Brenus Pharma Reports Favorable Tolerability and Clinical Signals in Early Preliminary Results of First-In-Human Study for STC-1010 in Unresectable Metastatic Stage Colorectal Cancer (MSS CRC) Patients

On January 6, 2026 Brenus Pharma, a clinical stage biotechnology company unlocking the immune system in vivo to fight solid tumors, reported the successful completion of the first dose levels in its ongoing first-in-human study.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

The multi-center, open-label trial (NCT06934538) is a phase Ia/Ib study designed to evaluate safety, tolerability and preliminary clinical activity of STC-10101 in a first line setting. It will include in vivo analysis of immune and tumor dynamics during dose escalation of treatment and cohort extension to patients with unresectable locally advanced (stage IIIC, T4b) or unresectable metastatic (stage IV) MSS2 colorectal cancer (CRC).

Early findings indicate that the first dose levels have been successfully completed with good overall tolerance and no-dose-limiting toxicities observed to date.

"We are pleased to report that the safety profile observed to date is good and consistent with our expectations with no DLT," said Paul Bravetti, CEO of Brenus Pharma. "Moreover, preliminary clinical signals are very promising and support further evaluation of subsequent cohorts – we are observing trends in efficacy that are stronger than anything that has been previously reported in hard-to-treat solid tumors."

The trial is continuing to enroll patients at higher dose levels, and additional data on exploratory analyses (cytokine profiles, immunophenotyping, PBMC markers, ctDNA, HLA expression, tumor necrosis, immune infiltration, and TLS evolution) and efficacy will be communicated as the trial progresses.

Brenus’ next report is expected to be released in Q1 2026, as a key milestone in advancing STC-1010 for patients with advanced MSS "cold" colorectal cancer.

(Press release, Brenus Pharma, JAN 6, 2026, View Source [SID1234661752])

Autolus Therapeutics to Evaluate Automated Manufacturing of AUCATZYL® (obe-cel) on the Cellares Cell Shuttle™ Platform

On January 6, 2026 Autolus Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq: AUTL), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company developing, manufacturing and delivering next-generation programmed T cell therapies, and Cellares Corp, the first Integrated Development and Manufacturing Organization (IDMO), reported that Autolus will assess the feasibility of Cellares’ Cell Shuttle platform to complement its commercial manufacturing operations at the Nucleus facility in Stevenage, UK.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Autolus commercializes AUCATZYL (obecabtagene autoleucel; obe-cel), an autologous CD19 CAR T cell therapy approved in the United States, UK, and Europe for adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (r/r B-ALL). Obe-cel is also being studied in ongoing clinical trials to potentially expand its use in pediatric r/r B-ALL, and autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and multiple sclerosis.

Cellares’ Cell Shuttle platform integrates all unit operations for CAR T manufacturing into a single-use, closed, pre-sterilized cartridge operated on a fully automated platform capable of processing up to 16 patient batches in parallel.

This architecture enables a single IDMO Smart Factory to deliver up to 10-fold higher throughput than conventional cell therapy manufacturing facilities of similar footprint and headcount, while providing partners with more consistent batch quality, lower cost, and greater resilience in commercial supply. Cellares pairs the Cell Shuttle with Cell Q, a purpose-built quality control platform for cell therapy drug products that transforms analytical testing from manual, fragmented workflows into automated, high-throughput methods with fully digital, compliant batch records.

The Cellares Cell Shuttle platform was the first to receive the FDA’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) designation, which offers partners additional touchpoints and priority review mechanisms when referencing the platform in their INDs, BLAs, and post-approval supplements.

"We are evaluating obe-cel in a range of indications beyond acute leukemia, and if successful, expect future demand to exceed the manufacturing capacity at our Nucleus facility. Cellares’ Cell Shuttle platform may provide an attractive option for a capital-efficient expansion of our manufacturing footprint in the future," said Christian Itin, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Autolus.

"If a commercial CAR T shows durable benefit, the next question is whether the industry can produce enough doses at a sustainable cost," said Fabian Gerlinghaus, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cellares. "Autolus has already built a strong manufacturing foundation. Our role is to extend that foundation with a global infrastructure that can reduce cost and process failure rates, while meeting total patient demand."

(Press release, Autolus, JAN 6, 2026, View Source [SID1234661768])

DEM BioPharma Announces Poster Presentation Featuring DEM301 at the 2026 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium

On January 6, 2026 DEM BioPharma, Inc. (DEM Bio), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering novel targets for solid tumors and developing innovative, first-in-class, cancer medicines, reported that preclinical data for DEM301, a first-in-class bifunctional antibody drug conjugate (ADC), will be presented at the 2026 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (ASCO GI), taking place January 8-10, 2026, in San Francisco, CA.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

DEM301 targets a novel plasma membrane-associated glycoprotein protein, DEM-TXX, that is overexpressed in colorectal cancer and several other gastrointestinal malignancies. DEM-TXX plays roles in cell adhesion and myeloid cell suppression, and its expression is negatively correlated with disease progression, underscoring its potential significance in tumor biology.

"This ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) GI presentation represents an important milestone for DEM BioPharma as we introduce DEM301 and its underlying biology to the oncology community for the first time," said Nenad Grmusa, CEO of DEM Bio. "DEM-TXX emerged from our scientific founders’ functional genomics screen and validated by DEM BioPharma as a target that appears to contribute to immune suppression in GI cancers. DEM301 was purpose-built to translate that biology into a differentiated ADC designed with a dual mechanism of action to directly kill tumor cells while engaging immune-mediated mechanisms."

DEM301 is a first-in-class bifunctional antibody drug conjugate composed of an afucosylated monoclonal antibody directed against DEM-TXX and conjugated to a clinically validated linker-payload. The molecule is designed to selectively target tumor cells expressing DEM-TXX while leveraging both direct cytotoxic delivery and immune-mediated mechanisms of action.

The preclinical data to be presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) GI will highlight potent and durable single-agent anti-tumor efficacy in preclinical models of colorectal and other GI tumors and a favorable safety profile in a humanized DEM-TXX mouse model, supporting advancement toward clinical development. DEM Bio is currently advancing DEM301 through preclinical pharmacology and toxicology studies and has initiated CMC process development and manufacturing development in preparation for a planned Phase 1a/1b clinical trial expected to begin in the second half of 2026.

ASCO GI Poster Presentation Details

Title: DEM301, a novel anti-DEM-TXX antibody-drug conjugate with potent anti-tumor activity for the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors
Session: Poster Session C: Cancers of the Colon, Rectum, and Anus
Abstract Number: 159; available on the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) GI website
Date & Time: January 10, 2026, 7:00 – 7:55 AM PST
Presenter: Sarah Carden, PhD, DEM BioPharma

(Press release, DEM BioPharma, JAN 6, 2026, View Source [SID1234661784])

Coherus Management to Present at the 44th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

On January 6, 2026 Coherus Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHRS) reported that senior management will present at the 44th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time. The presentation and Q&A session will be accessible via webcast through a link posted on the Investor Events Calendar section of the Coherus website: View Source

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

This webcast will be available for replay until February 13, 2026.

(Press release, Coherus Oncology, JAN 6, 2026, View Source [SID1234661753])

ZIIHERA Plus TEVIMBRA and Chemotherapy: A Potential New Standard for First-Line HER2+ Advanced GEA

On January 6, 2026 BeOne Medicines Ltd. (Nasdaq: ONC; HKEX: 06160; SSE: 688235), a global oncology company, reported full results from the Phase 3 HERIZON-GEA-01 trial evaluating ZIIHERA (zanidatamab), a HER2-targeted bispecific antibody, in combination with chemotherapy, with and without PD-1 inhibitor TEVIMBRA (tislelizumab), as a first-line treatment for HER2-positive (HER2+) locally advanced or metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA). These data, including the first interim overall survival (OS) analysis, will be presented as a Late-Breaking Abstract Oral Presentation (#LBA285) at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (ASCO GI) on January 8, 2026, from 8:57- 9:07 a.m. PST.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

HERIZON-GEA-01 met the dual primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS), demonstrating statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in both experimental arms compared to the control arm. The addition of TEVIMBRA to ZIIHERA and chemotherapy also showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival (OS) (mOS: 26.4 months, HR=0.72 [95% CI: 0.57, 0.90]; P=0.0043), resulting in a 28% reduction in the risk of death and a greater than 7-month improvement in mOS. These PFS and OS benefits were observed in the ZIIHERA plus TEVIMBRA and chemotherapy arm versus the control arm regardless of PD-L1 expression level, with approximately one-third of enrolled patients with tumors classified as PD-L1 < 1%. ZIIHERA plus chemotherapy showed a clinically meaningful survival benefit with a mOS of 24.4 months, a strong trend toward statistical significance at the time of this first interim analysis for OS.

"The HERIZON-GEA-01 results are encouraging, with median overall survival for tislelizumab plus zanidatamab and chemotherapy surpassing two years, an outcome that marks a significant advancement in the treatment of metastatic HER2+ gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma," said Manish Shah, M.D., Chief of the Solid Tumor Service and Director of Gastrointestinal Oncology at Weill Cornell Medicine and a medical oncologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, who serves as a paid advisory board member for Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and BeOne Medicines Ltd. "Unlike prior studies in HER2+ GEA with checkpoint blockade therapy, the addition of tislelizumab demonstrated meaningful activity even in TAP PD-L1 < 1%, suggesting a potential new treatment option for this subgroup, while broadening choices for patients with PD-L1 ≥1%."

Further highlights from the HERIZON-GEA-01 results include:

TEVIMBRA added to ZIIHERA and chemotherapy (n=302; mPFS: 12.4 months, HR=0.63 [95% CI: 0.51, 0.78], P=<0.0001) resulted in a 37% reduction in the risk of disease progression and a greater than 4-month improvement in mPFS.
Patients receiving ZIIHERA plus chemotherapy (n=304; mPFS: 12.4 months, HR=0.65 [95% CI: 0.52, 0.81], P=<0.0001) showed a 35% reduction in the risk of disease progression and a similar greater than 4-month improvement in mPFS.
These results compare favorably to mPFS of 8.1 months in patients treated with trastuzumab plus chemotherapy.
In the PD-L1 negative subgroup (TAP score <1%), the HR results for PFS were 0.47 [95% CI: 0.32, 0.69] in the ZIIHERA plus TEVIMBRA and chemotherapy arm and the HR results for OS were 0.49 [95% CI: 0.33, 0.73].
In the PD-L1 positive subgroup (TAP score >1%), the HR results for PFS were 0.65 [95% CI: 0.49, 0.86] in the ZIIHERA plus TEVIMBRA and chemotherapy arm and the HR results for OS were 0.82 [95% CI: 0.60, 1.10].
Both experimental arms demonstrated improvements in the key secondary endpoints of objective response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DOR) versus the control arm, with ZIIHERA and chemotherapy resulting in an ORR of 69.6% with a median DOR of 14.32 months (CI 95%: 11.53, 21.85). The ZIIHERA plus TEVIMBRA and chemotherapy arm induced an ORR of 70.7%, with the median DOR reaching 20.70 months (CI 95%: 12.55, 37.65), highlighting TEVIMBRA’s essential role in the durability of response observed with the regimen.
"The comprehensive results of the HERIZON-GEA-01 study, particularly the improvement in overall survival shown in the TEVIMBRA plus ZIIHERA and chemotherapy arm, pave the way for the adoption of a new standard in first-line HER2-positive metastatic GEA," said Mark Lanasa, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer, Solid Tumors at BeOne. "BeOne holds commercial rights for ZIIHERA in most of Asia Pacific, where the GEA burden is highest. With these data, we anticipate the opportunity to expand access so more patients can benefit."

The safety profile of ZIIHERA in combination with chemotherapy, with or without TEVIMBRA, was consistent with the known effects of HER2-directed therapy and immunotherapy, and no new safety signals were identified. Duration of treatment was longest on the ZIIHERA plus TEVIMBRA and chemotherapy arm. Rates of Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were 71.8% with ZIIHERA plus TEVIMBRA and chemotherapy, 59.0% with ZIIHERA plus chemotherapy, and 59.6% with trastuzumab plus chemotherapy. Rates of discontinuation of ZIIHERA or trastuzumab due to TRAEs were 11.9% with ZIIHERA plus TEVIMBRA and chemotherapy, 8.5% with ZIIHERA plus chemotherapy, and 2.3% in the trastuzumab plus chemotherapy arm. The most common Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse event (TRAE) was diarrhea (24.5% of patients with ZIIHERA plus TEVIMBRA and chemotherapy; 20.0% with ZIIHERA plus chemotherapy; and 12.9% of patients in the trastuzumab plus chemotherapy arm). Importantly, discontinuation of either ZIIHERA or trastuzumab due to treatment-related diarrhea was uncommon (4.1% of patients with ZIIHERA plus TEVIMBRA and chemotherapy, 1.3% with ZIIHERA plus chemotherapy, and 0% of patients in the trastuzumab plus chemotherapy arm). Treatment-emergent diarrhea generally occurred early in treatment and resolved within 3 weeks. The manageable safety profile supports the feasibility of these combinations in the first-line metastatic setting.

These results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. BeOne intends to submit supplemental Biologics License Applications to the U.S. FDA for TEVIMBRA and to the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for TEVIMBRA and ZIIHERA, based on these data. The company also intends to work with authorities in its licensed territories to expedite regulatory submissions in these markets.

About the HERIZON-GEA-01 Phase 3 Trial
HERIZON-GEA-01 (NCT05152147) is a global, randomized, open-label Phase 3 trial, conducted jointly with Jazz Pharmaceuticals, to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of ZIIHERA plus chemotherapy, with or without TEVIMBRA, to the standard of care (trastuzumab plus chemotherapy) as first-line treatment for adult patients with advanced/metastatic HER2+ GEA. The trial randomized 914 patients from approximately 300 trial sites in more than 30 countries. Appropriate patients for this trial had unresectable locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic HER2+ GEA (adenocarcinomas of the stomach or esophagus, including the gastroesophageal junction), defined as 3+ HER2 expression by IHC or 2+ HER2 expression by IHC with ISH positivity per central assessment. Patients were randomized to the three trial arms: ZIIHERA in combination with chemotherapy and TEVIMBRA; ZIIHERA in combination with chemotherapy; and trastuzumab plus chemotherapy. The trial is evaluating dual primary endpoints, PFS per blinded independent central review (BICR) and OS.

About Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma
Gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA), which includes cancers of the stomach, gastroesophageal junction, and esophagus, is the fifth most common cancer worldwide. Approximately 20% of GEA patients have HER2-positive disease1,2,3, which has high morbidity and mortality, and patients are urgently in need of new treatment options. The overall prognosis for patients with GEA remains poor, with a global five-year survival rate of less than 30% for gastric cancer and about 19% for GEA.4

About ZIIHERA (zanidatamab)
ZIIHERA (zanidatamab) is a bispecific human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, or HER2-directed antibody that binds to two extracellular sites on HER2. Binding of zanidatamab with HER2 results in internalization leading to a reduction in HER2 expression of the receptor on the tumor cell surface. Zanidatamab induces complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP). These mechanisms result in tumor growth inhibition and cell death in vitro and in vivo.5

Zanidatamab is being developed in multiple clinical trials as a targeted treatment option for patients with solid tumors that express HER2. Zanidatamab is approved in China for the treatment of patients who have unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic HER2-high expression (IHC 3+) biliary tract cancer (BTC) and who have received prior systemic therapy. ZIIHERA also has been approved in both the U.S. and the European Union for eligible BTC patients. Zanidatamab is being developed by Jazz and BeOne under license agreements from Zymeworks, which first developed the molecule. BeOne has licensed zanidatamab from Zymeworks in Asia (excluding India and Japan), Australia and New Zealand. Jazz Pharmaceuticals has rights in all other regions.

ZIIHERA is a registered trademark of Zymeworks BC Inc.

About TEVIMBRA (tislelizumab)
TEVIMBRA is a uniquely designed humanized immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibody with high affinity and binding specificity against PD-1. It is designed to minimize binding to Fc-gamma (Fcγ) receptors on macrophages, helping to aid the body’s immune cells to detect and fight tumors.

TEVIMBRA is the foundational asset of BeOne’s solid tumor portfolio and has shown potential across multiple tumor types and disease settings. The global TEVIMBRA clinical development program includes almost 14,000 patients enrolled to date in 35 countries and regions across 70 trials, including 22 registration-enabling studies. TEVIMBRA is approved in at least one indication in 48 markets, and more than 1.8 million patients have been treated globally.

Select Important Safety Information
Serious and sometimes fatal adverse reactions occurred with TEVIMBRA treatment. Warnings and precautions include severe and fatal immune-mediated adverse reactions, including pneumonitis, colitis, hepatitis, endocrinopathies, dermatologic adverse reactions, nephritis with renal dysfunction, and solid organ transplant rejection. Other warnings and precautions include infusion-related reactions, complications of allogeneic HSCT, and embryo-fetal toxicity.

Please see full U.S. Prescribing Information including the U.S. Medication Guide.

The information in this press release is intended for a global audience. Product indications vary by region.

(Press release, BeOne Medicines, JAN 6, 2026, View Source [SID1234661769])