On September 25, 2025 Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRNX) reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved PALSONIFY (paltusotine) for the first-line treatment of adults with acromegaly who had an inadequate response to surgery and/or for whom surgery is not an option. PALSONIFY, a selectively-targeted somatostatin receptor type 2 nonpeptide (SST2) agonist, is now the first once-daily, oral treatment approved for adults with acromegaly.

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"With the FDA approval of our lead therapy Palsonify, today marks a new era for those living with acromegaly and also for Crinetics as a company," said Scott Struthers, Ph.D., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Crinetics. "We are very pleased to be fulfilling our commitment to transforming patient lives. This approval is the first to come from our deep pipeline of first-in-class, small molecule drugs. This would not be possible without the help and partnership of people living with acromegaly, their caretakers, our employees, and the clinical researchers and health care professionals who contributed to Palsonify’s successful development program. Thank you to all involved."

The approval is based on data from the PATHFNDR-1 and PATHFNDR-2 Phase 3 pivotal trials, which evaluated PALSONIFY’s safety and efficacy in previously treated and medically untreated adults with acromegaly. Across both trials, PALSONIFY consistently demonstrated rapid onset, reliable biochemical control, and sustained efficacy.

Participants also reported significant reductions in signs and symptoms associated with acromegaly as measured by the Acromegaly Symptom Diary (ASD) — an FDA-aligned patient-reported outcome tool developed to capture the symptoms that matter to people living with acromegaly. Symptoms include headaches, joint pain, sweating, fatigue, weakness, swelling, and/or numbness/tingling. PALSONIFY was generally well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported in the randomized controlled portion of the trial.

Long-term results from the open-label extension (OLE) phases of both trials were presented at this year’s Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, ENDO 2025, providing further evidence of PALSONIFY’s ability to deliver durable IGF-1 control, sustained improvements in patient symptom burden, and a consistent safety profile. Ninety-one percent of patients from PATHFNDR-1 and 97 percent of completers from PATHFNDR-2 enrolled in the OLE.

"The PATHFNDR clinical development program set a new standard for acromegaly treatment by demonstrating the ability of Palsonify to drive both biochemical and symptom control, regardless of the degree of underlying disease severity," said Dr. Shlomo Melmed, Executive Vice President of Medicine and Health Sciences and Dean of the Medical Faculty at Cedars-Sinai, "The approval of Palsonify is a significant advancement for our patients, as there is an unmet need for an easy-to-administer and safe therapeutic option with a rapid action and durable response that can consistently manage acromegaly."

"For people living with acromegaly, treatment once meant burdensome injections, breakthrough symptoms, and lifestyle sacrifices just to stay on track," said Jill Sisco, President of Acromegaly Community. "What matters most to our community – maintaining consistent control so the disease doesn’t control us – led us to partner with the FDA on Externally Led Patient-Focused Drug Development meetings. This new treatment reflects that our voices have been heard in shaping the next generation of acromegaly care."

PALSONIFY is expected to be available in the U.S. in early October. Crinetics is ensuring broad access to PALSONIFY by working closely with payers, healthcare providers, and patient advocacy organizations to support those who may benefit from this treatment.

As part of this commitment, Crinetics has launched CrinetiCARE, a comprehensive support program designed to assist people living with acromegaly throughout their treatment journey. CrinetiCARE provides disease and product education, benefit verification, financial assistance resources, and access to dedicated nurse educators who can offer support with treatment onboarding and ongoing adherence. For more information, visit www.CrinetiCARE.com or the PALSONIFY product website Palsonify.com.

A Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for paltusotine in acromegaly is currently under review for use in the European Union, and the current timeline for the Committee for Medicinal Products and Human Use (CHMP) opinion is the first half of 2026. Crinetics is in partnership with Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyuso (SKK) to develop and commercialize paltusotine for acromegaly in Japan.

Paltusotine is also being evaluated for the treatment of carcinoid syndrome in the pivotal Phase 3 CAREFNDR trial. Global enrollment for CAREFNDR is expected throughout 2025.

(Press release, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, SEP 25, 2025, View Source [SID1234669419])

On September 25, 2025 Kura Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: KURA) and Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. (TSE: 4151, "Kyowa Kirin") reported the Journal of Clinical Oncology published the full results from the pivotal KOMET-001 clinical trial (NCT04067336) evaluating ziftomenib, an investigational, once-daily, oral menin inhibitor, in adult patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) NPM1-mutated (NPM1-m) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (Press release, Kura Oncology, SEP 25, 2025, View Source [SID1234656240]). Although newly diagnosed patients with NPM1-m AML have high response rates to approved standard of care, relapses are common and survival outcomes are poor. There is currently no approved therapy to specifically target NPM1-m AML. Ziftomenib is currently under priority review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of R/R NPM1-m AML.

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"Relapsed or refractory NPM1-mutated AML remains very challenging to treat, particularly after venetoclax-based therapy or transplant," said Eunice Wang, M.D., Chief of Leukemia Service, Professor of Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY. "The manuscript describes deep responses, signals of clinical activity across relevant subgroups and a generally manageable tolerability profile, which is important in treatment of late line AML patients where accumulated toxicity can limit treatment options. The benefit-risk profile of ziftomenib is highly encouraging and, if replicated in additional treatment settings, has potential to be transformative for a large population of patients with menin pathway-driven AML."

"Publication in ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)’s Journal of Clinical Oncology is an important advancement for adult patients with NPM1-m AML," said Mollie Leoni, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Kura Oncology. "In addition to evidence of monotherapy activity, the safety and tolerability profile of ziftomenib from this trial is encouraging, marked by the absence of clinically meaningful QTc prolongation as well as low rates of both myelosuppression and treatment discontinuation. No clinically meaningful drug-drug interactions were observed, including with commonly used supportive-care medications, which may simplify co-administration in a polypharmacy setting. We continue to conduct studies in earlier line settings and in combination with multiple therapeutic agents in close collaboration with investigators, study teams and our partner Kyowa Kirin."

Summary of the published data
The publication, entitled "Ziftomenib in Relapsed or Refractory NPM1-Mutated AML", includes positive data from 92 adult patients with R/R NPM1-m AML in the phase 2 portion of the clinical trial as of the primary data cutoff date of October 28, 2024.

The KOMET-001 phase 2 trial met its primary endpoint with a complete remission with full or partial hematologic recovery (CR/CRh) rate of 22% (95% CI, 14 to 32; P=0.0058), which was significantly higher than the 12% historical standard-of-care response rate for patients with R/R NPM1-m AML. One additional response of CRh occurred after the primary analysis data cutoff resulting in a cumulative CR/CRh rate of 23% (95% CI, 15 to 33). 61% of evaluable CR/CRh responders were negative for measurable residual disease (MRD). Overall response rate (ORR) was 33% (95% CI, 23 to 43), with a median duration of overall response of 4.6 months (95% CI, 2.8 to 7.4).

Median overall survival (OS) was 6.6 months (95% CI, 3.6 to 8.6). Among ORR responders, median OS was 18.4 months (95% CI, 8.6 to not estimable) vs. 3.5 months (95% CI, 2.7 to 4.2) among non-responders. Two responders received subsequent allogeneic stem cell transplant and both resumed ziftomenib maintenance after transplant. At the time of data cutoff, nine patients (two after transplantation) remained on ziftomenib treatment. Prespecified subgroup analyses showed comparable CR/CRh rates regardless of lines of therapy, prior venetoclax exposure, or presence of co-mutations, including FLT3m or IDH1/2m.

Ziftomenib was well tolerated with a safety profile consistent with previously disclosed data. The most common grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events were febrile neutropenia (26%), anemia (20%), and thrombocytopenia (20%). Differentiation syndrome occurred in 25% of patients (15% grade 3; no grade 4-5) and was manageable with protocol-defined mitigation. Three patients (3%) discontinued treatment because of ziftomenib-related adverse events.

These findings formed part of the data set used for the New Drug Application for ziftomenib as a potential treatment for patients with R/R NPM1-m AML. The FDA target action date is November 30, 2025. There is currently no FDA-approved treatment for patients with R/R NPM1-m AML.

"The publication of the investigational ziftomenib data adds important scientific context for clinicians and patients," said Takeyoshi Yamashita, Ph. D., Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Kyowa Kirin. "Together with Kura Oncology, we are committed to rigorous, globally coordinated evidence generation to support the benefit-risk profile of menin inhibition across the treatment landscape. Our shared goal is to advance development rapidly and generate the evidence needed to deliver ziftomenib to appropriate patients in need."

The publication is now available on the Journal of Clinical Oncology website and in the Scientific Manuscripts section on Kura’s website.

Ziftomenib is currently under clinical development, and its safety and efficacy have not been evaluated by any regulatory authority.

On September 25, 2025 Moleculin Biotech, Inc., (Nasdaq: MBRX) ("Moleculin" or the "Company"), a late-stage pharmaceutical company with a broad portfolio of drug candidates targeting hard-to-treat cancers and viral infections, reported that the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) has issued a notice of allowance for Patent Application No. 3,142,510 titled, "PREPARATION OF PRELIPOSOMAL ANNAMYCIN LYOPHILIZATE." A patent from the application is expected to be issued in the coming months (Press release, Moleculin, SEP 25, 2025, https://moleculin.com/moleculin-announces-notice-of-allowance-for-canadian-patent-covering-annamycin/ [SID1234656241]).

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When issued, the patent claims will cover methods of making a preliposomal Annamycin lyophilizate with improved stability and high purity, with a base patent term currently extending until June 2040, subject to extension to account for time required to fulfill requirements for regulatory approval. Moleculin’s novel drug candidate is being positioned to become the first ever non-cardiotoxic anthracycline to be approved and is currently being developed for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and soft tissue sarcoma lung metastases (STS lung mets). Additional preclinical studies performed at a world-renowned cancer center indicate Annamycin may be a potential treatment for many other types of cancers. The new chemical entity uses a unique lipid-based delivery technology and has shown the potential to be used in a wide range of cancers. In addition to the newly expected Canadian patent and previously issued U.S. and allowed European patents, Moleculin has additional patent applications related to Annamycin pending in the U.S., Europe and in major jurisdictions worldwide.

Walter Klemp, Chairman and CEO of Moleculin, commented, "We remain committed to bolstering our global intellectual property portfolio for Annamycin. This Canadian patent further strengthens our current IP portfolio which includes claims to methods of making our preliposomal Annamycin, in yet another key territory. As we continue to advance our development of Annamycin as a potentially transformative therapeutic candidate for hard-to-treat tumors, building on our global patent protection remains a focus."

Annamycin, also known by its non-proprietary name of naxtarubicin, currently has Fast Track Status and Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for the treatment of relapsed or refractory AML, in addition to Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of STS lung mets. Furthermore, Annamycin has Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of relapsed or refractory AML from the EMA.

On September 24, 2025 Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOTH), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation treatments for dermatological and inflammatory conditions, reported the expansion of its intellectual property portfolio for HT-001, its lead topical therapeutic candidate (Press release, Hoth Therapeutics, SEP 24, 2025, View Source [SID1234656205]). The Company has filed multiple U.S. Provisional Patent Applications covering novel dermatological indications, broadening the commercial and clinical potential of HT-001.

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The filings include:

Treatment of Drug-Induced Hypersensitivity Syndrome

Treatment of Radiotherapy-Induced Rash

Treatment of Dermatological Conditions Associated with MENIN Inhibitor Therapy
"These additional patent applications demonstrate our commitment to unlocking the full therapeutic potential of HT-001 across multiple high-value indications," said Robb Knie, Chief Executive Officer of Hoth Therapeutics. "Drug-induced hypersensitivity, radiotherapy-related rash, and MENIN inhibitor-associated dermatological conditions represent areas of significant unmet need. Expanding our IP protection into these indications strategically positions Hoth to address major markets in oncology supportive care and beyond."

MENIN Inhibitor Therapy and the Role of HT-001

MENIN inhibitors are an emerging class of targeted oncology drugs designed to block the interaction between the menin protein and MLL1/KMT2A fusion proteins — genetic drivers implicated in acute leukemias and other cancers. Early clinical data from leading oncology companies have shown that MENIN inhibitors can induce strong antitumor activity, making them one of the most closely watched new therapeutic classes in cancer drug development.

However, patients receiving MENIN inhibitors frequently experience significant dermatological side effects, including painful or disfiguring rashes that can lead to dose reductions or treatment discontinuation. These adverse events may limit the full therapeutic potential of MENIN inhibitor therapy.

HT-001’s novel topical formulation is designed to address these dermatological toxicities directly, offering patients relief from rash and skin irritation without interrupting or reducing their cancer treatment. By improving tolerability, HT-001 could help patients stay on therapy longer and maximize the clinical benefit of MENIN inhibitors.

Expanding the Potential of HT-001

HT-001 is currently being advanced as a topical therapeutic for chemotherapy-induced rash, a dose-limiting side effect affecting patients receiving EGFR inhibitors and other targeted therapies. The patent filings broaden the potential utility of HT-001 to additional drug-induced and treatment-related skin disorders, further establishing the program as a versatile platform candidate.

"With this expanded IP portfolio, HT-001 is positioned not only as a targeted solution for oncology-related rash but also as a potential cornerstone therapy for a range of dermatological conditions driven by emerging cancer treatments," added Knie. "This expansion underscores our strategy to build durable value through innovation, intellectual property, and pipeline diversification."

On September 24, 2025 Marengo Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering novel approaches for precision immunotherapy in oncology and inflammation and immunology (I&I), reported it will present a late-breaking mini oral presentation on initial Phase 2 clinical results for invikafusp alfa monotherapy in tissue-agnostic, TMB-H/MSI-H solid tumors at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting taking place October 17-21, 2025, in Berlin, Germany (Press release, Marengo Therapeutics, SEP 24, 2025, View Source [SID1234656206]).

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Presentation details:

Title: STARt-001: Initial Phase 2 clinical activity of invikafusp alfa, a first-in-class T cell receptor (TCR) β-chain-targeted bispecific antibody as monotherapy in patients with antigen-rich solid tumors resistant to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB)
Conference: ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2025
Abstract Number: LBA55
Session Title: Mini oral session: Investigational immunotherapy
Session Date and Time: Friday, October 17, 2025, 14:00 – 15:30
Session Room: Nuremberg Auditorium
Presenter: Antione Italiano, M.D., Ph.D. (Institut Bergonié, France)