Dizal to Highlight its Portfolio Advances in Hematologic Malignancies and Lung Cancer at ASCO 2025

On May 26, 2025 Dizal (SSE:688192), a biopharmaceutical company committed to developing novel medicines for the treatment of cancer and immunological diseases, reported that it will present latest clinical study results of its investigational drugs DZD8586 and DZD6008 at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting (Press release, Dizal Pharma, MAY 26, 2025, View Source [SID1234653381]). The studies focus on B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (B-NHLs) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) two disease areas Dizal has approved drugs and strong clinical pipeline.

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DZD8586: A Potential Novel Therapeutic Option for Patients with B-NHL

A pooled analysis of two phase I/II studies of DZD8586 in CLL/SLL patients after treatment with covalent or non-covalent BTK inhibitors and BTK degraders (Abstract #7010) was selected for an oral presentation:

An objective response rate (ORR) of 84.2% was achieved. Tumor response was observed in patients previously treated with BTK inhibitors and BCL-2 inhibitors, with response rates of 82.4% and 83.3%, respectively.
Tumor response was observed irrespective of prior covalent/non-covalent BTK inhibitor, BTK degrader, or BCL-2 inhibitor treatment, and in patients with classic BTK resistance mutations (C481X) as well as other BTK mutations, including kinase-dead mutations.
Response was durable, with an estimated 9-month duration of response (DOR) rate of 83.3%.
Prof. Jianyong Li, MD, PhD at Jiangsu Province Hospital, and the leading principal investigator of the study, said, "DZD8586 has shown promising antitumor activity in patients with relapsed/refractory CLL/SLL. By targeting both BTK-dependent and -independent signaling pathways, it could overcome resistance driven by target depletion or bypass activation, addressing significant limitations of current BTK inhibitors. We look forward to continued data readout from ongoing clinical studies."

In addition, a Phase II study of DZD8586 as monotherapy in relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (r/r DLBCL) (Abstract # e19050) will also be presented at the conference. Patients recruited in the trial had received 1-4 prior lines of therapy, and all were treated with anthracycline-and CD20-antibody based chemoimmunotherapy. At the doses of 50 mg and 75 mg QD, DZD8586 demonstrated promising antitumor activity and a manageable safety profile. Tumor responses were observed in both germinal center B-cell-like (GCB) and non-GCB subtypes. Updated results from this study will be disclosed at the 2025 European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) Annual Congress.

Prof. Lugui Qiu, MD, PhD at Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, the leading principal investigator of this study, said, "Treatment resistance in relapsed/refractory DLBCL remains a major clinical challenge. DZD8586, a non-covalent dual LYN/BTK inhibitor, has shown activity in both GCB and non-GCG subtypes, an important feature. With full BBB penetration and a favorable safety profile, it also shows promise in patients with CNS involvement, who typically confront a poor prognosis."

DZD6008: A 4th generation EGFR TKI Poised to Address Unmet Needs in NSCLC

The presentation at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2025 will feature promising pre-clinical and early clinical data from an ongoing Phase I/II TIAN-SHAN2 study of DZD6008 in patients with EGFRm NSCLC (Abstract #8616). Preclinical studies showed that DZD6008 was potent against EGFR mutations, including single (L858R/19del), double (T790M and L858R/19del), and triple mutations (C797X, T790M and 19del), with good selectivity (> 50-fold) over wild-type EGFR.

As of March 31, 2025, a total of 12 EGFRm NSCLC patients were enrolled in the study during the dose escalation phase. The median number of prior lines of therapy was 4.5 (range 2-8). DZD6008 monotherapy demonstrated encouraging and durable antitumor activity with good tolerability in this heavily pre-treated population. Ten patients (83.3%) showed target lesion shrinkage with DZD6008 treatment. Partial response (PR) was observed at ≥20 mg. In line with preclinical findings, DZD6008 exhibited excellent BBB penetration, as well as sustained efficacy in patients with brain metastases. The ratio of measured free drug concentrations in CSF over plasma is over 1.0.

Prof. Mengzhao Wang, MD, PhD at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, the leading principal investigator of the study said, "DZD6008 is a novel, highly selective, full-BBB penetrant EGFR TKI with broad-spectrum of activity against different EGFR mutations. The clinical data revealed at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2025 suggested that DZD6008 has good antitumor activity and tolerability in EGFRm NSCLC patients who were resistant to EGFR TKIs, especially their durable remission effect on metastatic brain lesions. The ongoing TIAN-SHAN2 study aims to further validate these findings in a broader patient population."

"The clinical data on DZD8586 and DZD6008 presented at this year’s ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) further highlight our strong R&D capabilities and competitive edge in tackling difficult-to-treat hematologic malignancies and lung cancer. The significant efficacy data and encouraging safety profile give us confidence to push forward to accelerate its clinical development programs," said Xiaolin Zhang, PhD, CEO of Dizal.

About DZD8586
DZD8586 is a first-in-class, non-covalent, LYN/BTK dual inhibitor with full blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration, designed as a potential treatment option for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL).

While Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) inhibitors have been approved for the treatment of B-NHL, resistance can arise through two major mechanisms: the BTK C481X mutation and BTK-independent BCR signaling pathway activation. Currently, there is no targeted therapy available to address both resistance mechanisms, posing an urgent clinical challenge. Although BTK degraders have shown encouraging efficacy in early clinical studies, mutation-related resistance has been reported, and degrader-related toxicities may affect long-term clinical application.

DZD8586 has high selectivity against other TEC family kinases (TEC, ITK, TXK and BMX). By targeting BTK and LYN, it blocks both BTK-dependent and -independent BCR-signaling pathways, effectively inhibiting tumor growth of B-NHLs in cell lines and in animal models. Phase I clinical trial suggests that DZD8586 exhibits favorable PK properties, good central nervous system (CNS) permeability, complete blockade of BCR signaling, and encouraging anti-tumor efficacy with good safety and tolerability in patients with B-NHL.

About DZD6008
DZD6008 is a novel, highly selective, full-BBB penetrant EGFR TKI, designed as a potential treatment option for advanced EGFR mutation positive (EGFRm) NSCLC.

Non-small cell lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the world. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene is one of the most common driver genes for NSCLC. Multiple agents can be used to treat patients with EGFR mutated NSCLC who develop resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), but the clinical outcome was not satisfactory. Brain metastases (BM) are a leading cause of death and disease progression for NSCLC. Approximately 23%-30% of NSCLC patients are synchronous BM at their initial diagnosis. Previous studies reported that the 3-year cumulative rate of BMs ranges from 29.4% to 60.3% in patients with mutated EGFR.

Currently, the clinical benefits of existing treatments for third-generation EGFR TKI-resistant NSCLC are limited and DZD6008 is expected to fill the unmet medical needs. DZD6008 effectively inhibits EGFR-mutated tumor growth in cell lines and in animal models. Previous clinical studies have validated the design concept of the molecule and suggest that DZD6008 demonstrates good safety and efficacy in NSCLC patients with brain metastases who had failed third-generation EGFR TKI therapy or multiple lines of pre-treatments.

mAbxience and Abiogen Pharma Announce Strategic Licensing Agreement for Biosimilar Candidate in Italy

On May 26, 2025 mAbxience, a Fresenius Kabi majority-owned group with partial ownership from Insud Pharma, and Abiogen Pharma reported a new strategic licensing agreement to develop and commercialize a biosimilar candidate in Italy (Press release, mAbxience, MAY 26, 2025, View Source [SID1234653380]).

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Under the terms of this agreement, mAbxience will hold the marketing authorization for the biosimilar candidate, while Abiogen Pharma will be responsible for all commercialization and marketing activities in Italy. This collaboration combines mAbxience’s expertise in biosimilar development with Abiogen Pharma’s strong presence and commercial capabilities in the Italian market.

"We are thrilled to partner with Abiogen Pharma to bring this biosimilar candidate to patients in Italy. Our collaboration reflects mAbxience’s commitment to delivering high-quality, accessible therapies across various geographies," said José Ramón Millán, Global Partnering & Portfolio Director at mAbxience.

"This agreement is part of a broader, long-term strategic path for us," said Prisca Di Martino, Chief Commercial Officer at Abiogen Pharma. "It reflects our dedication to therapeutic areas where we bring deep expertise. Partnering with mAbxience supports our goal to expand access to advanced biologic therapies in Italy. This is another step towards innovative, sustainable solutions for patients and healthcare systems."

This agreement marks another milestone in mAbxience’s strategy to provide affordable, life-saving therapies worldwide. Both mAbxience and Abiogen Pharma expect that this partnership will enhance patient access to advanced treatments, while also helping healthcare systems manage the rising costs of biologic therapies.

Lupin Announces Presentation of Phase 1 Data on LNP7457 (PRMT5 inhibitor) at the American Society of Clinical Oncology – Annual Meeting 2025

On May 26, 2025 Lupin Limited (Lupin) reported it will present data from its Phase 1a clinical trial evaluating LNP7457, a PRMT5 inhibitor, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) annual meeting in Chicago, Illinois, from May 30 to June 3, 2025 (Press release, Lupin, MAY 26, 2025, View Source [SID1234653379]). The presentation titled "A phase 1 dose escalation study of LNP7457 (PRMT5 inhibitor) in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors," will be featured in the Developmental Therapeutics—Molecularly Targeted Agents and Tumor Biology session. It can be viewed at Poster Board #422 on June 2, 2025, from 1.30 to 4.30 pm (CDT).

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Key findings from the study include:

LNP7457 is generally safe and well tolerated in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors, with desirable PK/PD profile and no impact of food on the pharmacokinetics.
The maximum tolerated dose, recommended phase 2 dose was determined based on safety, efficacy, PK/PD data, aligning with preclinical findings and the known safety profile of PRMT5 inhibitors.
"We are delighted to share the initial results from Phase I study of our PRMT5 Inhibitor, a novel epigenetic onco-therapeutic targeted for monotherapy. We are committed to innovation and advancing cutting-edge science to offer meaningful therapeutic options for patients with difficult-to- treat cancers," said Vinita Gupta, CEO.

Current data from Lupin indicates that LNP7457 is unique within its field and appears to be safe and well-tolerated as a SAM-competitive PRMT5 inhibitor. Lupin will continue to study the efficacy of LNP7457 in its phase 1b trial in India and explore its potential for treatment of cancers with significant unmet medical needs.

Details of the Presentation:

Date and time: June 2, 2025, 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm (CDT)
Location: Hall A – Posters and Exhibits | McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
Session Title: Developmental Therapeutics—Molecularly Targeted Agents and Tumor Biology
Sub Track: Small Molecules
Clinical Trial Registration Number: CTRI/2023/07/054753
Doi: 10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.3107
Abstract Number: 3107
Poster Board Number: 422
Abstract link: View Source

Alligator Bioscience announces European orphan drug designation for HLX22 in gastric cancer

On May 26, 2025 Alligator Bioscience (Nasdaq Stockholm: ATORX) reported that the European Commission has granted orphan drug designation (ODD) to HLX22, an anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody, for the treatment of gastric cancer (Press release, Alligator Bioscience, MAY 26, 2025, View Source [SID1234653378]). HLX22 is being developed by Shanghai Henlius Biotech, Inc. under a sublicense from AbClon, Inc., which had previously licensed the antibody from Alligator.

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This designation follows the ODD granted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 2025, further highlighting HLX22’s potential as a treatment for HER2-positive gastric cancer.

Henlius is conducting a global Phase 3 clinical trial (NCT06532006) to evaluate HLX22 in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for HER2-positive metastatic gastric and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer.

Søren Bregenholt, CEO of Alligator Bioscience, commented:
"The orphan designation to HLX22 in Europe represents another important regulatory milestone for this program. Following the earlier FDA designation, this reinforces the potential clinical and commercial value of the antibody. While Alligator is not directly involved in the development, we look forward to following its progress as it may contribute future revenue to Alligator."
Under the terms of the license agreement, Alligator is entitled to 35% of AbClon’s revenue from its sublicense agreement with Henlius.

Abbisko Therapeutics Receives CDE Approval of Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Irpagratinib (ABSK011) in the Treatment of HCC

On May 26, 2025 Abbisko Therapeutics (HKEX Code: 02256) reported that its self-developed, highly selective small molecule FGFR4 inhibitor, irpagratinib (ABSK011), has received approval of Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for the treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) (Press release, Abbisko Therapeutics, MAY 26, 2025, View Source [SID1234653376]). Irpagratinib is the first therapeutic agent to leverage molecularly defined biomarkers for precision-targeted treatment in patients with HCC.

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During clinical trials, innovative drugs or modified new drugs intended to prevent or treat life-threatening diseases or conditions that severely impact quality of life—where no effective prevention or treatment exists, or where substantial evidence shows significant clinical advantages over existing therapies—may be eligible to apply for the CDE’s Breakthrough Therapy Designation program[1]. The approval of irpagratinib for Breakthrough Therapy Designation is based on its promising Phase I clinical trial data.

Patients with advanced or unresectable HCC currently lack effective treatment options following treatment with ICI- and mTKI-based therapies. Those with FGF19 overexpression often face significantly worse prognosis, and thus new treatment options are urgently needed. The Breakthrough Therapy Designation granted to irpagratinib will expedite its subsequent application and approval process with the CDE, bringing renewed hope and transformative possibilities to patients.

Recently, Abbisko launched a pivotal registrational clinical study of irpagratinib for the treatment of HCC patients with FGF19 overexpression at Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, and Nanjing Tianyinshan Hospital.

About Irpagratinib (ABSK-011)

Irpagratinib is a highly-selective FGFR4 small molecule inhibitor designed to target overexpression of the FGF19 signaling pathway. Several epidemiological studies indicate that approximately 30% of HCC patients worldwide exhibit FGF19 overexpression. Development of targeted therapies against FGFR4 represent an innovative and novel approach to the treatment of HCC.

To date, no FGFR4 inhibitor has been granted regulatory approval globally. According to Frost & Sullivan, irpagratinib is expected to become the first breakthrough treatment for the treatment of HCC patients with FGF19 overexpression.

In addition to monotherapy, Abbisko Therapeutics is exploring irpagratinib in combination with atezolizumab, an anti-PD-L1 antibody manufactured by F. Hoffmann-La Roche and Roche (China), in a Phase II study. At the previous 2024 ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) GI Congress, Abbisko presented clinical data demonstrating 220mg irpagratinib BID in combination with atezolizumab achieved a 50% objective response rate (ORR) in FGF19+ HCC patients who had previously received immune checkpoint inhibition therapy.