On September 9, 2026 Nerviano Medical Sciences S.r.l. ("NMS"), a global oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company, and HiDiamond Biotechnology Co., Ltd. ("HiDiamond"), a specialist in innovative NCEs therapeutics, reported a collaboration and license agreement for NMS-173.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

NMS-173 is a highly potent, second-generation dual inhibitor of mutant Isocitrate Dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (mIDH1/2). Unlike first-generation reversible inhibitors, NMS-173 utilizes a covalent mechanism of action designed to achieve sustained target inhibition and potentially address resistance mechanisms associated with existing reversible inhibitors.

Strategic Alliance Structure

Under the agreement, HiDiamond is responsible for advancing and funding the clinical development of NMS-173, including related regulatory activities, while NMS and HiDiamond jointly define the development strategy through an equally represented Joint Development Committee (JDC). This framework is structured for value creation, combining NMS’s scientific and development expertise with HiDiamond’s clinical development capabilities to accelerate the asset through Phase 1/2 and into proofof-concept studies.

The companies have established a stage-based proceeds-sharing framework to align long-term interests. Upon the future out-licensing of NMS-173 to a third-party global partner, NMS and HiDiamond will share the resulting proceeds — including upfront, milestone and royalty payments — pursuant to this agreed framework.

"NMS-173 is a highly differentiated molecule with the potential to advance the IDH inhibitor class through its covalent dual IDH1/2 mechanism," said Hugues Dolgos, Pharm.D., CEO of NMS. "This collaboration allows us to jointly advance and de-risk the asset ahead of a future global partnering opportunity."

"We are honored to work with the NMS team in Milan to bring this sophisticated molecule into broader clinical application," said Ying Shao, Ph.D., CEO of HiDiamond Biotechnology. "This proceeds-sharing model aligns our interests around generating compelling clinical data and demonstrating NMS-173’s differentiated profile, ensuring both teams are focused on a single objective: advancing a highly differentiated therapy that is attractive to global pharmaceutical partners."

About NMS-173

NMS-173 is an orally available, small molecule dual inhibitor of mIDH1 and mIDH2. It is currently ready to enter First-in-Human clinical development. By targeting the mutations directly through a covalent bond, NMS-173 is designed to suppress production of the oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG). Its dual inhibition mechanism is intended to address both IDH1- and IDH2-mutant tumors, including IDH-mutant cholangiocarcinoma, an area of high unmet medical need, with the overall indication strategy to be defined through the Development Plan.

(Press release, Nerviano Medical Sciences, SEP 9, 2026, View Source [SID1234670671])