Dizal Showcases Two First-in-Class Therapies in Hematologic Malignancies at EHA and ICML 2025

On June 12, 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 research findings on two of its first-in-class hematologic oncology assets—golidocitinib and DZD8586—at the 2025 European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) Annual Congress and the 18th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma (ICML) (Press release, Dizal Pharma, JUN 12, 2025, View Source [SID1234653861]). These include long-term follow-up data on golidocitinib as a maintenance therapy in peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) after first-line systemic therapy and pooled analysis results for DZD8586 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia / small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL), both selected for oral presentations at ICML.

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Golidocitinib Shows Potential to Significantly Improve Patient Outcomes in PTCL

PTCL patients who achieved tumor response with first-line standard therapy will relapse. Approximately 40% of patients with complete response and 80% with partial response experienced disease progression within 2 years after initial tumor response, and the prognosis of these relapsed patients was very poor.

The 24-month follow-up results from JACKPOT26, a prospective, multicenter Phase 2 clinical study of golidocitinib will be unveiled at EHA (Free EHA Whitepaper) and featured as an oral presentation at ICML. The data suggest that golidocitinib showed promising efficacy in maintaining and enhancing tumor response with an acceptable and manageable safety profile in patients with PTCLs post first-line therapies.

In Cohort 1 (patients with complete response), the 24-month disease-free survival (DFS) rate reached 74.2%, with consistent efficacy observed across different subtypes.
In Cohort 2 (patients with partial response), the complete response rate (CRR) was 50.0%, the median duration of response (DoR) was 23.9 months, and the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 17.4 months, with the longest PFS reaching 35.9 months and the patient was still responding.
"Golidocitinib, a next-generation oral and highly selective JAK1 inhibitor, addresses a critical unmet need for effective maintenance therapy following first-line treatment in PTCL," said Professor Jie Jin, lead principal investigator of the JACKPOT26 study at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. "Its unique mechanism of action not only delivers strong anti-tumor activity—allowing 50% of patients with partial remission (PR) to achieve complete remission (CR)—but also modulates the tumor immune microenvironment through its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. These unique features help delay relapse and extend survival, positioning golidocitinib as a highly promising option for maintenance therapy in PTCL."

In addition, golidocitinib has shown encouraging antitumor activities and favorable safety profiles in combination with CHOP in 1st line PTCL patients, as well as in rare T-cell lymphoma subtypes, including relapsed/refractory T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (r/r T-LGLL) and monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma (MEITL). Further studies are warranted to validate the results.

DZD8586 Overcomes Multi-Drug Resistance in CLL and other B-NHL

A pooled analysis of two phase I/II studies of DZD8586 in CLL/SLL patients previously treated with covalent/non-covalent Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) inhibitors and BTK degraders was presented in an oral session at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting and will be presented at EHA (Free EHA Whitepaper). Subgroup analyses will be presented as an oral presentation at ICML.

In heavily pretreated CLL/SLL, DZD8586 achieved an ORR of 84.2%. Tumor response with a manageable safety profile was observed irrespective of prior covalent/non-covalent BTKi, 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. No drug-related bleeding, atrial fibrillation, or major cardiac events observed.

A Phase II study of DZD8586 monotherapy in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (r/r DLBCL) will also be presented at EHA (Free EHA Whitepaper) and ICML. Clinical activities from small molecule targeted drugs such as BTK inhibitors have been less than desired for the treatment of DLBCL. Compensatory or redundant pathway activation could be one of the main escape mechanisms. DZD8586, a novel LYN/BTK dual inhibitor, is designed to overcome these limitations by blocking both BTK and LYN signaling pathways, and thus potentially improve therapeutic outcomes.

At recommended phase 2 doses (RP2Ds) of 50 mg and 75 mg QD, DZD8586 monotherapy demonstrated promising anti-tumor activity in r/r DLBCL. The majority of patients showed target lesion shrinkage, with a CRR of 35.5%. Complete responders showed durable responses, with 81.8% of patients remaining in response and the median DoR was not reached. Notably, it showed efficacy in both GCB and non-GCB subtypes, supporting its broad therapeutic potential.

Dr. Xiaolin Zhang, CEO of Dizal, remarked, "We are excited that golidocitinib and DZD8586 have demonstrated promising potential in PTCL and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL), two areas with substantial unmet clinical needs. The selection of multiple studies for oral presentations at global leading conferences represents a strong recognition of our capabilities in research and development and further affirms our commitment to bringing transformative therapies to patients worldwide."

About golidocitinib (DZD4205)
Golidocitinib is currently the first and only Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) selective inhibitor being evaluated for the treatment of r/r PTCL. In June 2024, golidocitinib was approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (r/r PTCL).

At the data cut-off date of August 31, 2023, golidocitinib has demonstrated robust and durable anti-tumor efficacy, with an ORR of 44.3%. All subtypes benefited well, and the ORR of common subtypes exceeded 40%. More than 50% of the patients with tumor remission achieved a complete response with a CRR of 23.9%. Per IRC assessment, the median duration of response (mDoR) reached 20.7 months. As of February 2024, golidocitinib showed a median overall survival (mOS) of 24.3 months.

Golidocitinib was granted Fast Track Designation by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of r/r PTCL in February 2022. In September 2023, the CDE accepted its NDA and granted Priority Review for the treatment of r/r PTCL. The Phase I clinical data of golidocitinib (JACKPOT8 PART A) were published in Annals of Oncology (Impact Factor: 51.8), and global pivotal trial data of golidocitinib for the treatment of r/r PTCL (JACKPOT PART B) were published in The Lancet Oncology (Impact Factor: 54.4).

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.

Compugen to Present AI/ML Driven Predictive Computational Research at Upcoming International Scientific Conferences

On June 12, 2025 Compugen Ltd. (Nasdaq: CGEN) (TASE: CGEN) a clinical-stage cancer immunotherapy company and a pioneer in computational target discovery, reported the presentation of AI/ML driven predictive computational research at upcoming international scientific conferences reflecting Compugen’s scientific capabilities in understanding complex cancer biology (Press release, Compugen, JUN 12, 2025, View Source [SID1234653860]).

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Poster details:

Conference: 2025 Annual Congress of the European Association for Cancer Research, June 16-19 Lisbon, Portugal
Poster number: EACR25-3113
Title: Prediction of immune evasion and immunotherapy resistance mechanisms associated with distinct TNBC subtypes
Presenting author: Amir Toporik, Computational Discovery, Compugen
Date of presentation: June 18, 2025

Conference: International Society for Computational Biology and European Conference on Computational Biology- Annual International Conference on Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology, July 20-24, 2025, Liverpool, UK
Poster number: 947
Title: Computational prediction of TNBC tumor subtypes from an integrative single cell atlas elucidates immune evasion and immunotherapy resistance mechanisms
Presenting author: Itamar Borukhov, Ph.D., Computational Discovery, Compugen

Posters will be available in the publications section of Compugen’s website, www.cgen.com, following presentation.

GlycoNex Announces Publication of Preclinical Study on GNX1021, a Novel Glycan-Targeted ADC for Gastric Cancer

On June 12, 2025 GlycoNex, Inc. (4168, hereinafter referred to as GNX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in glycan-directed cancer immunotherapies, reported that its first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), GNX1021, has demonstrated superior efficacy in preclinical studies, including potent tumor growth inhibition in gastric cancer animal models (Press release, GlycoNex, JUN 12, 2025, View Source [SID1234653859]). GNX1021 may offer a novel treatment option for gastric cancer patients who are ineligible for HER2 or CLDN18-targeted therapies, and its broad activity suggests therapeutic potential across multiple solid tumor types.

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In safety assessments, GNX1021 has completed a pilot toxicology study in cynomolgus monkeys, demonstrating a safety profile comparable to that of currently approved ADCs. GlycoNex plans to initiate GLP-compliant toxicology studies by year-end and aims to submit clinical trial applications in Taiwan and Japan in the first quarter of 2026, with first-in-human Phase I trials anticipated to commence in the second quarter.

"With our GNX1021 program advancing rapidly and backed by our deep expertise in antibody-drug development, we are actively pursuing early-stage licensing and strategic partnerships," said Dr. Mei-Chun Yang, CEO of GlycoNex. "These partnerships will provide upfront funding, mitigate development risk, and help accelerate our path to the clinic."

Recent landmark deals in the ADC field highlight the strong licensing potential of early-stage assets, with total deal sizes reaching several billion dollars. As the global ADC market exceeded USD 160 billion in 2023, GlycoNex remains committed to seizing this significant market opportunity, driving innovation in oncology, and addressing unmet medical needs worldwide. GlycoNex will actively engage in strategic collaboration discussions with international pharmaceutical partners at the BIO International Convention in June 2025.

New results for Johnson & Johnson’s bleximenib demonstrate promising antileukemic activity in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine for acute myeloid leukemia

On June 12, 2025 Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) reported new Phase 1b data showing encouraging antileukemic activity and a promising safety profile for bleximenib (JNJ-75276617) in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine (VEN + AZA) for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) harboring KMT2A gene rearrangements (KMT2Ar) or NPM1 gene mutations (NPM1m) (Press release, Johnson & Johnson, JUN 12, 2025, View Source;johnsons-bleximenib-demonstrate-promising-antileukemic-activity-in-combination-with-venetoclax-and-azacitidine-for-acute-myeloid-leukemia-302480190.html [SID1234653858]). The study evaluated patients with newly diagnosed, intensive chemo-ineligible AML and relapsed or refractory AML.1 The results were featured in an oral presentation at the 2025 European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) Congress (S137).

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Even though AML is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults, it has the lowest survival rate and is associated with poor patient outcomes, despite treatment advances to date – especially for patients with KMT2Ar and NPM1m.

"AML encompasses a spectrum of genetically diverse cancers affecting the bone marrow and blood, which progress rapidly, making it an extremely challenging cancer to treat," said Andrew M. Wei*, MBBS, PhD, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and University of Melbourne, Australia. "These data highlight the potential of this targeted therapy in combination with VEN + AZA for patients with newly diagnosed AML who are ineligible for intensive chemotherapy or with disease that has relapsed after prior therapy."

The Phase 1b dose-finding study (NCT05453903) evaluated 125 patients with relapsed or refractory AML and newly diagnosed, intensive chemo-ineligible AML who harbored KMT2Ar (n=52) or NPM1m (n=73). Bleximenib in combination with VEN + AZA was evaluated across multiple dose levels without step-up dosing. Of the 85 relapsed or refractory patients, 36 percent received one, 42 percent received two and 12 percent received three lines of prior treatment; 47 percent had previously been treated with venetoclax.1

The bleximenib data at 100 mg twice a day in combination with VEN + AZA showed higher efficacy and a similar safety profile in comparison to other dose levels. At the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D), patients with relapsed or refractory AML achieved an overall response rate (ORR) of 82 percent and a composite complete response (cCR) rate of 59 percent.1 The newly diagnosed, intensive chemo-ineligible patient population showed an ORR of 90 percent and a cCR rate of 75 percent.1

Safety analysis of the study population showed a profile comparable among dose groups, genetic subtypes and disease settings. At the RP2D in combination with VEN+AZA, differentiation syndrome events were reported in two of 49 patients (4 percent). Bleximenib safety data continued to support a lack of QTc prolongation signal, with no events of Grade 3 or higher and only three Grade 1 events (6 percent) at the RP2D.1 The most common all-grade treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were nausea (65 percent), thrombocytopenia (61 percent), neutropenia (59 percent) and anemia (49 percent).1 The most common Grade 3 or higher TEAEs were thrombocytopenia (59 percent), neutropenia (59 percent), and anemia (49 percent).1

"Building on our heritage of leadership and innovation in hematologic malignancies, we are committed to delivering transformative treatment options that address the significant unmet needs of patients with acute myeloid leukemia," said Jeffrey Infante, M.D., Vice President of Early Clinical Development and Translational Research at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. "We continue to explore the potential of this compound as a monotherapy and in combination with standard of care regimens in additional Phase 2 and 3 studies, which are currently enrolling patients."

About Phase 1b Bleximenib Combination Dosing Study

This bleximenib combination trial (NCT05453903) is an ongoing Phase 1b open-label, non-randomized sequential assignment multicenter study to determine the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) and further evaluate the safety and tolerability of bleximenib in combination with VEN + AZA in approximately 200 patients with either newly diagnosed or relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia harboring KMT2A or NPM1 alterations.

Patients received VEN + AZA in combination with oral bleximenib twice daily at 15–150 mg (relapsed/refractory) or 30–100 mg (newly diagnosed) over a 28-day cycle and during count recovery. Bleximenib was started on day 4 without the need for step-up dosing. Primary outcome measures included adverse events and dose-limiting toxicity. Secondary efficacy measures included depletion of leukemic blasts, percentage of patients achieving complete response (CR), and percentage of patients who achieve overall response.

About Bleximenib (JNJ-75276617)

Bleximenib is an investigational oral menin inhibitor being evaluated for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed and relapsed or refractory AML. It targets a key oncogenic interaction between menin and KMT2A fusion proteins, disrupting a pathway that drives leukemic cell growth in patients with KMT2Ar or NPM1m mutations.

It is currently being investigated in Phase 1, 2, and 3 trials, both as a monotherapy and in combination with AML-directed therapies to further explore its potential in both relapsed or refractory and newly diagnosed AML populations.

About Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Acute myeloid leukemia is an aggressive, fast-growing blood cancer that originates in the bone marrow and is marked by the uncontrolled proliferation of immature white blood cells known as myeloblasts.2, 5 These malignant cells crowd out healthy blood-forming cells, leading to complications such as anemia, infections and bleeding.6 Acute myeloid leukemia progresses rapidly, often requiring immediate treatment after diagnosis.5 It is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults, with a median age of diagnosis around 70 years.2

Despite treatment advances, acute myeloid leukemia remains associated with poor patient outcomes, particularly in older adults or those with high-risk genetic profiles.7 The five-year survival rate remains the lowest among leukemias, with outcomes especially poor in patients with KMT2Ar or NPM1m where relapse/refractory disease survival can be as short as 2 to 3 months after a second relapse – highlighting a significant unmet medical need.

Sumitomo Pharma America Announces that Nuvisertib (TP-3654) Has Received FDA Fast Track Designation for the Treatment of Myelofibrosis

On June 12, 2025 Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc. (SMPA) reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Fast Track Designation to nuvisertib (TP-3654) for the treatment of patients with intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis (MF) (Press release, Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals, JUN 12, 2025, View Source [SID1234653857]). The FDA Fast Track Designation is granted to investigational therapies being developed to treat serious or life-threatening conditions that demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs. Nuvisertib is an oral, investigational, highly selective inhibitor of PIM1 kinase, which demonstrated clinical activity including symptom and spleen responses correlating with cytokine modulation in the updated preliminary Phase 1/2 data presented at the European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) 2025 Congress in Milan, Italy.

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MF, a serious and rare type of blood cancer, is characterized by the buildup of fibrous tissues in the bone marrow which is caused by dysregulation in the Janus-associated kinase (JAK) signaling pathway. The clinical manifestations of MF include an enlarged spleen, debilitating symptoms and reduction in hemoglobin and/or platelets. MF affects 1 in 500,000 people worldwide.1

"This positive momentum for nuvisertib signals strong promise in our pipeline and reflects our dedication to addressing unmet medical needs on behalf of patients with myelofibrosis and their families," said Tsutomu Nakagawa, Ph.D, President and Chief Executive Officer of SMPA. "Receiving FDA Fast Track Designation for nuvisertib in the treatment of myelofibrosis reinforces our confidence in its potential as a treatment option for patients facing a poor prognosis with limited treatment options. We are committed to working closely with the FDA to progress the clinical development of nuvisertib and bring an alternative treatment option to patients with myelofibrosis."

Updated data from the ongoing Phase 1/2 study of nuvisertib in patients with relapsed/refractory MF were presented at the EHA (Free EHA Whitepaper) Congress on June 12, 2025. Preliminary data showed that nuvisertib monotherapy appears to be well tolerated with no dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs). Evaluable patients showed clinical activity including a ≥25% spleen volume reduction (SVR25) in 22.2% of patients and a ≥50% reduction in total symptom score (TSS50) of 44.4% of patients, as well as improvement of bone marrow fibrosis (42.9% patients), hemoglobin (24% patients) and platelet count (26.7% patients). Data also showed that nuvisertib treatment led to significant cytokine modulation [reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g. EN-RAGE, MIP-1β) and increase of anti-inflammatory cytokines (e.g. adiponectin)], which demonstrated significant (p<0.001) correlation with symptom and spleen responses. Preclinical2 and emerging clinical data support the development of nuvisertib in combination with JAK inhibitors for the treatment of patients with MF.

"The data observed to date demonstrate promising clinical activity for nuvisertib and the strong potential for selective PIM1 inhibition to slow the progression of myelofibrosis," said Jatin Shah, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Oncology. "Patients with myelofibrosis are in need of new therapeutic approaches, including combination treatment options, that can provide increased and durable response rates with limited hematologic adverse events. The FDA Fast Track Designation reinforces the potential of nuvisertib to provide clinical benefits for patients with myelofibrosis, an unmet medical need."

About Nuvisertib (TP-3654)
Nuvisertib (TP-3654) is an oral investigational selective inhibitor of PIM1 kinase, which has shown potential antitumor and antifibrotic activity through multiple pathways, including induction of apoptosis in preclinical models.2,3 Nuvisertib was observed to inhibit proliferation and increase apoptosis in murine and human hematopoietic cells expressing the clinically relevant JAK2 V617F mutation.3 Nuvisertib alone and in combination with ruxolitinib showed white blood cell and neutrophil count normalization, and also reduced spleen size and bone marrow fibrosis in JAK2 V617F and MPLW515L murine models of myelofibrosis.2 The safety and efficacy of nuvisertib is currently being clinically evaluated in a Phase 1/2 study in patients with intermediate and high-risk myelofibrosis (NCT04176198). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Orphan Drug Designation to nuvisertib for the indication of myelofibrosis in May 2022. The Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) granted Orphan Drug Designation to nuvisertib for the treatment of myelofibrosis in November 2024.