Insilico and Lilly Enter a Research & Licensing Collaboration to Advance AI-Driven Drug Discovery

On November 10, 2025 Insilico Medicine ("Insilico"), a clinical-stage generative artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery company, reported a research collaboration with Eli Lilly ("Lilly") that the two parties will combine Insilico’s state-of-the-art Pharma.AI platforms with Lilly’s development and disease expertise to jointly discover and advance innovative therapies.

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Insilico will utilize its validated Pharma.AI platform and deep drug discovery expertise to generate, design, and optimize candidate compounds against targets defined under the agreement. Insilico is eligible to receive over $100 million including an upfront, milestone payments, and tiered royalties on net sales upon commercialization of any resulting drug products.

"We are delighted to collaborate with Lilly, a global leader in the pharmaceutical industry, renowned for its commitment to medical innovation," said Alex Zhavoronkov, PhD, Founder and Co-CEO of Insilico Medicine. "Lilly has been a valued user of our Pharma.AI software suite, and this expanded collaboration further recognizes Insilico’s AI-driven drug discovery capabilities while strengthening our longstanding partnership. By joining forces, we are accelerating the development of transformative therapies to address urgent patient needs worldwide."

The collaboration represents a further deepening of the partnership between the two companies, which originated with the AI-based software licensing agreement in 2023.

Harnessing state-of-the-art AI and automation technologies, Insilico has significantly improved the efficiency of preclinical drug development. While traditional early-stage drug discovery typically requires 3 to 6 years, from 2021 to 2024 Insilico nominated 20 preclinical candidates, achieving an average turnaround – from project initiation to preclinical candidate (PCC) nomination – of just 12 to 18 months per program, with only 60 to 200 molecules synthesized and tested in each program.

(Press release, Insilico Medicine, NOV 10, 2025, View Source;licensing-collaboration-to-advance-ai-driven-drug-discovery-302610234.html [SID1234659741])

Avenzo Therapeutics Granted Fast Track Designation for AVZO-1418, a Potential Best-in-Class EGFR/HER3 Bispecific Antibody-Drug Conjugate, for the Treatment of Patients with EGFR-Mutated TKI-Pretreated NSCLC

On November 10, 2025 Avenzo Therapeutics, Inc. ("Avenzo"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation oncology therapies, reported the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Fast Track designation to AVZO-1418 (DB-1418), a potential best-in-class EGFR/HER3 bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (BsADC).

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The designation was granted for the treatment of patients with unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletion or exon 21 L858R mutation, whose disease has progressed on or after therapy with an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI).

"We are excited to receive this Fast Track designation from the FDA, underscoring the promise of AVZO-1418, especially for patients with EGFR-Mutated TKI-Pretreated NSCLC," said Mohammad Hirmand, M.D., Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Avenzo Therapeutics. "This designation has the potential to help expedite the development of AVZO-1418, which we continue to rapidly advance in Phase 1."

AVZO-1418 is currently being studied in a Phase 1/2 first-in-human, open-label clinical study designed to assess the safety, tolerability, and preliminary clinical activity of AVZO-1418 as a single agent and in combination therapy in patients with advanced solid tumors.

About Fast Track Designation
Fast Track is a FDA process designed to facilitate the development, and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need.

A drug that receives Fast Track designation is eligible for some or all of the following:

More frequent meetings with the FDA to discuss the drug’s development plan and ensure collection of appropriate data needed to support drug approval;
More frequent written communication from the FDA about such things as the design of the proposed clinical trials and use of biomarkers;
Eligibility for Accelerated Approval and Priority Review, if relevant criteria are met; and
Rolling Review of a Biologic License Application or New Drug Application by the FDA

(Press release, Avenzo Therapeutics, NOV 10, 2025, View Source [SID1234659706])

Olema Oncology Reports Third Quarter 2025 Financial and Operating Results

On November 10, 2025 Olema Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Olema" or "Olema Oncology", Nasdaq: OLMA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of targeted therapies for breast cancer and beyond, reported financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2025.

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"We have made significant progress advancing our programs this quarter, highlighted by the initiation of the Phase 3 OPERA-02 trial evaluating palazestrant in combination with ribociclib in the frontline setting and the presentation of compelling data at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) that further positions palazestrant to become a potential best-in-class backbone endocrine therapy for ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer," said Sean P. Bohen, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Olema Oncology. "Our clinical trial agreement with Pfizer to combine palazestrant with atirmociclib further underscores our confidence in palazestrant’s activity in combination with other agents in the metastatic setting."

Bohen continued, "Enrollment in the OPERA-01 trial evaluating palazestrant as a monotherapy in second- and third-line ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer continues to progress well and we remain on track for top-line data in the second half of next year. The Phase 1/2 study of our KAT6 inhibitor, OP-3136, recently expanded into combinations with fulvestrant and palazestrant and continues to benefit from strong investigator interest. As we look ahead to 2026, we remain focused on sustaining positive momentum across the business, transforming the breast cancer treatment paradigm, and bringing palazestrant to market."

Recent Progress

Announced a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with Pfizer to evaluate the safety and combinability of palazestrant plus atirmociclib, Pfizer’s investigational, highly selective-CDK4 inhibitor, in a Phase 1b/2 study in patients with estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (ER+/HER2-) metastatic breast cancer.
Initiated the OPERA-02 Phase 3 trial of palazestrant in combination with ribociclib in frontline ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer.
Presented updated data from the Phase 1b/2 study of palazestrant plus ribociclib at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress 2025, demonstrating encouraging activity in both ESR1 mutant and wild-type patients.
Continued enrollment in the OPERA-01 Phase 3 trial of palazestrant as a monotherapy in second- and third-line ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer.
Advanced the Phase 1 study evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary efficacy of OP-3136, as a monotherapy and in combination with fulvestrant and palazestrant, in participants with advanced solid tumors.

Anticipated Upcoming Events

Initiate the Phase 1b/2 study evaluating palazestrant with atirmociclib in ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer in Q4 2025.
Present trial-in-progress poster entitled "OPERA-02: a phase 3 randomized, double-blind, active-controlled study of palazestrant with ribociclib versus letrozole with ribociclib for the first-line treatment of ER+, HER2- advanced breast cancer" at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) in December 2025.
Report initial clinical results for OP-3136 in mid-2026.
Report top-line data from OPERA-01 in the second half of 2026.

Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results
Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $329.0 million as of September 30, 2025.

Net loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 was $42.2 million, as compared to $34.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The increase in net loss for the third quarter was primarily related to increased spending on research and development activities as a result of the ongoing late-stage clinical trials for palazestrant and the advancement of OP-3136, partially offset by higher interest income earned from marketable securities.

GAAP research and development (R&D) expenses were $40.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, as compared to $33.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The increase in R&D expenses was primarily related to increased spending on clinical development-related activities as Olema continues to advance palazestrant through late-stage clinical trials, and the advancement of OP-3136, partially offset by decreases in stock-based compensation expense of $1.7 million.

Non-GAAP R&D expenses were $37.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, excluding $2.6 million non-cash stock-based compensation expense. Non-GAAP R&D expenses were $28.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, which excluded $4.3 million non-cash stock-based compensation expense. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release can be found at the end of this press release.

GAAP general and administrative (G&A) expenses were $5.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, as compared to $4.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The increase in G&A expenses was primarily due to corporate-related costs, including increases in stock-based compensation expense of $0.3 million.

Non-GAAP G&A expenses were $4.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, excluding $1.7 million non-cash stock-based compensation expense. Non-GAAP G&A expenses were $3.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, excluding $1.3 million non-cash stock-based compensation expense. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release can be found at the end of this press release.

(Press release, Olema Oncology, NOV 10, 2025, View Source [SID1234659722])

Servier’s Clinical and Real-World Data at 2025 SNO Congress Showcase Leadership in IDH-Mutant Glioma

On November 10, 2025 Servier reported that it will present new and updated data from its neuro-oncology program at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) on November 19 – 23 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Presentations will demonstrate progress across Servier’s neuro-oncology portfolio, highlighting clinical and real-world evidence in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutant glioma.

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Notably, Servier will present an analysis from the Phase 3 INDIGO trial comparing volumetric (3D) and traditional bidirectional (2D) assessment in patients with Grade 2 IDH-mutant glioma receiving VORANIGO or placebo in an oral presentation on November 22. The findings show that 3D assessments may provide a more clinically meaningful determination of progression in Grade 2 glioma trials, potentially impacting future trial design and endpoint selection.

In addition, Servier will also share results from the Phase 1b part of an ongoing Phase 1b/2 study evaluating VORANIGO in combination with temozolomide in patients with newly diagnosed Grade 4 IDH mutant astrocytoma on November 22. These data represent the first published data evaluating the safety of combining an IDH inhibitor with current standard of care chemotherapy in higher grade IDH mutant gliomas.

"As a pioneer in targeted therapies for brain tumors, Servier – working with the neuro-oncology community – is using our unmatched clinical trial datasets to better understand how these medicines affect tumor growth," said Islam Hassan, Global Head of Development-Neuro-Oncology & Senior Director, LS/LCM at Servier. "The critical insights presented at SNO will enable efficient clinical trial designs across all IDH-mutant glioma grades, including in combination with temozolomide in higher grade settings, to help us deliver potential new treatment options faster to patients who are eagerly awaiting them, all while upholding the highest level of evidence."

(Press release, Servier, NOV 10, 2025, View Source [SID1234659742])

Calidi Biotherapeutics Presents New Data on its Therapeutic Lead, CLD-401, at the 2025 SITC Annual Meeting and Holds Its First Investor Day at SITC

On November 10, 2025 Calidi Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American: CLDI) ("Calidi" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of systemically delivered, targeted genetic medicines, reported new data on its first therapeutic candidate from its RedTail platform, CLD-401, at the Society of Immunotherapy for Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) Annual Meeting.

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CLD-401 is a tumor-tropic oncolytic virus designed to home to metastatic sites after systemic administration, replicate only in tumors cells, induce an immune priming event at the tumor site, and express high levels of IL-15 superagonist, a potent cytokine that induces NK and T-cell responses to the tumor, in the tumor microenvironment (TME).

"Our latest data demonstrate that in our syngeneic murine models, our RedTail platform is protected from immune clearance after systemic administration and can find and specifically replicate in tumor cells at metastatic sites," said Antonio F. Santidrian, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Technical Operations at Calidi. "The data also demonstrate that the platform can effectively express genetic medicines at the tumor site in concentrations that are similar to what is achievable with localized dosing while avoiding systemic exposure."

"In our syngeneic models, we are demonstrating levels of IL-15 superagonist in the tumor microenvironment after systemic administration that are comparable to levels seen with intrathecal administration of Anktiva in the bladder," added Eric Poma, PhD, Chief Executive Officer. "The level of IL-15 superagonist in serum or organs in these models is several orders of magnitude lower than what is expressed in the tumor. We believe this represents an unprecedented level of targeted genetic medicine delivery and expression."

Link to SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) poster View Source

Calidi is currently conducting IND-enabling studies for CLD-401 and anticipates submitting an Investigational New Drug (IND) application by the end of 2026. The Company is also actively pursuing strategic partnerships to accelerate clinical development and broaden the impact of its RedTail platform.

In addition to the data presented, Calidi also held an investor day featuring members of its Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Dimitri Zamarin, a world-renowned expert in virotherapy, from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Dr John Wrangle, a thoracic medical oncologist with pioneering clinical work on IL-15 superagonist in patients, at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Both investigators spoke on the promise and differentiation of CLD-401 and the RedTail platform.

(Press release, Calidi Biotherapeutics, NOV 10, 2025, View Source [SID1234659707])