On February 3, 2026 Nucleai, a leader in AI-powered multimodal spatial biology, reported its contribution to a collaborative international study published in Nature Communications that explores how spatial organization and metabolic characteristics of tumor cells are associated with response and resistance to immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

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The study, led by academic researchers at The University of Queensland and Yale School of Medicine, applied multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) and computational approaches to analyze tumor tissue at single-cell resolution. By examining how different cell populations are organized within the tumor microenvironment and how they metabolize glucose, the researchers identified distinct spatial and metabolic patterns associated with immunotherapy outcomes.

As part of the collaboration, Nucleai’s AI-powered multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) analysis pipeline enabled accurate identification and classification of tumor and immune cell populations at scale, providing a consistent and reproducible foundation for downstream spatial and metabolic analyses conducted by the academic research teams.

"Understanding response to lung cancer treatment requires insight into the different cell states and cell-cell interactions within the tumor, not just which cells and markers are present," said Ettai Markovits, Director of Biomedical Research at Nucleai. "This study highlights the importance of spatial context in cancer biology, and we are pleased to have supported this work by enabling robust, AI-based spatial analysis applied to multiplex imaging data."

Immunotherapy has transformed the treatment landscape for lung cancer, yet only a subset of patients experience durable benefit. Findings from this study suggest that spatially defined metabolic features within tumors may help explain variability in treatment response, reinforcing the need for more nuanced approaches to characterizing tumor biology beyond traditional single-marker assessments.

This work builds on Nucleai’s broader multimodal spatial AI platform, which is designed to support scalable and rapid spatial profiling across large research cohorts. By transforming complex multiplex imaging data into structured, quantitative spatial insights, the platform supports collaborative efforts to advance precision oncology research.

"This study demonstrates the power of multiplex imaging data to shed light on nuanced spatial interactions linked to treatment response to immunotherapy," said Associate Professor Arutha Kulasinghe from UQ’s Frazer Institute. "However, translating this spatial complexity into clinical insights requires sophisticated computational analysis. Nucleai’s contributions helped connect high-dimensional spatial imaging with clinical outcomes more efficiently."

The research was conducted in collaboration with The University of Queensland’s Frazer Institute, Yale School of Medicine, Wesley Research Institute, Quanterix, and Nucleai, and is published in Nature Communications.

(Press release, University of Queensland, FEB 3, 2026, View Source [SID1234662440])

On February 3, 2026 Bicycle Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ: BCYC), a pharmaceutical company pioneering a new and differentiated class of therapeutics based on its proprietary bicyclic peptide (Bicycle) technology, reported leadership transitions for its next phase of innovation.

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Travis Thompson, who began at Bicycle in April 2018 and most recently served as Bicycle’s senior vice president and chief accounting officer and previously spent his career at EY in its life sciences practice supporting a broad range of companies of all sizes and stages of development, has been appointed as Bicycle’s chief financial officer (CFO). In this role, Mr. Thompson will continue to oversee finance and accounting functions, and now investor relations. Alethia Young, who has stepped down as CFO, will remain with Bicycle in an interim capacity for three months. Thereafter, Alethia will continue as a company advisor.

Michael Method, M.D., MPH, MBA, who began at Bicycle in June 2025 and most recently served as Bicycle’s senior vice president, clinical development, has been promoted to chief medical officer (CMO), overseeing all clinical development and the relationship with Bicycle’s Clinical Advisory Board. Dr. Method is an academic and clinical oncologist with extensive drug development experience at many oncology companies, including ImmunoGen and Eli Lilly. Eric Westin, M.D., who has retired from his role as CMO, will continue with Bicycle as a distinguished fellow.
Michael Skynner, who began at Bicycle in January 2016 and most recently served as Bicycle’s chief technology officer, will now serve as chief scientific officer. Dr. Skynner will oversee scientific discovery, early-stage pipeline development and the relationship with Bicycle’s Research and Innovation Advisory Board.

"Bicycle made significant progress in 2025 and looks forward to achieving its 2026 priorities. We believe our evolved leadership team, in collaboration with our expert board of directors and advisors, positions us to build momentum across our innovative pipeline and create shareholder value," said Bicycle Therapeutics CEO Kevin Lee, Ph.D. "On behalf of our board of directors and team, I want to thank Alethia and Eric for helping the company obtain a strong financial position and advance our clinical trials. As we look to the future, we are excited to progress our targeted oncology clinical programs that include our new radiopharmaceutical strategic partnerships. With strengthened operational capacity and financial runway expected into 2028, I am pleased to have Travis, Michael and Michael step into their new roles after successful tenures at Bicycle. Together, with the rest of our leadership team, talented employees and board of directors, we believe we can realize our goal to help patients live longer and live well."

(Press release, Bicycle Therapeutics, FEB 3, 2026, View Source [SID1234662425])

On February 3, 2026 Cycle Group Holdings Limited ("Cycle") reported it has completed the acquisition of NASDAQ-listed Applied Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: APLT; "Applied"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company.

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Applied’s lead drug candidate, govorestat, is a novel central nervous system (CNS) penetrant Aldose Reductase Inhibitor (ARI) for the treatment of CNS rare metabolic diseases, including Classic Galactosemia, Charcot-Marie-Tooth Sorbitol Dehydrogenase Deficiency (CMT-SORD) and phosphomannomutase 2 congenital disorder of glycosylation (PMM2-CDG), for which there are currently no FDA approved treatment options available.

"Cycle was founded with a commitment to support patients living with rare metabolic diseases. From our beginnings with NITYR, we have grown to offer three therapies for this community. With Applied Therapeutics now a part of the Cycle group, we can look to expand further in this area. Our focus remains the same: to bring meaningful, reliable treatments to the patients and families who need them most." says James Harrison, CEO of Cycle.

The transaction is to be funded from cash on hand.

For Cycle, Goodwin Procter LLP acted as legal counsel. For Applied, Aquilo Partners, L.P. provided a fairness opinion, and Ropes & Gray LLP acted as legal counsel.

©2026 Cycle Pharmaceuticals Ltd. All rights reserved. NITYR is a registered trademark of Cycle Pharmaceuticals Ltd in the United States.

(Press release, Cycle Pharmaceuticals, FEB 3, 2026, View Source [SID1234662441])

On February 3, 2026 HOOKIPA Pharma Inc. (OTCID: HOOK, "HOOKIPA", the "Company") reported the sale of its immuno-oncology related assets, consisting primarily of the HB-200 (eseba-vec) and HB-700 development programs, to NeoTrail Therapeutics, Inc. ("NeoTrail"). The purchase price remains undisclosed.

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"We are delighted that the clinical development of these promising therapeutics will continue at NeoTrail with an opportunity to deliver patient benefit in multiple major market indications," stated Mark Winderlich, Chief R&D Officer of HOOKIPA.

The asset purchase agreement was signed on January 28, 2026, and the transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

About HB-200
Eseba-vec (also known as HB-200) is an investigational immunotherapeutic agent being evaluated for HPV16 positive cancers. HB-200 alternates the administration of both HB-201 (LCMV) and HB-202 (PICV), collectively referred to as "HB-200," attenuated viral vectors, which on their own are replicating-based therapeutics expressing a non-oncogenic, but highly immunogenic, E7E6 fusion protein from HPV16. Positive preliminary data from a Phase 2 trial (NCT04180215) of HB-200 in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with recurrent/metastatic HPV16 positive head and neck cancers in the first line setting was presented in November 2024 at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) Conference. Trial close out activities were completed before the end of 2025. HB-200 received Fast Track Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and PRIME designation from the European Medicines Agency. HB-200 was developed using HOOKIPA’s proprietary arenavirus platform.

About HB-700
HB-700 is an investigational arenaviral immunotherapy designed to treat KRAS-mutated lung, colorectal, pancreatic and other cancers. HB-700 is a replicating 2-vector therapy that targets the most prevalent KRAS mutations (G12D, G12V, G12R, G12C and G13D) and has the potential to benefit more patients than single mutation inhibitors. HB-700 received Investigational New Drug application clearance from the Food and Drug Administration in April 2024 and is Phase 1 ready, with clinical trial material manufacturing completed.

(Press release, Hookipa Pharma, FEB 3, 2026, View Source [SID1234662426])

On February 3, 2026 Estrella Immunopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESLA) ("Estrella" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing CD19 and CD22-targeted ARTEMIS T-cell therapies to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases, reported its STARLIGHT-1 phase I result will be orally presented at the 2026 ASTCT & CIBMTR Tandem Meetings (American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy and Center for International Blood & Marrow Transplant Research).

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The presentation will highlight clinical data from the Company’s ongoing STARLIGHT-1 study evaluating EB103, a CD19-redirected ARTEMIS T-cell therapy, in patients with aggressive B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL).

Estrella’s late-breaking abstract will be available on February 4, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. CT, via the conference website at www.tandemmeetings.com.

Details of the Late-Breaking Oral Presentation:

Final Paper Number: LBA-1
Abstract ID & Title: 29644: Phase-1 Study of CD19-ARTEMIS T Cells (EB103) in Patients with Aggressive B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL)
Session: Late Breaking Abstracts
Session Date/Time: Saturday, February 7, 2026, 3:15 p.m. MST
Presenting Author: Naseem Esteghamat, MD MS
About EB103

EB103, a T-cell therapy, also referred to as Estrella’s "CD19-Redirected ARTEMIS T-Cell Therapy," utilizes ARTEMIS technology licensed from Eureka Therapeutics, Inc. ("Eureka"), Estrella’s parent company. Unlike a traditional CAR-T cell, the unique design of an ARTEMIS T-Cell, like EB103 T-cell, allows it to be activated and regulated upon engagement with cancer targets that use a cellular mechanism more closely resembling the one from an endogenous T-cell receptor. Once infused, EB103 T-cells seek out CD19-positive cancer cells, bind to these cells, and destroy them.

(Press release, Estrella Biopharma, FEB 3, 2026, View Source [SID1234662442])