BioDlink Congratulates Lepu Biopharma on Securing Approval for the World’s First Approved EGFR-Targeted ADC

On November 5, 2025 BioDlink (1875.HK) reported to have congratulated its partner Lepu Biopharma (2157.HK) on receiving conditional marketing approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for MEIYOUHENG (Becotatug Vedotin injection). This Class 1 innovative antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (R/M NPC). Significantly, this is the world’s first approved non-photoimmunological EGFR-targeted ADC and a first-in-class innovation. This project is BioDlink’s first commercial ADC manufacturing initiative globally, validating its robust capabilities in the commercialization of complex biologics.

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This approval builds on BioDlink’s earlier success with Lepu Biopharma’s ADC program that achieved 100% first-pass success across technology transfer, Process Performance Qualification (PPQ), and Pre-Approval Inspection (PAI).

The program, designated as a Breakthrough Therapy Project, required rapid tech transfer and full production line delivery from monoclonal-antibody Drug Substance through ADC Drug Product.

BioDlink’s performance in this project secured BLA approval on October 30, 2025, demonstrating its capacity to meet aggressive regulatory timelines and ensure commercial readiness for global markets.

ADC manufacturing is technologically demanding, requiring exceptional process capabilities and robust quality systems. BioDlink participated in the entire development and production cycle, from technology transfer, process development, and analytical method establishment to clinical sample and GMP-compliant commercial batch manufacturing. This reflects the company’s end-to-end capabilities in supporting complex biologics from R&D to market launch.

Through close coordination with Lepu Biopharma and multiple regulatory authorities, BioDlink established an integrated quality management system. This system ensures seamless coordination across the entire production chain—accelerate the timeline for pivotal clinical batch production and subsequent PPQto meet aggressive regulatory submission goals and aligns with global GMP standards, including those of China, the U.S., and the EU. BioDlink’s manufacturing facilities have obtained GMP certifications from several countries and Foreign Manufacturer Approval from Japan’s PMDA. This collaboration sets a practical model for efficient multi-party industry collaboration and resource integration in the biopharma sector.

BioDlink’s manufacturing facilities have obtained GMP certifications from China, Brazil, Argentina, Indonesia, Egypt, Colombia, Pakistan and Thailand, as well as Foreign Manufacturer Approval from Japan’s PMDA. And also passed EU-QP 5 times in these years. This achievement marks a major step forward for ADC commercialization and demonstrates a practical model for multi-party industry collaboration and efficient resource integration.

Dr. Ziye Sui, Executive Director and CEO of Lepu BioPharma, commented: "We sincerely thank the BioDlink team for their outstanding CDMO services and strong collaboration. This approval also establishes a practical pathway for multi-party collaboration, offering new hope for R/M NPC patients who have failed anti-PD-(L)1 and platinum-based therapies."

Dr. Jian Zhang, Chief Operating Officer, BioDlink, noted: "The approval of this pilot batch highlights the increasing technical and quality coordination demands placed on both the Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) and the CDMO. Moving forward, we will continue working closely with our partners to accelerate the launch of innovative medicines to benefit patients worldwide."

About Becotatug Vedotin

MEIYOUHENG (Becotatug Vedotin injection) is an ADC comprised of an EGFR-targeted monoclonal antibody conjugated with the potent microtubulin inhibiting payload monomethyl auristatin E via a valine-citrulline linker. It is the world’s first approved EGFR-targeted ADC and a first-in-class innovation, for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (R/M NPC).

It binds specifically with high affinity to EGFR on the surface of tumor cells, releases the potent payload upon internalization and lysosomal protease cleavage of the linker and results in tumor cell death. EGFR is highly expressed in colorectal cancer, lung cancer, head and neck cancer and other malignant solid tumors, and is expressed in 89% advanced NPC. Therefore, EGFR is an important target for cancer treatment.

(Press release, BioDlink, NOV 5, 2025, View Source [SID1234659486])

NuCana Announces Grant of Composition-of-Matter Patent for NUC-7738 in China

On November 5, 2025 NuCana plc (NASDAQ: NCNA) ("NuCana" or the "Company") reported that the China National Intellectual Property Administration ("CNIPA") has granted an important patent covering the composition of matter for NUC-7738. This patent (ZL 202010794701.2) is expected to serve as a key component of the patent protection for NUC-7738, which currently consists of over 85 issued patents worldwide. The composition of matter patent covers the chemical structure of NUC-7738, NuCana’s novel anti-cancer agent currently being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical study (NuTide:701) in combination with pembrolizumab for patients with PD-1 inhibitor refractory or resistant melanoma. Securing this patent represents an important milestone for NuCana, strengthening its long-term global intellectual property strategy, while supporting potential opportunities to address unmet needs for innovative cancer therapies in China.

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Hugh S. Griffith, NuCana’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer said: "We welcome the CNIPA’s decision to grant this important new patent, which further strengthens the intellectual property protection of NUC-7738. The encouraging clinical data observed to date, together with the recent translational findings presented at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2025, continue to build confidence in the therapeutic potential of NUC-7738 in combination with PD-1 inhibition. As we aim to expand the NuTide:701 study with additional patients, we look forward to reinforcing the overall data package and progressing toward our goal of bringing meaningful new treatment options to patients with cancer."

(Press release, Nucana, NOV 5, 2025, https://ir.nucana.com/news-releases/news-release-details/nucana-announces-grant-composition-matter-patent-nuc-7738-china [SID1234659470])

HanchorBio Presents Preclinical Data on HCB301 at SITC 2025

On November 5, 2025 HanchorBio Inc. (TPEx: 7827), a global clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing next-generation immunotherapies for oncology and autoimmune diseases, reported that the preclinical data on HCB301, a novel tri-specific immunotherapeutic fusion protein, has been accepted for presentation at the 40th Annual Meeting of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper), taking place November 5-9, 2025, in National Harbor, Maryland. Featured in a poster presentation, the data highlight HCB301’s differentiated design and multi-pronged antitumor mechanism, which engages both innate and adaptive immunity.

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HCB301 is designed to simultaneously:

Block SIRPα-CD47 interaction to enable macrophage-mediated phagocytosis
Block PD-1-PD-L1 signaling to restore exhausted T-cell function
Trap TGFβ to overcome stromal and immune exclusion in tumor microenvironment (TME)
This tripartite approach aims to overcome the limitations of existing checkpoint inhibitors by activating both arms of the immune system, especially in tumors with immunologically ‘cold’ or suppressive tumor microenvironments (TMEs) resistant to current treatments.

In addition to the HCB301 preclinical poster presented on November 5, HanchorBio will also present two late-breaking abstracts on November 7 to showcase clinical data on its SIRPα-Fc fusion protein HCB101. Together, the three posters underscore the breadth and translational strength of HanchorBio’s proprietary Fc-Based Designer Biologics (FBDB) platform across innate and adaptive immune pathways.

Scott Liu, Ph.D., Founder, Chairman, and CEO of HanchorBio, commented: "HCB301 builds directly on the foundation of HCB101, our clinical-stage SIRPα-engineered fusion protein. By integrating PD-1 blockade and TGFβ neutralization into a single molecule, HCB301 represents what we believe to be the first-in-class tri-specific fusion protein that simultaneously targets immune checkpoints, immune suppression, and macrophage dysfunction. This design reflects our commitment to building modular, next-generation immunotherapies with global translation potential. With IND clearance and first-patient dosing now achieved in both the US and China, HCB301 demonstrates the scalability of our FBDB platform and the executional readiness of our team across regions. As we advance HCB301 into the clinical stage, this milestone further positions HanchorBio as a long-term innovation partner for global co-development, particularly in cancers with high resistance to conventional immunotherapies."

Preclinical highlights of HCB301 (SITC Poster #P321)
Title: HCB301, a tri-specific fusion protein targeting SIRPα/CD47, PD-1/PD-L1, and TGFβ, promotes anti-tumor macrophage and T cell activity in preclinical models of solid tumors

Strong immune activation: HCB301 induced robust antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), activated tumor-associated macrophages, and increased CD8+ T cell infiltration.
Synergistic antitumor efficacy: In CT26, MC38, and B16F10 models, HCB301 demonstrated superior tumor growth inhibition compared with single- or dual-arm comparators.
TGFβ suppression: HCB301 potently neutralized active TGFβ, reversing TME immunosuppression, and restoring T cell function.
Fc-effector tuning: Selective Fc engineering optimized immune activation while minimizing off-target toxicity.
"HCB301 was purpose-built to break through the resistance barriers that limit current PD-1 or CD47 monotherapies," remarked Wenwu Zhai, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of HanchorBio. "Each of its three arms addresses a key axis of tumor immune evasion: CD47 for innate immune clearance, PD-1 for adaptive immune reactivation, and TGFβ for TME remodeling. Our preclinical data show that HCB301 delivers synergistic immune activation and tumor control, strongly supporting its advancement into the clinic."

About HCB301
Based on company analysis, HCB301 is the first clinical-stage tri-specific recombinant Fc-fusion protein that simultaneously targets SIRPα/CD47, PD-1/PD-L1, and TGFβ. It was designed using HanchorBio’s FBDB platform, which enables modular multi-arm immunotherapies with tunable Fc regions and enhanced manufacturability.

HCB301 integrates:

A high-affinity SIRPα domain that binds cancer cells’ CD47 to promote macrophage phagocytosis
A PD-1 extracellular domain that blocks PD-L1 and restores T-cell effector function
A TGFβRII domain that traps active TGFβ to alleviate immunosuppressive signals in the tumor microenvironment
The protein shows a favorable safety profile in repeat-dose toxicology studies in cynomolgus monkeys. Its differential tumor vs. RBC binding profile may reduce the risk of anemia, thrombocytopenia, or other cytopenia while maintaining potent anti-tumor activity.

HCB301 achieved IND clearance and first-patient dosing in both the US and China in 2025. The ongoing Phase 1 study (HCB301-101; NCT06487624) is a multi-regional, multi-center, open-label, dose-finding, first-in-human trial evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and preliminary clinical efficacy of HCB301 in patients with advanced solid tumors or relapsed and refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

(Press release, Hanchor Bio, NOV 5, 2025, View Source [SID1234659487])

Alligator Bioscience presents new data on mitazalimab and ATOR-4066 at SITC 40th Anniversary Annual Meeting

On November 5, 2025 Alligator Bioscience (Nasdaq Stockholm: ATORX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing tumor-directed immuno-oncology antibody drugs, reported the publication of two abstracts accepted for presentation at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) 40th Anniversary Annual Meeting, to be held 5–9 November 2025 in National Harbor, MD, USA.

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The mitazalimab abstract presents new data from the OPTIMIZE-1 trial in metastatic pancreatic cancer, further characterizing efficacy, safety, and biomarker responses at two dose levels. These findings strengthen the clinical rationale for selecting the 900 μg/kg dose in the planned Phase 3 study and the exposure-response data further supports mitazalimab contribution to the clinical benefits observed in OPTIMIZE-1. Alligator will also present preclinical data on ATOR-4066, a bispecific antibody targeting CD40 and CEACAM5, demonstrating immune activation and remodeling of the tumor microenvironment.

Mitazalimab presentation details
Title: CD40 agonist mitazalimab + mFOLFIRINOX in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: dose characterization based on exposure response and biomarker analysis from the OPTIMIZE-1 study
Abstract number: 530
Time: Saturday, 8 November 2025
Presenter: Yago Pico de Coaña, Medical Science Director, Alligator Bioscience

Key findings:

Improved survival outcomes at 6 months:
PFS: 50.8% vs. 38.7%
OS: 89.5% vs. 69.4%
Manageable safety profile: Safety was manageable across both dose levels, with the increased rate of adverse events in the 900 μg/kg group attributed to extended treatment exposure
Biomarker analyses: Greater immune activation at 900 μg/kg, including higher levels of Ki67+ T cells, a marker of actively dividing and proliferating immune cells
Dose selection for Phase 3: Data support 900 μg/kg as the recommended dose for the planned Phase 3 study in metastatic pancreatic cancer
ATOR-4066 presentation details
Title: ATOR-4066, a bispecific antibody targeting CD40 and CEACAM5, induces potent anti-tumor activity that associates with activated intra-tumoral immune cells and disassembly of extracellular tumor matrix
Abstract number: 940
Time: Saturday, 8 November 2025
Presenter: Hampus Andersson, Industrial PhD student, Alligator Bioscience

Key findings:

Localized immune activation: Enhanced dendritic cell and macrophage activation, uptake of tumor antigens, and priming of neoantigen-specific T cells
Potent anti-tumor activity: Superior efficacy compared to CD40 monospecific antibodies in preclinical tumor models
Tumor microenvironment remodeling: Downregulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) organization genes and upregulation of ECM disassembly pathways, correlating with increased immune cell infiltration
"The new OPTIMIZE-1 data provide important validation of mitazalimab’s therapeutic potential in metastatic pancreatic cancer and further strengthen the rationale for the planned Phase 3 study using the 900 μg/kg dose level," said Søren Bregenholt, CEO of Alligator Bioscience. "This is a significant milestone for Alligator as we prepare mitazalimab for late-stage development. In addition, we are pleased to share encouraging preclinical results for ATOR-4066, underscoring the breadth and innovation of our pipeline."

(Press release, Alligator Bioscience, NOV 5, 2025, View Source [SID1234659455])

Nykode Therapeutics to Present Data on the Strength of the Neoantigen
Selection Method from Two Clinical Trials at the Society for Immunotherapy
of Cancer (SITC) 2025 Annual Meeting

On November 5, 2025 Nykode Therapeutics ASA (OSE: NYKD), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel immunotherapies, reported the presentation of new integrated multiomics and biomarker analyses from the phase 1/2 VB N-01 (NCT03548467) and phase 1 VB N-02 (NCT05018273) clinical trials of the individualized cancer vaccine VB10.NEO, designed using Nykode’s AI-powered NeoSELECT platform, at the 40th Annual Meeting of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) held in National Harbor, Maryland, 5-9 November 2025.

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The poster highlights the capabilities of Nykode’s proprietary AI-powered NeoSELECT platform, which enables individualized cancer vaccine design by integrating multiomics data to select neoantigens with a high potential to trigger clinically relevant tumor-specific immune responses.

In the phase 1/2 VB N-01 and phase 1 VB N-02 trials, VB10.NEO developed using NeoSELECT elicited neoantigen-specific T-cell responses in 94% and 100% of participants, respectively, across multiple solid tumor types. High-quality neoantigens prioritized by NeoSELECT showed enrichment of both overall and stable/amplified immunogenic responses, supporting prolonged and amplified neoantigen-specific immune responses after VB10.NEO vaccination.

"We are very proud of our in-house artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities. It is great to see the strong performance of our immunogenicity predictions being confirmed across both clinical trials," said Agnete Fredriksen, CSO and Co-founder of Nykode Therapeutics. "While the N-01 cohort was highly heterogeneous and patients received multiple concurrent therapies, we note a favorable association between a higher number of high-quality immunogenic neoantigens and overall survival. This encouraging signal warrants confirmation in controlled studies with more homogeneous patient populations and earlier lines of treatment."

Poster Presentation Details

Abstract #: 117
Title: Integrative analyses of multiomics data and biomarker readout demonstrate clinical and immunological relevance of individualized vaccine design via the NeoSELECT platform
Session Date and Time: Friday, November 7, 2025 | 10:00 AM–7:00 PM ET

The poster will be available on the Nykode website on November 7, at: View Source

(Press release, Nykode Therapeutics, NOV 5, 2025, View Source [SID1234659471])