1stOncology™: Cancer Intelligence Service – Page 482 – 1stOncology is recognized as a Top 10 Global Pharma Analytic Provider

Trogenix announces £70 million / $95 million Series A financing to drive clinical development of potentially curative therapies for aggressive cancers

On October 6, 2025 Trogenix Ltd ("Trogenix"), a pioneering biotech company dedicated to developing innovative cancer therapies, reported the completion of its Series A financing, raising £70 million / $95 million. The funding will enable the rapid advancement of its robust pipeline of potentially curative cancer therapies across multiple aggressive solid tumours into the clinic.

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!

Ken Macnamara, Chief Executive Officer at Trogenix, said:

"This significant investment accelerates our lead programme in glioblastoma and follow-on programme in colorectal cancer liver metastases through the clinic, advances our pipeline in liver and lung cancers, and further enhances our Odysseus platform. We are honoured to have the support of existing and new investors who share our mission to deliver breakthrough treatments and pursue cures for the thousands of patients and families facing devastating diagnoses each year."

The Series A financing was led by IQ Capital with participation from founding investor 4BIO Capital, returning investors Cancer Research Horizons, the Brain Tumor Investment Fund, and new investors Eli Lilly and Company, Meltwind, LongeVC, and Calculus Capital, as well as undisclosed private investors. The investment underscores the transformative, curative potential of Trogenix’s precision genetic medicines driven by the Company’s Odysseus platform that identifies and targets the universal vulnerabilities of solid tumours. Trogenix’s revolutionary technology delivers highly potent combination payloads that kill cancerous cells and stimulate the immune system whilst leaving surrounding healthy tissue untouched, thereby changing the treatment paradigm for cancer patients.

Max Bautin, Co-founder and Managing Partner at lead investor, IQ Capital, said:

"Our outsized investment in Trogenix in today’s selective funding landscape reflects our confidence in the company’s world-leading science, exceptional management team and a clear roadmap for delivery both in the clinic and commercially. We are particularly excited by the potential opportunities ahead across Trogenix’s pipeline and look forward to our future collaboration."

This investment in Trogenix also represents Cancer Research Horizons’ largest investment to-date, highlighting the transformational potential of Trogenix’s breakthrough technology in cancer treatment.

Iain Foulkes, Chief Executive Officer at Cancer Research Horizons, commented:

"Trogenix’s platform technology is a powerful example of the innovation we seek to accelerate. Representing our largest investment to date, this partnership reflects our commitment to advancing science with the potential to transform cancer treatment. As they advance into clinical trials for glioblastoma, one of the hardest to treat cancers, we’re pleased to support a team whose work could reshape therapeutic approaches and improve outcomes for patients facing the greatest need."

Dima Kuzmin, Co-founder and Managing Partner at founding investor, 4BIO Capital, and Chairman of Trogenix, added:

"We are proud to have supported Trogenix through the initial incubation stage and spin-out from the University of Edinburgh, and are very happy to continue our support alongside this strong syndicate. It is exciting to see the company forge ahead with its clinical development to deliver a pioneering portfolio of cancer therapies to patients in need."

(Press release, Trogenix, OCT 6, 2025, View Source [SID1234656873])

MaxCyte announces strategic platform license agreement with Moonlight Bio to advance T cell therapies for solid tumors

On October 6, 2025 MaxCyte, Inc. (Nasdaq: MXCT), a leading cell-engineering company providing enabling platform technologies to advance the discovery, development, and commercialization of next-generation cell-based therapeutics, reported the signing of a Strategic Platform License (SPL) agreement with Moonlight Bio, a preclinical-stage biotechnology company based in Seattle, Washington (Press release, Moonlight Bio, OCT 6, 2025, View Source [SID1234656512]).

Moonlight Bio will deploy MaxCyte’s Flow Electroporation technology and ExPERT platform to support the scalable development and manufacturing of its T cell therapy pipeline.

"We’re proud to partner with Moonlight Bio as they advance their gene-edited cell therapies through clinical development," said Maher Masoud, President and CEO of MaxCyte. "Our globally supported, GMP-ready and regulatory-proven ExPERT platform is built to accelerate clinical and commercial manufacturing and enable robust, scalable cell engineering. We’re excited to support Moonlight Bio’s innovative approach to optimizing gene-editing outcomes and advancing next-generation T cell therapies."

"We look forward to collaborating with MaxCyte and leveraging their proven, GMP-compliant electroporation technology along with their deep scientific and regulatory expertise to build our clinical manufacturing process," said Jordan Jarjour, Chief Scientific Officer of Moonlight Bio. "At Moonlight Bio, we are committed to delivering T cell therapies that overcome the barriers to success in solid tumors, which account for the majority of the global cancer burden."

Under the SPL, Moonlight Bio obtains non-exclusive research, clinical, and commercial rights to use MaxCyte’s Flow Electroporation technology and ExPERT platform. In return, MaxCyte is entitled to receive annual licensing fees and program-related revenue.

Myeloid Therapeutics Rebrands as CREATE Medicines, Focused on Transforming Immunotherapy Through RNA-Based In Vivo Multi-Immune Programming

On October 6, 2025 CREATE Medicines, Inc. (formerly Myeloid Therapeutics, Inc.) reported an expanded strategy to move beyond myeloid-focused in vivo programming toward multilineage immune programming, including T cells, myeloid cells, and NK cells, to deliver scalable, redosable, off-the-shelf therapies with greater clinical impact (Press release, Myeloid Therapeutics, OCT 6, 2025, View Source [SID1234656472]).

CREATE is the most advanced clinical-stage company in RNA-based in vivo CAR therapeutics, with programs targeting HER2, TROP2, and GPC3-positive solid tumors and validated targets for in vivo CAR-T mediated B cell depletion. Building on this foundation, CREATE Medicines is pioneering a new era in multi-immune programming with an expanded platform designed to deliver transformative therapies across oncology, autoimmunity, and fibrosis.

"Our clinical work in more than 40 patients has proven that we can tolerably and repeatedly program immune cells inside the body," said Daniel Getts, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of CREATE Medicines. "We are now extending those capabilities to program multiple immune lineages for deeper, more durable responses, starting with MT-304, our HER2 multi-immune CAR in breast cancer. In parallel, we are advancing the first-ever RNA retrotransposon-based in vivo CAR-T for B-cell depletion in oncology and autoimmunity."

Clinical Validation

CREATE Medicines has generated one of the largest clinical datasets in the in vivo CAR field, with more than 40 patients treated across multiple Phase 1 studies. These trials provide not only proof-of-mechanism but also critical insights that de-risk next generation multi-cell programs.

Proof-of-mechanism: Paired biopsies confirmed CAR+ immune cells infiltrating tumors, with immune remodeling and CD8 T cell recruitment.
Safety and repeat dosing: Over 200 doses delivered with a consistent, manageable safety profile and no cumulative toxicities.
Evidence of activity: CAR expression detected in circulating immune cells, with stable disease in several patients and a confirmed partial response on treatment for 16 months.
These results validate CREATE’s ability to reprogram immune cells inside the body and provide the foundation for expansion into multi-lineage programming across T cells, myeloid cells, and NK cells.

CREATE is strongly supported by a syndicate of leading life science investors, including Newpath Partners, ARCH Venture Partners, 8VC, and Hatteras Venture Partners. These firms share the company’s vision to transform immunotherapy through in vivo multi-immune programming and remain highly committed to its continued success.

Pipeline Updates and Anticipated Milestones

MT-302 (TROP2; solid tumors): Dose escalation completed; tolerable safety profile.
MT-303 (GPC3; hepatocellular carcinoma): Dose escalation ongoing.
MT-304 (HER2; solid tumors): First patient expected Q4 2025; first-in-class multi-immune CAR engaging NK and myeloid cells.
Retrotransposon-based in vivo CAR-T: First all-RNA product candidate with permanent CAR integration for B-cell depletion.
Additional multi-lineage programs in preclinical development across oncology and immunology.
Platform Differentiation

At the core of CREATE’s platform is targeted, programmable cell engagement:

Selective activation: Cell-specific receptors and LNPs for precise T, myeloid, and NK cell programming.
Flexible durability: Transient or stable CAR expression, with permanent integration via RNA-based retrotransposon technology.
Industry-leading RNA: Up to 8+ days of linear mRNA expression with no reactogenicity.
Speed and scalability: Concept-to-clinic in <12 months with low-cost manufacturing.

ESSA Securityholders Approve Acquisition by XenoTherapeutics

On October 6, 2025 ESSA Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: EPIX) ("ESSA" or the "Company") reported that its Securityholders (as defined below) have approved the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares" and the holders of such Common Shares, the "Shareholders") by XenoTherapeutics Inc. ("Xeno"), a non-profit biotechnology company, by way of a statutory plan of arrangement (the "Transaction" or the "Arrangement") at the special meeting of Securityholders held today (the "Meeting") (Press release, ESSA, OCT 6, 2025, View Source [SID1234656471]).

The special resolution approving the Arrangement was approved by: (i) 99.83% of the votes cast by Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting, (ii) 99.85% of the votes cast by Shareholders, holders of options to purchase Common Shares of the Company, holders of pre-funded Common Share purchase warrants of the Company (collectively, the "Securityholders"), present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting, voting together as a single class, and (iii) 99.48% of the votes cast by Shareholders, present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting, excluding for this purpose the votes required to be excluded pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions.

At the Meeting, Shareholders also approved: (a) on an advisory and non-binding basis, the compensation to be paid or become payable to the Company’s named executive officers that is based on or otherwise relates to the Arrangement by 99.51% of the votes cast by Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting; and (b) in the event the Arrangement is terminated, (1) the voluntary liquidation and dissolution of the Company by 99.77% of the votes cast by Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting and (2) the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or, in the alternative, another liquidator of nationally recognized experience, as the liquidator of the Company with authorization for the board of directors of the Company to set the remuneration of the liquidator by 99.79% of the votes cast by Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting.

The Arrangement is subject to the approval of the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the "Court") and other customary closing conditions. The Court hearing for the final order to approve the Arrangement is expected to take place on October 7, 2025, and the completion of the Arrangement is expected to occur on or about October 9, 2025.

Compugen to Present at SITC 2025

On October 6, 2025 Compugen Ltd. (Nasdaq: CGEN) (TASE: CGEN) a clinical-stage cancer immunotherapy company and a pioneer in predictive computational target discovery, powered by AI/ML reported, that a trial in progress of the first in human clinical trial to assess the anti-IL18BP antibody, COM503 (GS-0321) in participants with advanced solid malignancies will be presented at the 40th Annual Meeting of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper), taking place between November 7-9, 2025, in National Harbor, Maryland (Press release, Compugen, OCT 6, 2025, View Source [SID1234656470]).

Poster presentation details:
Abstract Title: A First in human clinical trial to assess the anti-IL18BP antibody, COM503 (GS-0321) in Participants with Advanced Solid Malignancies
Abstract number: 589
Presenter: Dr. Manish Sharma, MD, Co-Director of Clinical Research, START Midwest, Grand Rapids
Date: Friday, November 7, 2025