: Preclinical characterization of XB404, a masked anti-ROR1/2 antibody-drug conjugate
Partner Exelixis will present preclinical data from antibody-drug conjugate, XB404, built with Adagene’s SAFEbody masking technology and designed to deliver a cytotoxic payload to ROR1/2-expressing tumors while minimizing on-target, off-tumor side effects.
ONGOING COLLABORATIONS
· Sanofi: Invested up to $25 million to support muzastotug’s randomized Phase 2 study. Separately, Adagene will supply Sanofi with muzastotug to evaluate the safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetics and biomarker data in combination with Sanofi’s SAR445877 (PD-1 x IL-15 fusion protein) in over 100 patients in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in advanced solid tumors. Sanofi also exercised its option for a third SAFEbody discovery program.
· Third Arc Bio: Partnered to develop two masked CD3 T cell engagers, expanding SAFEbody into next-generation T cell therapies.
· Exelixis: Advanced a third masked ADC against a solid tumor target, building on the 2021 collaboration.
· ConjugateBio: Collaborated on bispecific ADCs using Adagene-derived antibody, further demonstrating scalable platform potential.
· Roche: Roche is sponsoring and conducting a phase 1b/2 multi-national trial to evaluate ADG126 in a triple combination with atezolizumab and bevacizumab in first-line hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Cash and Cash Equivalents:
Cash and cash equivalents were US$74.5 million as of December 31, 2025, compared to US$85.2 million as of December 31, 2024. Total borrowings from commercial banks in China (denominated in RMB) decreased to US$6.1 million as of December 31, 2025 from US$ 18.2 million as of December 31, 2024. The associated loan proceeds were primarily used to pay for the company’s R&D activities in China.
Net Revenue:
Net revenue was US$7.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to US$0.1 million in 2024. The increase of approximately 7,333% reflects net revenue recognized upon fulfillment of certain performance obligations associated with the collaboration and technology licensing agreements with Sanofi, ConjugateBio and Third Arc Bio, respectively.
Research and Development (R&D) Expenses:
R&D expenses were US$22.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to US$28.8 million in 2024. The decrease of approximately 23% in R&D expenses reflects clinical focus on and prioritization of the company’s masked, anti-CTLA-4 SAFEbody ADG126.
Administrative Expenses:
Administrative expenses were US$7.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to US$7.3 million in 2024. The decrease was mainly a result of cost-control measures.
Net Loss:
Net loss attributable to Adagene Inc.’s shareholders was US$17.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to US$33.4 million in 2024.
Ordinary Shares Outstanding:
As of December 31, 2025, there were 59,231,993 ordinary shares issued and outstanding. Each American depository share, or ADS, represents one and one quarter (1.25) ordinary shares of the company.
ADG126- Phase 1b/2 data:
· As presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2025, muzastotug showed 29% (6/21) confirmed overall response rate (ORR) in the combined 20 mg/kg dose cohorts.
· Among 41 patients in the combined 10mg/kg dose cohorts, median overall survival (mOS) was 19.4 months with a 17.8-month median follow-up, which compares favorably to 11-12 month mOS from fruquintinib Phase 3 trials in the same population1
· Across 67 patients in all cohorts, a low 4% overall discontinuation rate, no dose limiting toxicities, and no Grade 4 or 5 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs); Grade 3 TRAEs were 15% in the 10 mg/kg cohorts and 27% in the 20 mg/kg cohorts, which were generally transient and manageable.
· Updated data demonstrate the durability of response and further support the optimized therapeutic index profile of muzastotug, which overcomes well-known dose-limiting toxicities of other CTLA-4 inhibitors at 10-20-fold higher doses2, to provide potentially improved efficacy.
· Randomized Phase 2 trial enrollment ongoing, with results expected in 1H 2027; registration trial expected to begin once optimal dose regimen has been established
(Press release, Adagene, APR 1, 2026, View Source [SID1234664119])