On September 29, 2026 Kyowa Kirin International, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. (TSE:4151, Kyowa Kirin), reported the signing of an exclusive distribution agreement with Knight Therapeutics ("Knight") (TSX: GUD) for the distribution of mogamulizumab in select countries in Latin America.

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Under the terms of the agreement, Knight will be responsible for seeking the necessary regulatory approvals and commercialising mogamulizumab for mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS), two subtypes of CTCL, a rare non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico. Knight will hold exclusive distribution rights for the medicine in these markets.

Kyowa Kirin and Knight’s collaboration aims to support CTCL patients and improve their access to innovative therapies in Latin America.

Céline Rhême, Cluster General Manager, Emerging Growth Markets, Kyowa Kirin, commented: "CTCL is more common in this region than many realise, and further work is needed to identify unmet needs and therefore drive improvements in patient outcomes.1 We have an opportunity, and a responsibility to change that. Through our proud partnership with Knight Therapeutics, we can help to increase patient access in Latin America, as part of our ongoing and relentless commitment to bring life-changing value and make people smile."

The exclusive agreement marks Kyowa Kirin’s first collaboration into Latin America with mogamulizumab and represents an important milestone in the company’s growth strategy. By combining Kyowa Kirin’s expertise in rare diseases with Knight’s established regional presence, the partnership will help extend the company’s reach to more patients living with CTCL and other rare diseases across the region.

(Press release, Kyowa Hakko Kirin, SEP 29, 2026, View Source [SID1234671169])

On September 29, 2026 Zai Lab Limited (NASDAQ: ZLAB; HKEX: 9688) reported that global data from a clinical trial evaluating zocilurtatug pelitecan (zoci, formerly ZL-1310) for the first-line treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) will be shared for the first time at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress 2026 taking place October 23-27, 2026, in Madrid.

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Zoci is a novel, potential first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), that targets Delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3), a validated therapeutic target that is overexpressed in SCLC and is generally associated with poor clinical outcomes. The Phase 1b/1c cohort of the global trial is exploring the safety and efficacy of zoci in combination with atezolizumab with or without carboplatin.

"We look forward to sharing results from this trial evaluating zoci as first-line therapy for small cell lung cancer, one of the most aggressive and lethal solid tumors," said Rafael G. Amado, M.D., President, Head of Global Research and Development at Zai Lab. "We continue to be encouraged by zoci’s potential best-in-class safety profile, coupled with compelling systemic and intracranial efficacy that support zoci monotherapy as a potential new standard of care in previously treated ES-SCLC, as well as a backbone ADC in first-line combination regimens, including those that reduce the burden of chemotherapy."

ESMO 2026 zoci poster details:

Title: ZL 1310 (DLL3 ADC) plus Atezolizumab ± Carboplatin in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer: Part 1b/1c results from Study ZL 1310-001
Session Title: SCLC
Date/Time: October 26, 2026; 12:00-12:45 CEST
Location: Poster Area – Hall 5
Poster Board Number: 3817P
Abstract Number: 1569

Details regarding the webcast and conference call are as follows:

Date/Time: Friday, October 23, 2026, at 5:00 a.m. PT / 8:00 a.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. HKT
Registration available at:
Webcast presentation (preferred): View Source
Dial-in: View Source

Presenters: Rafael G. Amado, M.D., President, Head of Global Research and Development, Zai Lab; Pedro Rocha, M.D., Ph.D, MSc, Medical Oncology Department, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital

(Press release, Zai Laboratory, SEP 29, 2026, View Source [SID1234671168])

On September 29, 2026 Lantern Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRN) ("Lantern", the "Company" or "we"), a clinical-stage, AI-native biopharma company using artificial intelligence and genomic data to develop precision oncology therapies, reported that it has entered into a definitive agreement for the purchase and sale of an aggregate of 3,669,725 shares of its common stock (or pre-funded warrants in lieu thereof) at a purchase price of $1.09 per share (or pre-funded warrant in lieu thereof) in a registered direct offering. In addition, in a concurrent private placement, the Company will issue unregistered warrants to purchase up to 3,669,725 shares of common stock. The warrants will have an exercise price of $1.09 per share, will be exercisable beginning on the effective date of, and subject to, approval by the Company’s stockholders of the issuance of the shares of common stock upon exercise of the unregistered warrants (the "Stockholder Approval"), and will expire five years following the Stockholder Approval. The closing of the offering is expected to occur on or about September 30, 2026, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Rodman & Renshaw LLC is acting as the exclusive placement agent for the offering.

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The aggregate gross proceeds to the Company from the offering are expected to be approximately $4 million, before deducting the placement agent fees and other offering expenses payable by the Company. The potential additional gross proceeds from the unregistered warrants, if fully exercised on a cash basis, will be approximately $4 million. No assurance can be given that any of the warrants will be exercised. The Company currently intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

The shares of common stock (or pre-funded warrants in lieu thereof) (but not the warrants issued in the private placement or the shares of common stock underlying such warrants) are being offered by the Company pursuant to a "shelf" registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-279718) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on May 24, 2024, and became effective on June 10, 2024. The registered direct offering of the shares of common stock (or pre-funded warrants in lieu thereof) is being made only by means of a prospectus, including a prospectus supplement, forming a part of the effective registration statement. The prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the shares of common stock (or pre-funded warrants in lieu thereof) being offered in the registered direct offering will be filed with the SEC and be available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Electronic copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the registered direct offering may also be obtained, when available, by contacting Rodman & Renshaw LLC at 600 Lexington Avenue, 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10022, by telephone at (212) 540‑4414, or by email at [email protected].

The warrants described above are being issued in a concurrent private placement under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Regulation D promulgated thereunder and, along with the shares of common stock underlying the warrants, have not been registered under the Securities Act, or applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, the warrants and underlying shares of common stock may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and such applicable state securities laws.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

(Press release, Lantern Pharma, SEP 29, 2026, View Source [SID1234671167])

On September 29, 2026 Senticell, Inc. ("Senticell" or the "Company"), a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of liquid biopsy built on red blood cell (RBC)-bound nucleic acids, reported it has been awarded a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The award will fund the project "RBC-Based Liquid Biopsy for Early Detection of Tumor DNA in Resectable NSCLC," conducted with the University of Pennsylvania as a sub awardee to the STTR award.

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"This STTR award is an important validation of our science from one of the most rigorous review processes in government funding, and it provides grant funding to support research that complements the funding we’ve received from our recent seed financing," said Neha Shah, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Senticell. "It allows us to move faster on the specific data package that matters most to clinicians and regulators: showing that RBC-bound tumor DNA can meaningfully improve early detection of lung cancer."

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and no liquid biopsy test is currently available to adequately guide clinical decisions in early-stage disease. Research shows that red blood cells actively bind and retain tumor-derived DNA, offering a potential biomarker that may be more stable and abundant than the circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) found in plasma-based assays. The STTR award will support two research aims: the first, using murine tumor models, will characterize how RBCs acquire and retain tumor DNA over time relative to plasma ctDNA; the second will extend these findings clinically by evaluating RBC-based mutation detection in 100 patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

"Early in my career, I was told that red blood cells would not be a fruitful area of investigation. But over the past two decades, my research at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania challenged that assumption and revealed that red blood cells interact with and retain nucleic acids in ways we did not previously understand," said Dr. Nilam Mangalmurti, whose discoveries have given rise to the technology that serves as the foundation of Senticell. "Our preliminary work suggests red blood cells may retain tumor DNA longer and in greater abundance than plasma. This grant lets us rigorously test that biology, first in animal models and then in a cohort of 100 early-stage NSCLC patients, to determine whether it can become a reliable diagnostic tool."

The findings from this NIH Phase I STTR award are intended to lay the scientific and clinical groundwork for a multi-center clinical validation study and to support a regulatory strategy toward FDA marketing authorization, with the ultimate goal of enabling earlier, more accurate detection of lung cancer to guide treatment decisions.

(Press release, Senticell, SEP 29, 2026, View Source [SID1234671166])

On September 29, 2026 Hengrui Pharma (600276.SH; 01276.HK) reported that it has entered into a license agreement with Novo Nordisk (Novo) for HRS-1596, a phase I-ready glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor (GIPR) dual agonist, with potential for once-weekly oral dosing.

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Under the terms of the agreement, Novo will obtain exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialise HRS-1596 globally, excluding the Chinese mainland, the Hong Kong SAR, the Macao SAR and Taiwan Region. The potential total value of the agreement is up to 2.6 billion US dollars contingent on the achievement of applicable development, regulatory and commercial milestones. This includes a 300 million dollars upfront payment. In addition, Hengrui Pharma is eligible to receive royalties based on net sales of HRS-1596 within the licensed territory.

"We are committed to continuous innovation, bringing better treatments to patients. HRS-1596 reflects this commitment in metabolic diseases, with the potential to offer the convenience of once-weekly oral administration," said Frank Jiang, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Hengrui Pharma. "This collaboration brings together Hengrui’s innovation strengths and Novo’s global leadership in GLP-1 therapies and obesity care. Together, we aim to advance this innovative therapy for patients worldwide."

"Novo has pioneered the field of oral peptides and as leaders, we continuously look to advance our broad and deep oral pipeline across obesity, diabetes and other cardiometabolic diseases through our strong internal capabilities and leading external innovation," said Martin Holst Lange, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President, Research & Development and Chief Scientific Officer at Novo. "Hengrui Pharma has a proven track record of discovering and advancing innovative therapies with the patients in the center, and we are excited to add HRS-1596 to our growing pipeline and to explore its potential to raise the bar for convenience in the field."

HRS-1596 is designed to reduce weight and improve glycemic control through multiple mechanisms, including appetite suppression, stimulation of insulin secretion, and improved insulin sensitivity, supporting its potential use in obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic diseases. HRS-1596 has potential to be developed for once-weekly oral administration, which would substantially reduce dosing frequency and improve convenience compared with current offerings. Hengrui Pharma has received approval in China to initiate phase I clinical trials with HRS-1596 for weight management and type 2 diabetes.

The license agreement is subject to clearance under the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.

(Press release, Hengrui Pharmaceuticals, SEP 29, 2026, View Source [SID1234671165])