Aclaris Therapeutics Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

On May 8, 2025 Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACRS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel drug candidates for immuno-inflammatory diseases, reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2025 and provided a corporate update (Press release, Aclaris Therapeutics, MAY 8, 2025, View Source [SID1234652717]).

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!

"We are entering into a potentially transformative multi-year period for Aclaris, with important milestones throughout our business that we believe will position us for future growth," stated Dr. Neal Walker, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board of Directors of Aclaris. "Ensuring successful and timely execution of our clinical programs is our priority, and given the realities of today’s financial market environment, it’s imperative that we continue to do so in a manner that efficiently utilizes our capital. As such, we’ve announced that further global development of bosakitug – our uniquely potent anti-TSLP monoclonal antibody – in respiratory indications will be dependent on partnerships. Regarding our internal programs, we expect to initiate new clinical trials with bosakitug; ATI-2138, our highly selective oral ITK/JAK3 inhibitor; and ATI-052, our potential best-in-class bispecific anti-TSLP/IL-4R antibody, for which we recently received IND clearance from the FDA. Work is also ongoing toward next-generation small molecule kinase inhibitors and biologic antagonists of immuno-inflammatory pathways to further expand our pipeline and continue our innovative work in I&I."

"Importantly, we have the cash we believe we need to execute our plan," continued Dr. Walker. "Our expected cash runway now extends through the first half of 2028, and we will continue to practice rigorous financial stewardship with a goal of extending our runway further by exploring additional non-dilutive opportunities."

First Quarter 2025 Highlights and Recent Updates

Pipeline:

Bosakitug (ATI-045): Investigational Anti-TSLP monoclonal antibody

Aclaris Expects to Initiate Enrollment in Placebo-Controlled Two-Arm Phase 2 Trial in Atopic Dermatitis (AD) in the Second Quarter of 2025: Based on the potency of bosakitug observed in preclinical and clinical studies to date, including the compelling results of the Phase 2a single arm trial in AD, Aclaris intends to initiate a two-arm placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial of bosakitug in approximately 90 patients with moderate-to-severe AD in the second quarter of 2025. This trial is designed to evaluate the Company’s anti-TSLP therapeutic in a placebo-controlled setting in a time- and cost-efficient manner.
Results from CTTQ’s Phase 2 Trials in Respiratory Indications Support Further Development: The totality of the results received to date from Aclaris’ regional partner, Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group, Co., Ltd. (CTTQ) from their Phase 2 trials of bosakitug in Chinese patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and severe asthma provide additional clinical evidence of the enhanced potency of bosakitug. CTTQ has announced that they are conducting Phase 3 clinical trials of bosakitug in both indications and are currently conducting a Phase 2 trial in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). CTTQ is responsible for the disclosure and presentation of the results of their clinical trials.
Aclaris Intends to Seek Partners to Develop Bosakitug in Respiratory Indications: Aclaris’ clinical focus for bosakitug will remain on dermatological immuno-inflammatory indications. Further global (excluding China) development in respiratory indications is dependent on entering into potential partnerships.

ATI-2138: Investigational oral covalent ITK/JAK3 inhibitor

Top Line Results from Phase 2a Trial in AD Expected in June 2025: Dosing is complete in the single arm Phase 2a open-label trial of ATI-2138 designed to investigate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and pharmacodynamics of ATI-2138 in patients with moderate-to-severe AD. The Company expects to report top line results in June 2025. Potential target indications under consideration include alopecia areata (AA) and vitiligo.

ATI-052: Investigational bispecific anti-TSLP/IL4R monoclonal antibody

Announced Clearance of ATI-052 Investigational New Drug (IND) Application and Plan to Initiate Phase 1 Trial: Aclaris announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared its IND application for ATI-052 in April 2025. The Company expects to initiate the placebo-controlled Phase 1a/1b trial evaluating single and multiple ascending doses of ATI-052, followed by a proof-of-concept portion in an undisclosed indication, in the second quarter of 2025. (press release here)

Next Generation Kinase and Cytokine Signaling Pathway Inhibitor Development:

Confirmed Plan for Next IND Submission: Preclinical work is ongoing to develop next-generation ITK inhibitors, which the Company expects to provide the basis for new INDs starting in 2026.
Development of Novel Bispecific Antibodies Targeting Certain Cytokine Pathways Underway: Preclinical work is ongoing to develop next-generation bispecific antibodies utilizing the bosakitug anti-TSLP binding region paired with binding fragments targeting other undisclosed cytokine signaling pathways.
Corporate:

Expected Cash Runway Extends Through the First Half of 2028 and Fully Funds Preclinical and Clinical Development Plans: During the first quarter of 2025, Aclaris took certain steps to focus its pipeline investments while extending its cash runway further. In doing so, the Company continues to prioritize clinical execution and achievement of development milestones, all of which Aclaris expects to be funded by the Company’s current cash runway. Aclaris ended the first quarter of 2025 with $190.5 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities providing balance sheet strength to execute on its development plan. Aclaris’ cash management policy is focused on capital preservation and holding a portfolio of securities with short-term maturities. The investment portfolio is composed of fixed income securities, primarily high-credit quality corporate debt and U.S. government securities.
Injunction Against Sun Pharmaceuticals Lifted, Providing Aclaris with a Potential Additional Opportunity for Non-Dilutive Financing: In 2023, Aclaris granted Sun Pharma exclusive rights under certain patents for, among other things, the use of deuruxolitinib, Sun Pharma’s JAK inhibitor, to treat AA. The agreement included an upfront payment of $15.0 million, regulatory and commercial milestones, and royalties. In 2024, Incyte Corporation was granted a preliminary injunction against Sun Pharma, blocking Sun Pharma from launching its product LEQSELVI. In April 2025, a U.S. Appeals Court lifted the injunction. As Aclaris has successfully executed similar financings in the past, the Company may seek to monetize this financial asset to provide additional non-dilutive financing.
Provided Update on Senior Leadership: Jesse W. Hall, M.D. has been appointed as Chief Medical Officer.
Dr. Hall brings decades of experience in all phases of drug development, from early development through global regulatory filings and approvals, Phase IV post-marketing surveillance obligations, and commercial launch support to Aclaris. He most recently served as Chief Medical Officer for AltruBio where he was responsible for leadership of all clinical and medical functions. (press release here)

First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

As of March 31, 2025, Aclaris had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $190.5 million compared to $203.9 million as of December 31, 2024. The Company believes that its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund its operations through the first half of 2028, without giving effect to any potential business development transactions or financing activities.

Net loss was $15.1 million for the first quarter of 2025 compared to $16.9 million for the first quarter of 2024.
Total revenue was $1.5 million for the first quarter of 2025 compared to $2.4 million for the first quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by the sale of a portion of royalty payments under the Company’s agreement with Eli Lilly and Company to OCM IP Healthcare Portfolio IP, an investment vehicle for Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS), in July 2024.

Research and development (R&D) expenses were $11.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 compared to $9.8 million for the prior year period. The increase was primarily driven by expenses related to the Company’s bosakitug program, specifically preclinical and clinical development expenses associated with startup activities for a Phase 2 trial in AD. The increase was partially offset by a reduction in development expenses for zunsemetinib and lepzacitinib and lower compensation-related expenses.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $6.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 compared to $6.8 million for the corresponding prior year period. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in personnel expenses as a result of lower headcount and lower termination benefits.

Genmab Announces Financial Results for the First Quarter of 2025

On May 8, 2025 Genmab reported interim results for the first Quarter ended March 31, 2025 (Press release, Genmab, MAY 8, 2025, View Source [SID1234652743]).

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!

Highlights

EPKINLY (epcoritamab) approved by the Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for additional indication as a treatment for relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL)
Rinatabart sesutecan (Rina-S) continues to show encouraging antitumor activity in patients with advanced ovarian cancer in data presented at the 2025 Society of Gynecologic Oncology Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer (SGO)
Tivdak (tisotumab vedotin) approved by the Japan MHLW and by the European Commission (EC) as the first and only antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) approved in both Japan and the European Union (EU) for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer after prior therapy
Genmab revenue increased 19% compared to the first quarter of 2024, to $715 million
"Our commitment to advancing our late-stage programs was reflected in the progress we made in the first quarter of the year. Both EPKINLY and Tivdak expanded their reach with approvals in additional territories and the updated Rina-S data presented at SGO reinforces its potential as a treatment option for patients with advanced ovarian cancer," said Jan van de Winkel, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Genmab.

Financial Performance First Quarter of 2025

Revenue was $715 million for the first three months of 2025 compared to $603 million for the first three months of 2024. The increase of $112 million, or 19%, was primarily driven by higher DARZALEX and Kesimpta royalties achieved under our collaborations with Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and Novartis Pharma AG (Novartis), respectively, and EPKINLY net product sales.
Royalty revenue was $589 million in the first three months of 2025 compared to $452 million in the first three months of 2024, an increase of $137 million, or 30%. The increase in royalties was driven by higher net sales of DARZALEX and Kesimpta.
Net sales of DARZALEX (daratumumab), including sales of the subcutaneous (SC) product (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj, sold under the tradename DARZALEX FASPRO in the U.S.) by J&J were $3,237 million in the first three months of 2025 compared to $2,692 million in the first three months of 2024, an increase of $545 million or 20%.
Total costs and operating expenses were $527 million in the first three months of 2025 compared to $487 million in the first three months of 2024. The increase of $40 million, or 8%, was driven by the expansion of our product pipeline, including Rina-S, the continued development of Genmab’s broader organizational capabilities as well as profit-sharing amounts payable to AbbVie Inc. (AbbVie) related to EPKINLY sales.
Operating profit was $188 million in the first three months of 2025 compared to $116 million in the first three months of 2024.
Net financial items resulted in income of $56 million for the first three months of 2025 compared to $133 million in the first three months of 2024. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in foreign exchange impacts driven by the change in functional currency of Genmab A/S on January 1, 2025.

Outlook
Genmab is maintaining its 2025 financial guidance published on February 12, 2025.

Other Matters
Both the functional currency of the Genmab A/S legal entity and the presentation currency of the condensed consolidated financials statements have been changed from DKK to USD effective January 1, 2025. The change in functional currency has been implemented with prospective effect. The change in presentation currency has been implemented with retrospective effect. Comparative figures for prior periods have been restated accordingly.


Conference Call
Genmab will hold a conference call to discuss the results for the first quarter of 2025 today, Thursday, May 8, at 6:00 pm CEST, 5:00 pm BST or 12:00 pm EDT. To join the call please use the below registration link. Registered participants will receive an email with a link to access dial-in information as well as a unique personal PIN: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI2b36f53f97c64ad190f5eaa552875059. A live and archived webcast of the call and relevant slides will be available at View Source

Protara Therapeutics Announces First Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Provides Business Update

On May 8, 2025 Protara Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: TARA), a clinical-stage company developing transformative therapies for the treatment of cancer and rare diseases, reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, and provided a business update (Press release, Protara Therapeutics, MAY 8, 2025, View Source [SID1234652759]).

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!

"We have made significant progress thus far in 2025, notably with the recent presentation of positive interim results from our ADVANCED-2 trial of TARA-002 in BCG-Unresponsive and BCG-Naïve patients which demonstrated durable 12-month landmark responses," said Jesse Shefferman, Chief Executive Officer of Protara Therapeutics. "We believe TARA-002 is well positioned to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). In addition to our NMIBC program, we are pleased with the continued progress we have made across our rare disease programs and look forward to several exciting data milestones in the coming months."

Recent Progress and Highlights

TARA-002 in NMIBC

At the American Urological Association (AUA) 2025 Annual Meeting in April, the Company announced positive updated interim results from the ADVANCED-2 trial in evaluable NMIBC patients with carcinoma in situ or CIS (± Ta/T1) who are Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-Unresponsive and BCG-Naïve. As of the April 16, 2025 data cutoff:
TARA-002 demonstrated a complete response (CR) rate at any time of 100% (5/5) and 67% (2/3) at 12 months in the cohort of BCG-Unresponsive patients. As previously communicated, the BCG-Unresponsive cohort is designed to be registrational in alignment with the 2024 BCG-Unresponsive Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: Developing Drugs and Biological Products for Treatment Draft Guidance for Industry issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In the proof-of-concept BCG-Naïve cohort of patients, TARA-002 demonstrated a CR rate at any time of 76% (16/21) and a CR rate of 43% (3/7) at 12 months.
The majority of adverse events were Grade 1 and transient, with no Grade 3 or greater treatment-related adverse events as assessed by study investigators.
Interim results from approximately 25 six-month evaluable BCG-Unresponsive patients are expected to be announced by the end of 2025.
Following regulatory alignment with the FDA, the Company expects to provide an update on the design of its planned BCG-Naïve registrational trial in the second half of 2025.
Protara continues to investigate subcutaneous dosing through priming and maintenance combined with intravesical dosing, as well as exploring combination treatment with TARA-002 in NMIBC patients with CIS.
IV Choline Chloride for Patients on Parenteral Support (PS)

The Company plans to initiate THRIVE-3, a registrational Phase 3 clinical trial, in the third quarter of 2025. THRIVE-3 is a seamless Phase 2b/3 trial with a dose confirmation portion (n=24) followed by a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled portion to assess the efficacy and safety of IV Choline Chloride over 24 weeks in adolescents and adults on long-term PS when oral or enteral nutrition is not possible, insufficient, or contraindicated (n=105). IV Choline Chloride was previously granted Fast Track designation by the FDA.
TARA-002 in LMs

Dosing continues to progress in the Phase 2 STARBORN-1 trial of TARA-002 in pediatric patients with macrocystic and mixed cystic LMs and the Company intends to provide an interim update from the trial in the second half of 2025. The Company previously announced the completion of the study’s first safety cohort, in which TARA-002 showed promising results and was generally well-tolerated.
Corporate Update

In April 2025, Protara strengthened its leadership team with the appointments of Leonardo Viana Nicacio, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer, and Shane Williams, Ph.D., as Vice President, Head of Human Resources, Chief People Officer. Dr. Nicacio brings to Protara nearly 20 years of broad oncology, drug development, regulatory and commercial experience across leading biopharmaceutical and health technology companies, and most recently served as Head of Clinical Development and Global Medical Affairs at Stemline Therapeutics. Dr. Williams brings a strong track record of driving growth, leading transformational change, and building high-performing teams across innovative life science organizations. He most recently served as Chief People Officer at Century Therapeutics.
First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

As of March 31, 2025, unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and investments in marketable debt securities totaled $157.5 million. The Company expects its cash, cash equivalents, and investments in marketable debt securities will be sufficient to fund operations into 2027.
Research and development expenses for the first quarter of 2025 increased to $9.1 million from $7.7 million for the prior year period. The increase was primarily due to a $2.6 million increase in clinical trial activities for TARA-002 and IV Choline, offset by a $1.2 million decrease in indirect expenses.
General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2025 increased to $5.0 million from $4.1 million for the prior year period. This increase was primarily due to a $0.4 million increase in personnel-related costs as well as an increase of professional fees of $0.4 million.
For the first quarter of 2025, Protara incurred a net loss of $11.9 million, or $0.29 per share, compared with a net loss of $11.1 million, or $0.97 per share, for the same period in 2024. Net loss for the first quarter of 2025 included approximately $0.8 million of stock-based compensation expenses.
About TARA-002

TARA-002 is an investigational cell therapy in development for the treatment of NMIBC and of LMs, for which it has been granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. TARA-002 was developed from the same master cell bank of genetically distinct group A Streptococcus pyogenes as OK-432, a broad immunopotentiator marketed as Picibanil in Japan by Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Protara has successfully shown manufacturing comparability between TARA-002 and OK-432.

When TARA-002 is administered, it is hypothesized that innate and adaptive immune cells within the cyst or tumor are activated and produce a pro-inflammatory response with release of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interferon (IFN)-gamma IL-6, IL-10, IL-12. TARA-002 also directly kills tumor cells and triggers a host immune response by inducing immunogenic cell death, which further enhances the antitumor immune response.

About Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC)

Bladder cancer is the 6th most common cancer in the United States, with NMIBC representing approximately 80% of bladder cancer diagnoses. Approximately 65,000 patients are diagnosed with NMIBC in the United States each year. NMIBC is cancer found in the tissue that lines the inner surface of the bladder that has not spread into the bladder muscle.

About Lymphatic Malformations (LMs)

LMs are rare, congenital malformations of lymphatic vessels resulting in the failure of these structures to connect or drain into the venous system. Most LMs are present in the head and neck region and are diagnosed in early childhood during the period of active lymphatic growth, with more than 50% detected at birth and 90% diagnosed before the age of three years. The most common morbidities and serious manifestations of the disease include compression of the upper aerodigestive tract, including airway obstruction requiring intubation and possible tracheostomy dependence; intralesional bleeding; impingement on critical structures, including nerves, vessels, lymphatics; recurrent infection, and cosmetic and other functional disabilities.

About IV Choline Chloride

IV Choline Chloride is an investigational, intravenous phospholipid substrate replacement therapy in development for patients receiving parenteral support (PS). Choline is a known important substrate for phospholipids that are critical for healthy liver function that also play an important role in modulating gene expression, cell membrane signaling, brain development and neurotransmission, muscle function, and bone health. PS patients are unable to synthesize choline from enteral nutrition sources, and there are currently no available PS formulations containing choline. Approximately 80% of patients dependent on PS are choline-deficient and of those approximately 63% have some degree of liver dysfunction, which can lead to hepatic failure. Every year in the U.S. there are approximately 90,000 people who require PS at home and of those approximately 30,000 are on long-term PS. IV Choline Chloride has the potential to become the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved IV choline formulation for PS patients. It has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA for the prevention and/or treatment of choline deficiency in patients on long-term PN and been granted Fast Track Designation as a source of choline when oral or enteral nutrition is not possible, insufficient, or contraindicated. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued us a U.S. patent claiming a choline composition and a U.S. patent claiming a method for treating choline deficiency with a choline composition, each with a term expiring in 2041.

iOnctura commences randomized Phase I/II study in non-small cell lung cancer

On May 8, 2025 iOnctura, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company combating neglected and hard-to-treat cancers, reported it has dosed the first patient in the randomized Phase I/II study investigating lead asset roginolisib in combination with dostarlimab with or without docetaxel, in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (Press release, iOnctura, MAY 8, 2025, View Source [SID1234652782]).

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!

NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death globally, accounting for approximately 1 in 5 of all cancer deaths[1].

Anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) or anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) immunotherapy is a standard therapy for NSCLC patients with no actionable mutations in the first or second lines of therapy, with or without chemotherapy. However, treatment is often of limited duration as the cancer cells develop resistance to the treatment. Rebalancing the immune system via PI3Kδ inhibition is thought to re-invigorate anti-tumour immune cells and thus is a promising mechanism to overcome resistance to current immunotherapies[2].

Michele Maio, MD, PhD, Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Siena and Director of the Center for Immuno-Oncology at the University Hospital of Siena (Italy), Primary Coordinating Investigator of the Phase I/II study said: ‘There is a significant lack of treatment options for NSCLC patients who have progressed on immunotherapy and chemotherapy. We will be investigating whether the combination of roginolisib with dostarlimab and +/- chemotherapy can be given safely and may provide a novel treatment option in patients who no longer respond to their current treatment.’

Emerging clinical and translational biomarker data supports the hypothesis that combining roginolisib with an anti-PD-L1/PD1 agent, with or without docetaxel, may prevent or reverse drug resistance in NSCLC and may show synergistic anti-tumor immune activity without significant addition of toxicity. Firstly, the combination of anti-PD1 and roginolisib had an anti-tumor effect in vitro[3]. Secondly, ex vivo evaluation of NSCLC samples from patients responding and failing to immunotherapy showed that roginolisib rebalanced the composition of immune cells by inhibiting regulatory T-cells and enhancing CD8+ T cell killing cells3. Finally, roginolisib augmented the cytotoxicity of chemotherapy and immunotherapy3.

Dostarlimab is a PD-1-blocking antibody approved in the US in combination with chemotherapy for certain patients with endometrial cancer, as well as a single agent for certain patients with dMMR tumours that have progressed on or following prior treatment. It has also demonstrated clinical activity in combination with chemotherapy in NSCLC[4]. Under a supply agreement with iOnctura, GSK will supply dostarlimab for use in the trial. iOnctura will retain worldwide rights to roginolisib.

The Phase I/II open-label, randomized, parallel-arm PULMO-01 study (NCT06879717) will assess roginolisib in combination with dostarlimab, with or without docetaxel. The study will enrol approximately 45 patients who have progressed on standard-of-care immune checkpoint therapy. It will investigate the safety of the combination and the proportion of patients with a reduction in peripheral blood regulatory T cells in each arm.

Roginolisib is an allosteric modulator of PI3Kδ, widely recognized as a ‘master switch’ of cancer. Inhibition of PI3Kδ unleashes a multi-pronged anti-tumor and immune response to combat the tumor[5]. Roginolisib has demonstrated an unprecedented clinical profile in solid and liquid cancers[6], and is currently being investigated in a randomized Phase II clinical trial in uveal melanoma. A separate Phase I/II study in myelofibrosis is being initiated.

Jabez Biosciences, Inc. Announced Phase 1 Clinical Trial of JBZ-001 at AACR 2025

On May 8, 2025 Jabez Biosciences, Inc., a pioneering biotechnology company focused on innovative cancer therapies, reported the progress of its Phase 1 clinical trial for JBZ-001 (HOSU-53), a novel dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitor, at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting held April 25-30, 2025, in Chicago, IL (Press release, Jabez Biosciences, MAY 9, 2025, View Source [SID1234652823]). The trial, conducted in collaboration with The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James), targets adults with advanced solid tumors and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

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!

Asrar Alahmadi, MBBS, lead Principal Investigator of the Phase 1 trial and assistant professor in the College of Medicine at The Ohio State University, presented the clinical trial abstract entitled: An open-label phase 1 study to investigate JBZ-001 in adults with advanced solid tumors and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (Jabez Biosciences’ Clinical Trial NCT06801002 in Progress at OSUCCC—James) at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting at McCormick Place Convention Center, Chicago. The abstract was also published online in the Proceedings of the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) on April 25, 2025.

JBZ-001, an orally bioavailable small-molecule DHODH inhibitor, was designed to disrupt de novo pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis, a critical pathway for cancer cell proliferation. By targeting DHODH, the rate-limiting enzyme in this pathway, JBZ-001 demonstrated potential to induce cytotoxic effects in tumor cells, offering a promising new approach to cancer treatment. The development of JBZ-001 marks a significant milestone in Jabez Biosciences’ "bench-to-bedside" academic collaboration, with the compound receiving FDA approval for a commercial Investigational New Drug (IND) application in 2024.

The Phase 1 study, underway at OSUCCC – James, aims to assess the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of JBZ-001 in patients with advanced solid tumors and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The trial’s open-label design allows for real-time evaluation of the drug’s effects, paving the way for future clinical development.

Jabez Biosciences expressed gratitude to its research partners for their collaboration in bringing JBZ-001 to this stage. The company remains focused on advancing its pipeline of targeted cancer therapies to address unmet medical needs.

For more information about Jabez Biosciences, Inc. and its clinical programs, please visit www.jabezbio.com. For details on the clinical trial, refer to ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06801002).