On January 9, 2026 The University of Pennsylvania ("Penn"), BioNTech SE ("BioNTech"), and OUP (Osage University Partners) reported the launch of the $50 million Penn-BioNTech Innovative Therapeutics Seed Fund ("PxB Fund"), a dedicated venture capital fund focused on early-stage life science companies originating from Penn. The joint effort will provide additional fuel to advance Penn discoveries into products that benefit patients across the world, following a decade in which the university’s research teams have spawned 45 FDA approvals for transformative vaccines and novel medical treatments such as CAR T cell therapy, and garnered a Nobel Prize and four Breakthrough Prizes for Life Sciences.

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The PxB Fund will provide capital to Penn-founded companies developing novel therapeutics, diagnostics, and research tools, including AI-enabled drug discovery platforms to address serious medical conditions. It is designed to help Penn investigators accelerate the translation of high-potential science from their labs to patients by providing early-stage capital to promising Penn startups. The fund will be managed by OUP, a Philadelphia-based venture capital firm with over $800 million under management that has invested in more than 150 startups commercializing university research, including more than 10 Penn startups.

"Penn has a remarkable track record of creating cutting-edge startups, with recent success stories including Capstan Therapeutics, which has been acquired by AbbVie, and Interius BioTherapeutics, acquired by Kite," said Marc Singer, Managing Partner of OUP. "We have been a partner of Penn and have worked closely with the Penn Center for Innovation (PCI) over many years to promote the Penn entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through the PxB Fund, and with access to BioNTech’s insights, we intend to invest in the next generation of Penn innovations to translate breakthrough science into medicines that can improve patients’ lives."

As part of the launch, Anna Turetsky, PhD has been appointed as General Partner. Dr. Turetsky is an experienced biotech investor and Penn alumnus who has spent her decade-long career backing and advising early-stage therapeutics companies. After earning her PhD in Biophysics at Harvard University, she began her venture career at Lightstone Ventures, where she invested in and helped build multiple successful life science startups. She then launched and led the venture arm of an oncology-focused non-profit, the Mark Foundation, where her investments included work with Penn on Interius BioTherapeutics.

Penn is a global leader in translating academic research into commercial impact, with hundreds of startups formed around Penn intellectual property and a large and growing list of FDA-approved therapies tied to inventions made by its scientists and physicians, including Nobel Prize winning mRNA technology used in some COVID-19 vaccines. The PxB Fund is a strong complement to Penn’s existing commercialization, incubation, and co-investment programs, providing a focused capital pool to lead financing transactions at the earliest stages of company formation.

"Penn’s mission is not only to perform groundbreaking research and generate and disseminate new knowledge, but to ensure that the fruits of those efforts are translated into real-world solutions," said John S. Swartley, PhD, MBA, Chief Innovation Officer of the University of Pennsylvania. "This new fund is reflective of the deep trust and shared vision we have with BioNTech and OUP. It will allow us to move faster and more intentionally to support our faculty and other members of our research community as they build high-impact life science companies here in Philadelphia and beyond. We see this as a major step forward for Penn’s innovation ecosystem and a real boon for patients."

BioNTech, a pioneer in mRNA-based medicines and next-generation immunotherapies, has longstanding scientific and translational ties to Penn. Through the PxB Fund, BioNTech aims to deepen its collaboration with Penn and increase its visibility into emerging therapeutic approaches at the university across a breadth of technologies and modalities.

"BioNTech has a longstanding R&D collaboration with Penn. Groundbreaking work, including in mRNA and immunotherapy, is aligned with our commitment to developing innovative therapeutics for patients with high unmet medical needs," said James Ryan, Ph.D., Chief Business Officer and Chief Legal Officer, BioNTech SE. "By partnering with Penn and OUP on this fund, we will have the opportunity to support the next wave of scientific breakthroughs coming out of the university."

About the PxB Fund

The PxB Fund (Penn BioNTech Innovative Therapeutics Seed Fund) is a $50 million venture capital fund formed by the University of Pennsylvania, BioNTech, and OUP to invest in early-stage life science companies based on Penn intellectual property and/or founded by Penn researchers. The fund focuses on seed and Series A investments in therapeutics, platforms, diagnostics, and research tools emerging from Penn’s faculty and researcher community.

(Press release, BioNTech, JAN 9, 2026, View Source [SID1234661910])

On January 09, 2026 Athira Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of novel therapeutics for diseases with high unmet medical needs, reported that it has changed its name to LeonaBio, Inc. The name change aligns with the Company’s transformative acquisition of rights to develop and commercialize lasofoxifene, a promising late-stage clinical asset for the potential treatment of metastatic breast cancer, currently in a Phase 3 trial (NCT05696626). In connection with the name change, the Company will change its ticker symbol to "LONA." The Company’s common stock will commence trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the new ticker symbol on January 12, 2026.

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"This marks an exciting and transformative period for our company and emphasizes our commitment to advancing a pipeline of innovative, late-stage assets both internally developed and strategically in-licensed with the goal of accelerating their path to market and maximizing their potential clinical and commercial impact," said Mark Litton, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of LeonaBio. "At LeonaBio, we are building a pipeline with the potential to change lives and create enduring value. Our new name truly reflects our commitment to leadership, resilience, and innovation—qualities that define our expanded mission to deliver transformative therapies for patients battling diseases that need better treatment options."

LeonaBio comes from "Leona," a name with Greek and Latin roots, meaning lioness. It reflects strength, leadership, resilience, and the company’s commitment to stand with patients facing the most serious diseases. The changes in name and ticker symbol do not affect the Company’s legal structure, business operations, or existing financial reporting obligations. Stockholders are not required to take any action in connection with the change.

The Company’s lead drug candidates, lasofoxifene and ATH-1105, are novel, small molecule therapies with the potential to address devastating diseases where current treatment options are limited. With a strong commitment to scientific excellence and patient-centered innovation, LeonaBio aims to advance meaningful new therapies that are designed to treat patients with treatment-resistant metastatic breast cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The ongoing Phase 3 ELAINE-3 clinical trial of lasofoxifene is more than 50% enrolled with data expected in mid-2027.

On December 18, 2025, the Company announced it entered into an exclusive global license (excluding Asia and certain countries in the Middle East) from Sermonix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for rights to develop and commercialize lasofoxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) for the potential treatment of metastatic breast cancer. In conjunction with this transaction, LeonaBio also announced an upfront financing of $90 million in a private placement of common stock and warrants, with warrants that are exercisable for cash providing, if fully exercised, up to an additional $146 million to support development of the new program through key clinical and regulatory milestones. The financing was co-led by Commodore Capital, Perceptive Advisors, and TCGX, with participation from ADAR1, Blackstone Multi-Asset Investing, Kalehua Capital, Ligand Pharmaceuticals, New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Spruce Street Capital, and 9vc. The Company anticipates the upfront financing will support lasofoxifene development through its topline data readout and key regulatory milestones, with sufficient capital for planned operations into 2028.

About Lasofoxifene
Lasofoxifene is a novel, nonsteroidal SERM with a unique binding profile, designed to confer potent activity against both wild-type and mutant estrogen receptors, including the clinically significant ESR1 mutations commonly associated with resistance to endocrine therapy in metastatic breast cancer. Two Phase 2 studies—ELAINE-1 and ELAINE2—have demonstrated- its potential to address a critical unmet need in this patient population.

Lasofoxifene is being advanced in a Phase 3 clinical trial as a targeted therapy for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), HER2-negative, ESR1-mutated metastatic breast cancer, a population with limited treatment options following progression on aromatase inhibitors and CDK4/6 inhibitors. The ongoing ELAINE-3 trial (NCT05696626) is evaluating lasofoxifene in combination with the CDK4/6 inhibitor, abemaciclib, and is aiming to establish a new standard of care for this genetically defined patient group.

About ATH-1105
ATH-1105 is LeonaBio’s novel, orally available, brain-penetrant, next-generation small molecule drug candidate designed to positively modulate the neurotrophic HGF system for potential treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. ATH-1105 is currently in clinical development for the potential treatment of ALS.

The first-in-human Phase 1 (NCT06432647) double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled 80 healthy volunteers to evaluate single and multiple oral ascending doses of ATH-1105. LeonaBio plans to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial of ATH-1105 in ALS patients in early 2026.

(Press release, Athira Pharma, JAN 9, 2026, View Source [SID1234664841])

On January 9, 2026 Alligator Bioscience (Nasdaq Stockholm: ATORX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing tumor-directed immuno-oncology antibody drugs, reported that new data from its Phase 1b/2 OPTIMIZE-1 study evaluating mitazalimab in combination with mFOLFIRINOX in previously untreated metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) will be presented at the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (ASCO GI) in San Francisco, CA, taking place 8–11 January 2026.

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The presentation will highlight new analyses from OPTIMIZE-1 further characterizing the clinical benefit observed with mitazalimab plus standard chemotherapy in metastatic pancreatic cancer. The data support Alligator’s continued preparations for mitazalimab’s pivotal development and reinforce the scientific and clinical rationale for CD40 agonism as an immunotherapy approach in this hard-to-treat disease.

Presentation details
Title: CD40 agonist mitazalimab + mFOLFIRINOX (mFFX) in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC): Final efficacy analysis of the OPTIMIZE-1 study.
Abstract number: 708
Session/Time: Friday, 9 January 2026, 11:30 – 1:00 pm PST ; poster board J4
Presenter: Teresa Macarulla, Dept. of Medical Oncology, Vall d´Hebrón University Hospital, Vall d´Hebrón Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain

"The OPTIMIZE-1 program continues to deliver compelling data supporting the potential of mitazalimab in metastatic pancreatic cancer," said Søren Bregenholt, CEO of Alligator Bioscience. "ASCO GI is one of the most important meetings for gastrointestinal oncology, bringing together leading clinicians and decision-makers in the field. We look forward to sharing these new analyses and to discuss the continued development of mitazalimab with key opinion leaders and clinical advisors."

(Press release, Alligator Bioscience, JAN 9, 2026, View Source [SID1234661844])

On January 9, 2026 iBio, Inc. (NASDAQ:IBIO), an AI-driven innovator of precision antibody therapies, reported that it has entered into a securities purchase agreement with existing healthcare-focused, high-quality institutional investors for a private placement ("PIPE") financing that is expected to result in gross proceeds of approximately $26 million to the Company before placement agent fees and offering expenses. The offering is expected to close on or about January 13, 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.

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The financing was led by Frazier Life Sciences and included participation from other existing investors.

iBio intends to use the net proceeds received from the offering to advance its preclinical cardiometabolic programs, including IBIO-610, IBIO-600, and the myostatin and activin A bispecific programs, through key development milestones, as well as to continue to progress its other preclinical pipeline assets, and the balance, if any, to fund iBio’s working capital requirements and for other general corporate purposes. This financing extends iBio’s cash runway into calendar 2028.

Pursuant to the terms of the securities purchase agreement, the Company is selling an aggregate of 11,061,738 shares of common stock (or pre-funded warrant in lieu thereof) at a purchase price of $2.35 per share (or $2.349 per pre-funded warrant), subject to certain beneficial ownership limitations set by each holder.

Leerink Partners acted as the lead placement agent for the offering. LifeSci Capital and Oppenheimer & Co. acted as co-placement agents.

The unregistered shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants sold in the PIPE financing described above were offered under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act") and Regulation D promulgated thereunder and, along with the shares of common stock underlying the pre-funded warrants, have not been registered under the Act or applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, the shares of common stock, the pre-funded warrants and the shares of common stock underlying the pre-funded warrants may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. The securities were offered only to accredited investors. Pursuant to the terms of the securities purchase agreement with the investors, the Company has agreed to file one or more registration statements with the SEC covering the resale of the unregistered shares of common stock and the shares issuable upon exercise of the unregistered pre-funded warrants.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

(Press release, iBioPharma, JAN 9, 2026, View Source [SID1234661894])

On January 9, 2026 Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (Biocytogen, SSE: 688796; HKEX: 02315) and Acepodia (6976:TT), reported that the companies have entered into an option and license agreement designed to enable the structured evaluation of bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (BsADC) programs to further advance the development of dual-payload bispecific antibody-drug conjugates (BsAD2Cs).

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The agreement grants Acepodia an option to obtain an exclusive worldwide license from Biocytogen for two BsADC programs. Under the terms of the agreement, Biocytogen is eligible to receive an upfront option fee and, upon Acepodia’s exercise of the option, additional payments including option exercise fees, development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, as well as royalties on future product sales. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"This new agreement builds upon our recent co-development collaboration with Acepodia, which has focused on the evaluation and selection of leading bispecific antibody and dual-payload ADC candidates," said Dr. Yuelei Shen, President and CEO of Biocytogen. "Based on the preclinical research conducted to date, we believe that the combination of Biocytogen’s RenLite platform with Acepodia’s Antibody-Dual-Drugs Conjugation (AD2C) technology offers a compelling approach for the development of next-generation dual-payload bispecific ADCs."

"This option-based framework allows us to systematically assess how dual-payload conjugation strategies can be applied to bispecific antibody formats," said Sonny Hsiao, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of Acepodia. "This collaboration reflects our focus on disciplined, data-driven AD2C platform expansion."

The expanded partnership is intended to leverage complementary platform strengths to advance next-generation ADC designs with the potential to improve upon certain limitations observed in conventional ADC programs. The joint team is progressing towards candidate evaluation milestones, with advancement decisions informed by ongoing research results and Acepodia’s internal governance and option exercise criteria.

(Press release, Biocytogen, JAN 9, 2026, View Source [SID1234661911])