On January 9, 2026 Aptevo Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:APVO), a clinical-stage biotechnology Company focused on developing novel immune-oncology therapeutics based on its proprietary ADAPTIR and ADAPTIR-FLEX platform technologies, reported that the Company has entered into a $60 million equity line of credit (ELOC) agreement with Yorkville Advisors Global, LP, strengthening the Company’s financial flexibility as it continues to advance its clinical and preclinical pipeline of multispecific anti-cancer agents that are differentiated by design.

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The facility provides Aptevo with access to capital, allowing the Company to raise funds incrementally, at its discretion, and under market-based conditions. Further, an ELOC offers affordable capital financing with minimal fees and no warrants. Proceeds from the ELOC will be used to support ongoing clinical development, advance preclinical programs, and fund general corporate purposes.

"This agreement offers added flexibility and control over how and when we access capital," said Daphne Taylor, Chief Financial Officer at Aptevo. "Importantly, the fully leveraged facility plus cash on hand is sufficient to fund us for three years, into 2029. During this time, we plan to continue generating clinical data and advancing differentiated assets across the portfolio focusing on execution and value creation."

The ELOC complements Aptevo’s existing capital resources and is designed to support the Company’s disciplined approach to balance sheet management, while preserving optionality around future strategic and growth decisions.

Under the terms of the agreement, Aptevo has the right, but not the obligation, to sell shares to the counterparty from time to time, subject to customary conditions and limitations. The Company is not required to draw on the facility and retains full discretion over its use.

Aptevo’s portfolio includes five CD3-engaging assets anchored by mipletamig, a first-in-class CD123 x CD3 bispecific currently being evaluated in RAINIER, a Phase 1b/2 trial for frontline AML. In total, mipletamig has been evaluated in more than 100 patients across three trials, where mipletamig has consistently demonstrated high remission rates and a favorable safety and tolerability profile, with no observed events of cytokine release syndrome in frontline patients treated to date.

Building on this clinical validation, Aptevo has built a portfolio of tumor-directed CD3 programs, including bispecific candidates APVO442 (PSMA × CD3) for prostate cancer and APVO455 (Nectin-4 × CD3) for solid tumors, as well as trispecific candidates APVO451 and APVO452. All incorporate the Company’s proprietary application and unique use of the CRIS-7-derived CD3 binding domain, designed to enable tumor-focused immune activation with the potential for meaningful antitumor activity while also prioritizing safety and tolerability.

(Press release, Aptevo Therapeutics, JAN 9, 2026, View Source [SID1234661905])

On January 9, 2026 Biolexis Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering an all-oral infrastructure for metabolic disease, reported it will present at the 44th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 9:00am PST.

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The presentation will spotlight Biolexis’ differentiated strategy to overcome the maintenance, side effect, scalability, and access crises with existing market therapies for weight loss. To solve these issues, Biolexis has two clinical-stage programs:

• BLX-7006 — A first-in-human oral small-molecule allosteric GLP-1 receptor agonist based on a new chemical scaffold that is not an orforglipron or danuglipron analog like other existing market solutions. Phase 1 data demonstrates a clean safety profile and predictable once-daily pharmacokinetics, and the asset is now advancing to Phase 2

• BLX-0871 — A first-in-class γ3 isoform-selective AMPK activator designed to preserve lean muscle mass and metabolic durability, entering Phase 1 in January 2026

BLX-7006: Redefining GLP-1 Access

BLX-7006 binds a distinct allosteric pocket on the GLP-1 receptor, enabling cooperative activation while reducing receptor desensitization—a key limitation of peptide-based therapies. As a small molecule, BLX-7006 offers transformative advantages: oral administration without fasting requirements, no cold-chain logistics, and a fundamentally lower cost-of-goods structure enabling global-scale deployment.

BLX-0871: Solving the Muscle Loss Problem

Current GLP-1 therapies produce significant weight loss, but up to 40% of lost mass is lean muscle, driving metabolic adaptation and weight regain. BLX-0871 selectively activates γ3-containing AMPK complexes enriched in skeletal muscle, engaging exercise-associated metabolic pathways while sparing cardiac isoforms. The result: preserved lean mass, enhanced glucose uptake, and sustained metabolic rate.

The All-Oral Combination Advantage

Biolexis is developing the only all-oral dual-mechanism combination currently in clinical development. By pairing GLP-1-mediated appetite suppression with muscle-selective AMPK activation, the company aims to deliver what injectable monotherapies cannot: durable weight loss with preserved muscle mass and metabolic function.

"The GLP-1 revolution has proven we can treat obesity—but injectable peptides alone won’t get us to a billion patients," said David J. Bearss, PhD, Co-founder and Chairman of Biolexis Therapeutics. "Our all-oral platform isn’t an incremental improvement—it’s infrastructure for global scale. And by adding muscle-selective AMPK activation, we’re not just helping patients lose weight, we’re helping them keep it off. That’s the durability breakthrough the field has been waiting for."

Conference Availability

Biolexis management will be available throughout the conference for meetings with pharmaceutical companies, institutional investors, and strategic partners to discuss Phase 2 clinical plans, combination development strategy, and partnership opportunities.

(Press release, Biolexis Therapeutics, JAN 9, 2026, View Source [SID1234661889])

On January 9, 2026 Phanes Therapeutics, Inc. (Phanes), a clinical stage biotech company focused on innovative drug discovery and development in oncology, reported the first clinical data evaluating spevatamig in combination with chemotherapy in frontline (1L) treatment of metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC). The data was presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (ASCO GI) 2026; Abstract #709. This marks the first public release of Phanes’ clinical trial data from their ongoing U.S. multi-center study with spevatamig.

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The TWINPEAK study (NCT05482893) is an ongoing multi-cohort Phase 1 monotherapy dose escalation, and Phase 2 combination expansion and dose optimization study in patients with GI carcinomas. Combination expansion cohorts include various combinations with chemotherapy and/or an immune-checkpoint inhibitor. As of December 12, 2025, 107 patients have been treated with spevatamig in the US collectively in monotherapy and combination settings. Of these patients, 42 with 1L mPDAC have been treated with spevatamig + GnP across several dosing regimens. Data from the 2 mg/kg weekly (QW) + GnP regimen was presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) GI 2026, with data from dosing regimens >2 mg/kg QW spevatamig + GnP still maturing. Of note:

Spevatamig has demonstrated a favorable safety profile. In monotherapy, no CRS or DLTs were observed. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) has not been reached in either the monotherapy or combination therapy setting. No Grade ≥ 3 treatment-emergent anemia, neutropenia or thrombocytopenia were observed during the study.
At 2 mg/kg QW spevatamig + GnP dose level, the rates of anemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were comparable to those observed in the GnP treatment arms from pivotal trials. No Grade ≥ 3 treatment-emergent nausea or vomiting events were reported, and no dose reductions or treatment discontinuations due to nausea or vomiting occurred. No CRS was observed.
In the 2 mg/kg QW spevatamig + GnP 1L mPDAC dosing regimen (n=15), the DCR was 93% and the ORR was 40% (6/15 achieved partial response, with 1 patient pending confirmation).
The median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 7.3 months with a 6-month PFS rate of 59%. The median overall survival (mOS) was 13.2 months and still maturing while 6-month OS rate was 93%.
Responses were observed across CLDN18.2 scores ≥ 10% (≥ 2+ staining). Of note, 85% of patients screened met this CLDN18.2 threshold requirement.
Phanes’ data of spevatamig featured at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) GI 2026 can be found here: View Source

ABOUT SPEVATAMIG
Spevatamig is a first-in-class native IgG-like bispecific antibody (bsAb) targeting claudin 18.2 and CD47. It was granted orphan drug designation (ODD) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer by the FDA in 2022 and was granted Fast Track designation for the treatment of patients with metastatic claudin 18.2-positive pancreatic adenocarcinoma in 2024. In 2023, Phanes entered into a clinical collaboration agreement with Merck (known as MSD outside the US and Canada) to study spevatamig in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, pembrolizumab.

The multi-center Phase 1/2 clinical trial of spevatamig (NCT05482893), known as the TWINPEAK study, is currently evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of spevatamig in patients with advanced gastric, gastroesophageal junction, pancreatic ductal or biliary tract adenocarcinomas. The Phase 2 study of spevatamig has begun in China.

(Press release, Phanes Therapeutics, JAN 9, 2026, View Source [SID1234661906])

On January 9, 2026 Cellectar Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLRB), a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of targeted radiotherapeutics for cancer, reported plans to highlight the company’s 2026 strategic initiatives at the upcoming Biotech Showcase, taking place January 12-15, 2026, in San Francisco during the 44th Annual JP Morgan Healthcare Conference. James Caruso, president and CEO of Cellectar, will present a corporate update on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 1:30 pm Pacific Time.

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2025 Achievements

Received feedback from the SAWP supporting a Conditional Marketing Authorization (CMA) filing for iopofosine I 131 in WM based upon our CLOVER WaM study
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Break Through Designation (BTD) for iopofosine I 131 in relapsed/refractory WM
Confirmed traditional accelerated approval pathway with the FDA for iopofosine I 131 in WM
Presented compelling data from the CLOVER-2 Phase 1b study in relapsed/refractory pediatric high-grade glioma (pHGG), demonstrating extended progression-free survival and favorable safety profile
Initiated a Phase 1b clinical study for CLR 125, an Auger-emitting iodine-125 program for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)
Strengthened supply chain through strategic supply agreements for our next generation Auger- and alpha-emitting radiotherapeutics
Raised approximately $15.2 million through financings and warrant exercises to support pipeline development and regulatory milestones

CEO Commentary

"Our priorities are clear: secure European conditional marketing approval for iopofosine I 131 for WM in early 2027 with commercialization to follow, further validate our PDC platform by executing on our Phase 1b study evaluating CLR 125 for TNBC, and advance our regulatory strategy with the FDA for iopofosine I 131 approval in the U.S. With an established iopofosine I 131 regulatory strategy for both EMA and FDA, and promising data across our pipeline, we are entering 2026 with strong momentum and multiple opportunities," said James Caruso, president and CEO of Cellectar. "We believe these initiatives position Cellectar to deliver meaningful therapies for patients and create significant value for shareholders."

2026 Strategic Initiatives

Regulatory Milestones:
Submit CMA application to EMA for iopofosine I 131 in WM in 3Q 2026, with potential European market approval in early 2027
Advance NDA preparations for U.S. accelerated approval
Clinical Development:
Enroll patients in the Phase 1b study of CLR 125 in TNBC with interim data expected in mid-2026
Present final findings and subset analysis from the CLOVER WaM Phase 2 study of iopofosine I 131
Prepare actinium-based CLR 225 for first-in-human trials in pancreatic cancer
Pipeline Expansion:
Progress additional PDC-based radiotherapeutics into preclinical and IND-enabling studies
Partnerships:
Evaluate strategic collaborations for commercialization of iopofosine I 131
Financial Strategy:
Continue disciplined capital management and explore non-dilutive funding opportunities

"Looking ahead, we are focused on receiving a conditional marketing approval in 2027 from the EMA impacting approximately thirty countries, which collectively possess a larger WM population than the U.S. In parallel, we remain committed to advancing our regulatory strategy with the FDA fully understanding the tremendous incremental value it potentially represents for all Cellectar stakeholders. The FDA-recommended post-BTKi indication positions iopofosine I 131 as a treatment option as early as the second line, substantially expanding the available patients in the U.S. market. Additionally, we are actively recruiting patients for our Phase 1b study evaluating CLR 125, our Auger-based radiotherapeutic for the treatment of TNBC, which builds on strong preclinical data showing growth inhibition and tumor volume reduction in this challenging-to-treat cancer," concluded Mr. Caruso.

Mr. Caruso’s Biotech Showcase presentation will be live webcast and can be accessed HERE. A replay of the presentation will be available on the Events section of the company’s Investor Relations website.

(Press release, Cellectar Biosciences, JAN 9, 2026, View Source [SID1234661890])

On January 9, 2026 iOnctura, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing precision oral small molecules for neglected and hard-to-treat cancers, reported that its Chief Executive Officer, Catherine Pickering, will present at the 44th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, taking place January 12–15, 2026, in San Francisco, California.

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Dr. Pickering will present on Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 11:00 PST. The presentation will highlight iOnctura’s clinical progress with a focus on its lead program, roginolisib, the first allosteric modulator of PI3Kδ.

Recognized as the world’s largest and most influential healthcare investment conference, the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference is an invite-only event that serves as a vital forum for innovation and capital formation across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. Participation reflects iOnctura’s growing visibility within the global oncology ecosystem and underscores the company’s progress towards advancing transformative targeted therapies for patients with cancer.

"We are honored to be invited to present at this year’s J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference," said Catherine Pickering, CEO and co-founder of iOnctura. "This recognition reflects the increasing interest in our science-driven approach and the meaningful clinical advances we have achieved with roginolisib. We look forward to sharing our progress and engaging with partners committed to transforming cancer care."

Members of the management team will also be available for one-on-one meetings with investors and partners during the conference.

(Press release, iOnctura, JAN 9, 2026, View Source [SID1234661907])