On July 29, 2026 Johnson & Johnson1 (NYSE: JNJ) reported strategic agreements and collaboration with Sail Biomedicines (Sail), a biotechnology company developing in vivo CAR-T therapies for immune-mediated diseases. Johnson & Johnson will collaborate with Sail to advance its lead immune-mediated disease program and broader platform technology, with incentives to expand the application of Sail’s in vivo CAR-T platform across additional therapeutic targets over time. Johnson & Johnson2 will also make an equity investment in Sail. Additionally, Johnson & Johnson has been granted an exclusive option to acquire Sail for $2.58 billion.

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In vivo CAR-T therapies represent one of the most promising frontiers in medicine, with the potential to deliver transformative therapies across a range of cancer and immune-mediated diseases. Unlike traditional cell therapies, Sail’s lead program and platform are designed to reprogram a patient’s immune cells directly within the body, with the goal of resetting the immune system and delivering durable disease control. Through this collaboration, Johnson & Johnson and Sail will combine their expertise to advance innovative in vivo CAR-T therapies that have the potential to improve patient outcomes and ultimately deliver curative treatment approaches for people living with complex diseases.

"People living with serious immune-mediated diseases continue to need treatments that can deliver deeper, more durable disease control," said John Reed, Executive Vice President, Innovative Medicine Research & Development, Johnson & Johnson. "Sail’s innovative platform represents an exciting new approach that seeks to harness the power of CAR-T therapy in a simpler, more scalable way. By working together with Sail, we aim to accelerate the development of innovative therapies that have the potential to fundamentally transform how immune-mediated diseases are treated."

Building on its leadership in immunology and established expertise in CAR-T therapy within oncology, Johnson & Johnson continues to invest in emerging technologies with the potential to reshape disease treatment and transform patient outcomes. The agreement with Sail expands the Company’s capabilities in in vivo CAR-T, strengthens its position at the forefront of immune system reprogramming and immune reset, and creates opportunities to advance future programs across a range of complex diseases.

Under the terms of the agreements, Johnson & Johnson would make total initial payments of $785 million3, including a $465 million equity investment, and additional contingent payments of $140 million if certain development milestones are achieved. Subject to Johnson & Johnson’s decision to exercise the option, Johnson & Johnson would make an additional payment of $2.58 billion. Assuming exercise of the option, Johnson & Johnson expects the agreements to dilute adjusted operational earnings per share and adjusted earnings per share by approximately $0.18 in 2026 and approximately $1.28 in 2027. Please refer to the Current Report on Form 8-K furnished to the SEC on the date of this press release for updated full year 2026 guidance.

The transactions are subject to applicable regulatory approvals and/or other conditions.

(Press release, Johnson & Johnson, JUL 29, 2026, View Source [SID1234669505])

On July 29, 2026 Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) reported the successful completion of its acquisition of Firefly Bio, Inc., a biotechnology company advancing its proprietary Firelink degrader antibody conjugate (DAC) platform, for $1 billion in cash. The Firelink DAC platform expands Johnson & Johnson’s oncology portfolio and advances its ambition to develop targeted therapies for some of the most prevalent and difficult-to-treat solid tumors, including KRAS-driven cancers, where patients continue to face significant unmet need1.

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With the close of the transaction, Johnson & Johnson further deepens its capabilities in next-generation antibody engineering and broadens its strategy for tackling complex tumor biology. The Firelink DAC platform is designed to deliver highly selective protein degraders directly to cancer cells, enabling targeted activity while preserving healthy tissue—a key limitation of many current treatment approaches.

"The completion of this acquisition marks an important step in advancing new approaches to better address difficult-to-treat solid tumors," said John Reed, M.D., Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Innovative Medicine, Research & Development, Johnson & Johnson. "By bringing together Firefly Bio’s differentiated technology with our deep expertise in oncology and antibody engineering, we are well positioned to accelerate the development of more precise and effective therapies. We are excited to welcome the talented Firefly Bio team to Johnson & Johnson as we continue this work together."

Johnson & Johnson is at the forefront of oncology therapies

Anchored in decades of oncology leadership, Johnson & Johnson is redefining standards of care and expanding what is possible for people living with cancer. Integrating Firefly Bio’s capabilities further strengthens this commitment, enabling new approaches to address some of the most challenging solid tumors, including those driven by KRAS.

About the agreement

The transaction will be accounted for as an asset acquisition, resulting in an in-process research and development charge of approximately $1 billion in the third quarter of 2026. Johnson & Johnson expects the transaction to dilute adjusted operational earnings per share and adjusted earnings per share by approximately $0.46 in 2026 and approximately $0.08 in 2027. Please refer to the Current Report on Form 8-K furnished to the SEC on the date of this press release for updated full year 2026 guidance.

(Press release, Johnson & Johnson, JUL 29, 2026, View Source [SID1234669504])

On July 29, 2026 Insilico Medicine ("Insilico"; HKEX: 3696), a clinical-stage generative artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery company, reported that ISM6331, a novel, potential best-in-class pan-TEAD inhibitor driven by Insilico’s proprietary AI, has received Fast Track Designation (FTD) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma whose disease has progressed on or after prior treatment with anti-PD-1 antibody therapy, with or without anti-CTLA-4 antibody therapy, and platinum-based chemotherapy.

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According to the FDA’s relevant policy, Fast track is a process designed to facilitate the development, and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. This is the first Fast Track Designation granted to a program in Insilico’s AI-driven pipeline, recognizing ISM6331’s potential to provide a meaningful therapy where limited options exist or to offer improved clinical efficacy over available treatments. Previously, ISM6331 received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for the same indication in June 2024, following the ODD in February 2023 for Rentosertib (ISM001-055), Insilico’s lead program currently in Phase III clinical trial for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

With the Fast Track Designation, ISM6331 gains access to regulatory benefits designed to streamline its clinical development path, including enhanced FDA engagement represented by more frequent meetings and written feedback regarding clinical trial design, biomarker strategies, and overall development plans. Additionally, subject to meeting the relevant criteria, the program may qualify for Accelerated Approval, Priority Review and Rolling Review process. Under the Rolling Review process, completed sections of a Biologic License Application (BLA) or New Drug Application (NDA) may be submitted to FDA for review as they become available, rather than waiting for the entire application to be completed.

"Receiving Fast Track Designation validates the strong clinical potential of ISM6331, and that is a boost to our confidence in it, on top of promising preclinical results and Phase I first-in-human progresses," said Halle Zhang, Ph.D., Vice President, Clinical Development – Oncology at Insilico Medicine. "Moreover, ISM6331 boasts synergistic anti-tumor effects and potential to overcome drug resistance as combination therapy. We hope to work even more closely with the FDA as we accelerate clinical evaluation of ISM6331 for future development."

ISM6331 is a potential best-in-class pan-TEAD inhibitor nominated in Jun 2023, with its novel scaffold empowered by Chemistry42, Insilico’s proprietary generative chemistry platform. Chemistry42 utilized structure-based drug design strategies to design novel molecules, which were subsequently prioritized through its advanced scoring and reward pipelines.

"Through pan-TEAD inhibition, ISM6331 holds best-in-class potential by aiming to restore balance to the Hippo pathway and prevent the proliferation and survival of tumor cells, and we’re proud to see the Chemistry42-driven candidate has its value recognized by the regulatory authorities with both ODD and FTD," said Feng Ren, PhD, co-CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of Insilico Medicine. "At Insilico, we are delivering strategies to revolutionize drug R&D at scale, and the generative AI advantage in efficiency is largely maintained or even enhanced through innovation-friendly schemes like the FTD. We will always be open for global partnership and regulatory support to accelerate our clinical development momentum, and bring this innovative AI-driven option, among others, to patients in urgent need."

Due to the novel scientific rationale and promising first-hand data in preclinical or clinical studies, ISM6331 was previously featured in AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2024 Annual Meeting, and its initial Phase I first-in-human clinical data has been accepted for a brief oral presentation at the upcoming ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2026 Congress.

About ISM6331

ISM6331 is a potent pan-TEAD inhibitor, which not only effectively targets tumors with abnormalities in the hippo pathway but also shows synergistic anti-tumor effects and overcomes drug resistance in combination therapy. The novel, non-covalent structure of ISM6331 was guided by Chemistry42’s structure-based drug design strategy.

In preclinical studies, ISM6331 demonstrated broad anti-tumor efficacy, potent activity at low doses, and a favorable safety profile with favorable ADMET characteristics. In June 2024, ISM6331 was granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) by the FDA for the treatment of mesothelioma. In January 2025, the first patient was dosed in the global multicenter Phase I trial of ISM6331. In July 2026, ISM6331 received FDA Fast Track Designation.

(Press release, Insilico Medicine, JUL 29, 2026, View Source [SID1234669503])

On July 29, 2026 10x Genomics, Inc. (Nasdaq: TXG), the life science technology leader focused on accelerating science and advancing human health, reported a research collaboration with Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), one of Switzerland’s leading academic medical centers, to advance research in diagnostic applications of single cell and spatial technologies for cancer care.

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This collaboration builds on 10x’s broader efforts to work with leading research institutions to generate the scientific evidence needed to advance future diagnostic applications of single cell and spatial technologies.

Through this multi-year collaboration, the study intends to use 10x’s Flex Apex and Xenium platforms, with the goal of expanding to the Atera platform, to examine tumor samples from patients with advanced cancer undergoing a comprehensive evaluation by a clinical molecular tumor board. The research aims to identify clinically relevant biomarkers that may help predict treatment response, cancer prognosis and support diagnostic development.

The rapid expansion of targeted therapies, immunotherapies and other emerging treatment modalities is creating new opportunities for treating patients, while also increasing the complexity of treatment decision-making in oncology. As a result, there is a growing need for biomarkers that can help predict which patients are most likely to benefit from specific therapies, supporting more personalized treatment strategies.

"This collaboration brings together complementary expertise in spatial biology, pathology, computational AI and clinical precision oncology to address one of the biggest challenges in cancer care: predicting which patients will benefit from treatment," said Raphael Gottardo, Professor and Director of the Biomedical Data Science Center, CHUV. "Together, we aim to discover clinically actionable biomarkers that improve patient selection and bring more precise treatment decisions closer to routine clinical care."

The study is expected to include hundreds of patients across multiple solid tumor types, including non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer and melanoma. Researchers plan to integrate single cell and spatial biology with clinical outcomes data to better understand mechanisms of response and resistance across a range of therapeutic approaches, including antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific antibodies and immune checkpoint inhibitors. The collaboration also intends to investigate how 10x single cell and spatial technologies can be deployed clinically alongside current standard-of-care assays.

"The promise of precision oncology depends on understanding the biology that helps determine which therapies are most likely to benefit a given patient," said Serge Saxonov, Co-founder and CEO of 10x Genomics. "We believe single cell and spatial technologies provide a fundamentally richer view of the biology within tumors and their microenvironment, creating opportunities to discover biomarkers that can help guide treatment decisions and enable future diagnostic approaches in cancer care."

The collaboration is expected to generate a comprehensive, multimodal resource integrating single cell and spatial data to enable the discovery of clinically actionable biomarkers of treatment response and resistance. It also plans to evaluate how these biomarkers could be incorporated into future clinical reporting frameworks to support personalized treatment planning and molecular tumor board decision-making.

(Press release, Lausanne University Hospital, JUL 29, 2026, View Source [SID1234669502])

On July 29, 2026 Ractigen Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering small activating RNA (saRNA) therapeutics and advanced extrahepatic delivery systems, reported the successful closing of a new financing round exceeding $31 million (over RMB 200 million).

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The round was led by Guozhong Capital, with participation from IDG Capital, China Everbright Limited, Jolmo Capital, Win-Win Capital, and SND Financial Holdings. Existing shareholder Longmen Capital participated for its third consecutive round.

Proceeds will primarily accelerate the clinical development of Ractigen’s saRNA assets and validate its proprietary extrahepatic delivery platforms. Key priorities include:

Advancing lead saRNA oncology program (RAG-01): Accelerating Phase 2 clinical trials in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) following positive clinical proof-of-concept and U.S. FDA Fast Track Designation.
Driving systemic saRNA asset toward IND (RAG-18): Advancing ongoing investigator-initiated trials (IIT) and preparing for IND filing for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
Progressing CNS clinical asset (RAG-17): Moving forward with Phase 2 clinical trials in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) following Phase 1 safety and biomarker validation published in Nature Medicine.
Expanding extrahepatic delivery platforms: Continuously enhancing the company’s proprietary SCAD (CNS) and LiCO (systemic multi-tissue) delivery technologies to unlock new therapeutic targets outside the liver.
Pioneering saRNA Technology: Unlocking Gene Activation for Unmet Needs

Oligonucleotide therapeutics represent the third major wave of biopharmaceutical innovation following small molecules and monoclonal antibodies. However, traditional RNA therapeutics have been largely limited to gene-silencing approaches (siRNA and ASO).

As the global pioneer in RNA activation (RNAa), Ractigen was founded to redefine genetic medicine by enabling precise gene activation. Discovered by Ractigen’s founder, RNAa utilizes saRNAs targeting gene promoter regions to upregulate endogenous protein expression at the transcriptional level without altering the genome. This unique mechanism unlocks previously undruggable therapeutic targets, expanding treatment possibilities across genetic disorders, haploinsufficiencies, cancer, and metabolic diseases.

Breaching Extrahepatic Barriers: Proprietary Delivery Systems

To deliver saRNA and targeted oligonucleotide payloads beyond the liver, Ractigen engineered two complementary, carrier-free delivery platforms:

SCAD (CNS delivery platform): Utilizes an accessory oligonucleotide (ACO)-enabled self-delivery mechanism to cross central nervous system barriers, achieving clinical proof-of-concept for safety and target engagement via RAG-17.
LiCO (Systemic multi-tissue platform): Conjugates specialized lipids to oligonucleotides via proprietary SDL linkers. LiCO enables durable, carrier-free delivery to muscle, heart, bladder, and eye tissues, sustaining therapeutic activity for up to nine months per single administration with simplified, cost-effective manufacturing.
Clinical & Commercial Momentum

Ractigen has successfully translated its saRNA and extrahepatic delivery technologies into three differentiated clinical-stage assets:

RAG-01: The world’s first conjugate-delivered saRNA therapeutic to demonstrate clinical proof-of-concept in oncology. In Phase 1 trials, RAG-01 achieved a preliminary any-time 67% complete response (CR) rate in BCG-unresponsive high-risk NMIBC patients.
RAG-18: The world’s first saRNA program targeting Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and a major milestone in breaching extrahepatic muscle delivery barriers. Currently in investigator-initiated trials (IIT), RAG-18 delivers saRNA systemically to upregulate Utrophin expression, demonstrating clear target engagement, marked biomarker reductions, and histopathological improvements in muscle tissue in DMD patients.
RAG-17: A clinical-stage, CNS-targeted oligonucleotide therapeutic for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Phase 1 clinical data demonstrated robust SOD1 protein knockdown (~60% CSF SOD1 reduction) and a favorable safety profile, with Phase 2 patient enrollment now fully completed.
Reflecting the global commercial value of its platform, Ractigen entered into a strategic drug discovery and platform licensing collaboration with a publicly listed overseas pharmaceutical company in late 2025, valued at over $3 billion.

Executive & Investor Commentary

Dr. Long-Cheng Li, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ractigen Therapeutics:
"Closing this financing round reflects strong capital market validation of Ractigen’s critical leap from pioneering scientific discovery to human clinical proof-of-concept. Over the past decade, the oligonucleotide field achieved tremendous commercial success in liver-targeted silencing, yet extrahepatic delivery and gene activation remained unaddressed global frontiers. Over nearly two decades, we progressed from discovering RNA activation to solving extrahepatic delivery bottlenecks and translating multiple assets into positive human clinical data. Moving forward, Ractigen will continue expanding the boundaries of RNA technology, accelerating clinical translation to deliver transformative, First-in-Class therapeutics to patients worldwide."

Investment Team, Guozhong Capital:
"Ractigen Therapeutics is dedicated to pioneering next-generation RNA therapeutics globally. Its proprietary extrahepatic delivery platforms breach core bottlenecks across the field. RAG-17 is a pioneering CNS-targeting oligonucleotide therapy with Phase 1 results featured in top-tier peer-reviewed journals, while RAG-01 marks a historic clinical application of saRNA technology in oncology. We look forward to supporting Ractigen as its saRNA platform expands further into genetic, oncologic, and metabolic diseases."

Haining Wang, Founding Partner of Longmen Capital:
"We have been a long-term believer in Ractigen since our initial investment in 2021, and this marks our third consecutive round of support. Their clinically validated extrahepatic delivery systems and highly differentiated saRNA pipelines create an unrivaled competitive moat. We will continue leveraging our industry and capital market resources to help Ractigen bring saRNA therapies to patients globally."

(Press release, Ractigen Therapeutics, JUL 29, 2026, View Source [SID1234669501])