Abbisko Therapeutics Announces FDA Acceptance of the NDA for Pimicotinib for the Treatment of Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor

On January 12, 2026 Abbisko Therapeutics Co., Ltd. ("Abbisko Therapeutics" hereafter, HKEX code: 02256.HK) reported that the New Drug Application (NDA) for its novel, orally administered, highly selective, and potent small-molecule colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF-1R) inhibitor, pimicotinib (ABSK021), for the systemic treatment of patients with tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT), has been formally accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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Pimicotinib was independently developed by Abbisko Therapeutics and has been licensed to Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, for worldwide commercialization. In December 2025, pimicotinib was approved by the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for the treatment of adult patients with symptomatic TGCT for which surgical resection will potentially cause functional limitation or relatively severe morbidity. Additional applications are under review by regulatory bodies in other markets.

The FDA’s acceptance of the NDA for pimicotinib is supported by the robust efficacy and safety outcomes from the global, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III MANEUVER trial. In the trial, TGCT patients who received once-daily oral pimicotinib achieved a statistically significant improvement in the primary endpoint of objective response rate (ORR) evaluated at Week 25 by blinded independent review committee (BIRC) based on RECIST v1.1.

The trial also demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in all secondary endpoints related to key patient-reported outcomes in TGCT, including improvements in active range of motion and physical function and reductions in stiffness and pain.

Longer-term results with a median follow-up of 14.3 months further showed ORR continued to increase over time among patients treated with pimicotinib from the beginning of the study.

TGCT is a rare, locally aggressive tumor occurring in or around the joint leading to progressive swelling, stiffness and reduced mobility of the affected joint, significantly impacting daily activities and quality of life. If left untreated or in recurrent cases, TGCT may result in irreversible damage to the bone, joint and surrounding tissues. With regulatory submissions progressing across major markets worldwide, pimicotinib is expected to provide TGCT patients with a once-daily, oral, effective and well-tolerated therapeutic option, helping address unmet clinical needs in the management of TGCT.

About Pimicotinib

Pimicotinib is a novel, oral, highly selective, and potent small-molecule CSF-1R inhibitor independently developed by Abbisko Therapeutics. Positive results from the global Phase III MANEUVER study of pimicotinib for the treatment of Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor (TGCT) were announced in November 2024. Currently, pimicotinib has been approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China for the treatment of adult patients with symptomatic TGCT for which surgical resection will potentially cause functional limitation or relatively severe morbidity. In December 2023, Abbisko entered into an agreement with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, pertaining to the commercial rights to pimicotinib, pursuant to which Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is responsible for the commercialization of pimicotinib globally.

Outside of China, pimicotinib has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and PRIME Designation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

(Press release, Abbisko Therapeutics, JAN 12, 2026, View Source [SID1234661982])

Oricell Therapeutics Announces US$70M Initial Closing of Series C Financing, to Accelerate Global Development of Solid Tumor CAR-T Therapies

On January 12, 2026 Oricell Therapeutics Holdings Limited ("Oricell" or "the Company"), a global leader in innovative cancer immunotherapy, reported the closing of a $70M Series C1 financing.

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The round was co-led by Beijing Medical and Health Care Industry Investment Fund, Qiming Venture Partners and a leading global healthcare fund, with participation from a sovereign wealth fund, NGS Super (NGS), E-Town Capital, Elikon Venture, and Talon Capital. Proceeds will accelerate Oricell’s global expansion and clinical development, while strengthening its technological capabilities and paving ways to commercialization.

Oricell is advancing a differentiated pipeline of CAR-T cell therapies for solid tumors, underpinned by three proprietary platforms developed over the past decade:

OriAb: antibody discovery and engineering library
OriArmoring: enhancement of T-cell persistence and other crucial functions by TAs(Therapeutic Areas)
OnGo (Fast) CMC: rapid, scalable and effective manufacturing
Oricell has generated proof-of-concept (POC) clinical data across multiple pipeline CAR-T products. Its lead program, Ori-C101, is an autologous GPC3-targeted CAR-T therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Both a Phase I Investigator-Initiated Trial (IIT) and a Phase I IND study of Ori-C101 are completed. With far-leading-industry efficacy and safety profile, Ori-C101’s clinical data have been featured at major academic conferences such as ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2021 and ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2025. Ori-C101 is entering the registrational pivotal trial and is well positioned to become the world’s first approved CAR-T therapy for HCC.

Beyond Ori-C101, Oricell’s integrated platforms are also yielding multiple next-generation CAR-T products with multi-targets and multi-mechanism designs. The innovative secreting CAR-T, OriC902, has shown groundbreaking efficacy and durability in ultra-late-line and difficult-to-treat solid tumor patients. Additionally, the company has initiated an IIT study to evaluate its proprietary dual-targeted in vivo CAR-T.

"We are deeply grateful for the strong vote of confidence from our investors," said Dr. Helen Yang, Chairlady and CEO of Oricell Therapeutics. "Oricell will continue to push forward the global clinical advancement of our pipeline, as well as continuous R&D of in vivo products and new technologies. Leveraging our deep technical expertise, policy tailwind and expanding market opportunities, we are able to accelerate the development of our CAR-Ts in the clinic at full speed. Our mission is to bring efficacious and affordable cell therapies to cancer patients worldwide with the hope of cure. By doing that, we aim to become a leading global immunotherapy enterprise."

Mr. Peng Ren, Chairman and General Manager of Beijing Medical and Health Care Industry Investment Fund, noted: "We believe cell therapy is a pivotal frontier in the fight against solid tumors, and we are highly impressed by the clinical progress of Oricell’s GPC3 CAR-T in treating HCC. We strongly value the team’s R&D capabilities and commercial vision, and look forward to supporting the company in accelerating global clinical breakthroughs for its core products."

"As an early investor in Oricell, we’ve witnessed the Company’s evolution from a promising startup to a technology powerhouse—from advancing autologous CAR-Ts to secreting CAR-Ts, to pioneering a 3-day rapid manufacturing process, and now to exploring in vivo CAR-T in the clinic," said Mr. Xubo Hu, Managing Partner of Qiming Venture Partners. "Oricell’s relentless innovation efforts continue to impress us and we are delighted to back a team that is committed to building truly global and groundbreaking therapies."

(Press release, OriCell Therapeutics, JAN 12, 2026, View Source [SID1234661981])

FDA Accepts New Drug Application for Pimicotinib for the Treatment of Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor

On January 12, 2026 Merck, a leading science and technology company, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the company’s new drug application (NDA) for pimicotinib as a systemic treatment for patients with tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT). The application is based on the primary results and longer-term follow-up of the global Phase 3 MANEUVER study, which demonstrated deep and durable tumor responses and meaningful improvements in clinical outcomes with pimicotinib.

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"With pimicotinib, we have an opportunity to significantly advance care for people living with TGCT, a painful and debilitating disease that has few effective and well-tolerated treatment options beyond surgery," said David Weinreich, Global Head of R&D and Chief Medical Officer for the Healthcare business of Merck. "Based on clinical trial results showing not only a reduction in tumor burden, but also the ability to help alleviate symptoms like pain and stiffness in the global Phase 3 MANEUVER study, we are confident in the important role pimicotinib can play for TGCT patients in the U.S. and worldwide."

The application is based on primary and longer-term results from the global Phase 3 MANEUVER study. In this trial, once-daily pimicotinib demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the primary endpoint of objective response rate (ORR) assessed by blinded independent review committee (BIRC) by RECIST v1.1 compared with placebo at week 25. The study also demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in all secondary endpoints related to key patient-reported outcomes in TGCT, including improvements in active range of motion and physical function and reductions in stiffness and pain. These findings were presented at the 2025 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting. Longer-term results with median follow-up of 14.3 months presented at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress 2025 showed ORR continued to increase over time among patients treated with pimicotinib from the beginning of the study.

TGCT is a rare, locally aggressive tumor occurring in or around the joint leading to progressive swelling, stiffness and reduced mobility of the affected joint, significantly impacting daily activities and quality of life in what is typically an otherwise healthy population. If left untreated or in recurrent cases, TGCT may result in irreversible damage to the bone, joint and surrounding tissues. A significant need remains for highly effective and well-tolerated treatments beyond surgery that can not only shrink tumors but also alleviate pain and restore function.

In December 2025, pimicotinib was approved by the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for the treatment of adult patients with symptomatic TGCT for which surgical resection will potentially cause functional limitation or relatively severe morbidity. Additional applications are under review by regulatory bodies in other markets.

(Press release, Merck KGaA, JAN 12, 2026, View Source [SID1234661980])

Biohaven Highlights Portfolio Progress, Positive Early Patient Data from Priority Degrader Programs and Anticipated Milestones at the 44th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

On January 12, 2026 Biohaven Ltd. (NYSE: BHVN) ("Biohaven"), a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of life-changing therapies to treat a broad range of rare and common diseases, reported its broad portfolio progress at the 44th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. A copy of the slide presentation is available on the Events and Presentations section of the Biohaven website.

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Vlad Coric, M.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Biohaven, commented, "As we prioritize key programs across our portfolio that can efficiently deliver clear value for patients and investors, we are excited to highlight the first patient experiences using our proprietary MoDE and TRAP extracellular degraders at the annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. The early data continues to signal the important role that this transformative science can have in the treatment of immunological disease and the potential for our technology to provide differentiated treatments for patients suffering from immune-mediated conditions such as IgA nephropathy and Graves’ disease. Our lead programs represent just the beginning of this platform; we aim to transform immunological disease therapy by selectively removing disease-causing proteins as they circulate in the blood and body, fulfilling the potential of true precision immunology to target the root cause of diseases without immunosuppression."

"We’ve dosed our first patient in our obesity program with taldefgrobep that introduces a dual-action therapy to not only reduce fat but also build lean muscle mass, addressing a critical unmet need in metabolic health," continued Dr. Coric "We expect topline data from this Phase 2 obesity proof-of-concept trial in 2026. In addition, we continue to advance a clinically validated approach for treating focal epilepsy that targets Kv7 ion channels with pivotal topline data expected in 2026. Our advancements and discovery expertise demonstrate our commitment to developing innovative treatments that address a wide range of patient needs."

Biohaven 2026 Portfolio Review and Anticipated Milestones

Biohaven is positioned to achieve significant milestones in 2026 across key programs targeting indications with high unmet need. Throughout its clinical-stage portfolio, combined with its innovative discovery engine, the company is advancing a broad range of innovative medicines that represent paradigm-shifting treatment options.

Novel Degrader Platforms: Biohaven Raises the Bar in Precision Immunology

Biohaven is pioneering scientific innovation in extracellular protein degradation, a transformational therapeutic approach for autoimmune diseases that focuses on the precise targeting and selective removal of disease-causing proteins. Based upon the groundbreaking work from the Spiegel Chemistry Lab at Yale University and exclusively licensed by Biohaven, the company’s MoDE and TRAP degrader platform offers selectivity, speed, and patient-friendly self-administration to remove disease-causing extracellular proteins from the body to potentially treat a wide range of diseases.

As part of an initiative to further advance and accelerate next-generation degrader development, Biohaven also announced entering into an memorandum of understanding with the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) to collaborate on discovery efforts and leverage the University’s technology capabilities including strengths in its Smart Health initiatives, generative AI, and supercomputing.

BHV-1400: Next-Generation TRAP Degrader for IgA Nephropathy (IgAN)

Biohaven’s highly selective next-generation TRAP degraders target a specific disease-causing protein for degradation after removal from the circulation. The company’s potential first-in-class TRAP degrader, BHV-1400, brings precision immunology to the treatment landscape of IgA nephropathy the most common primary glomerulonephritis worldwide. IgAN is caused by the excess production of galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1) which is bound by autoantibodies and forms complexes that deposit in the glomerular mesangium triggering a profibrotic and proinflammatory cascade, ultimately leading to renal failure.

The first clinical experience with BHV-1400 underscores its paradigm-shifting potential to selectively remove only aberrant Gd-IgA1, the disease-causing species in IgA nephropathy, while sparing normal IgA. First-in-patient dosing with BHV-1400, a next-generation TRAP degrader, achieved selective lowering of Gd-1gA1 within hours, translating to hematuria resolution, deep reductions in proteinuria, and eGFR improvements within weeks of dosing.

The first patient dosed, a young woman with early disease, normal baseline eGFR and chronic hematuria experienced rapid reductions in Gd-IgA1 associated with complete resolution of chronic hematuria and improvement in symptoms of fatigue within weeks of dosing. The second patient dosed, a man with late-moderate-to-severe loss of kidney function as evidenced by decreased baseline eGFR, experienced rapid reductions in Gd-IgA1 associated with robust reductions in proteinuria of greater than 60% and improvement in kidney function as measured by a 24% increase in GFR within weeks of dosing. Importantly, both patients showed no significant reductions in normal IgA, IgG, or IgM. Additional IgAN patients are being treated in the expansion cohort and plans are underway for initiating a pivotal trial of BHV-1400 in 2026.

In the ongoing Phase 1, BHV-1400 achieved rapid lowering of Gd-IgA1 with a mean reduction of >60% within hours. Maximum reduction exceeding 80% was observed following the first dose. This selective and rapid approach to immunoglobulin lowering represents a second-generation therapeutic approach to IgAN, potentially allowing for faster, meaningful disease control with less acute or long-term safety risks associated with complement inhibition or broad antibody suppression. As in healthy participants, BHV-1400 has been safe and well-tolerated in initial patients with IgAN. As of January 2026, there have been no drug-related adverse events in the Phase 1b expansion cohort.

BHV-1400 Directly Targets the Disease-Driver of IgA Nephropathy

BHV-1400 Early Disease Clinical Experience Complete Resolution of Hematuria Within Weeks of Dosing

BHV-1400 Advanced Disease Patient Rapid Improvement in Proteinuria and Increase in eGFR Within Weeks of Dosing

BHV-1400 Single Patient Data Highlights Rapid Proteinuria Reduction Where Competitor Requires Months.

BHV 1300: MoDE Degrader with Potential to Transform Care Across Multiple IgG Mediated Diseases

BHV-1300, Biohaven’s lead MoDE degrader, is currently in development for Graves’ disease, an IgG1-mediated autoimmune disease caused by autoantibodies that hyperstimulate the TSH receptor, causing hyperthyroidism and requiring surgical removal or chemical ablation of the thyroid or the chronic administration of anti-thyroid drugs. BHV-1300 has shown the potential for best-in-class reductions of IgG, with maximum reductions up to an 87% decrease from baseline within weeks of dosing and has been safe and well-tolerated in Phase 1 clinical studies.

Results from the first-in patient clinical experience with BHV-1300 also showed that it induced complete suppression of pathogenic TSH receptor-stimulating antibodies with normalization of previously elevated thyroid hormones within weeks after dosing. There were no clinically significant reductions in IgG3, IgA, IgE, IgM, or albumin, nor increases in cholesterol compared to baseline. Clinical findings to date position BHV-1300 for pivotal study initiation in Graves’ disease in 2026, as well as additional follow-on studies in other autoimmune diseases where its therapeutic pan-IgG depletion capability is expected to have significant potential.

Biohaven IgG Degrader Targets the Root Cause of a Broad Autoimmune Disease To Treat and Prevent Multi-Organ Complications

BHV-1300 First Graves’ Patient Dosed — Pathogenic Antibody Levels Undetectable and Thyroid Hormones Normalized Within First Month

Biohaven Discovery Engine for Next-Generation Degraders

With proof-of-concept now established in patients for the first clinically validated extracellular protein degrader platform, Biohaven’s discovery engine is prepared to advance next-generation MoDE and TRAP degraders as lead programs, including:

BHV-1420, a PLA2R autoantibody specific TRAP degrader, for membranous nephropathy;
BHV-1450, a IgG4 specific MODE degrader, for potential indications including pemphigus vulgaris and myasthenia gravis with anti-MuSK antibodies;
BHV-1440, a TSHR autoantibody specific TRAP degrader, as the next-generation of immune therapy for Graves’ disease and thyroid eye disease;
BHV-6500, a proinsulin and insulin autoantibody TRAP degrader, for type 1 diabetes;
BHV-1490, an IgM MoDE degrader for cryoglobulinemia, Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia and IgM neuropathy;
BHV-1310, a next generation IgG MoDE degrader, for management of rare IgG-mediated indications;
BHV-1600, a beta-1 adrenergic receptor autoantibody degrader, for cardiomyopathy; and,
Multiple undisclosed degrader targets in early discovery development.
Epilepsy Program: Revolutionizing the Treatment of Epilepsy with a Modern Kv7 Activator

Opakalim is a next-generation, selective Kv7 activator, targeting a clinically validated mechanism of action for the treatment of epilepsy. It is highly differentiated from ezogabine, a first-generation non-selective Kv7 activator previously approved for the treatment of focal seizures, and ezogabine analogs in development. Importantly, opakalim does not exhibit the GABA receptor activity seen with ezogabine and other antiseizure medicines (ASMs), which contribute to central nervous system (CNS) adverse effects and their poor tolerability in the clinic. Opakalim is being developed to address the significant unmet medical need that exists for novel ASMs having a favorable tolerability profile, especially those with mechanisms of action that are complementary to currently available ASMs.

Biohaven is currently conducting two Phase 2/3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies (NCT06132893 and NCT06309966) comparing the efficacy of opakalim to placebo as an adjunctive therapy for refractory focal onset epilepsy, as well as an open-label extension (OLE) study (NCT06443463) to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of opakalim in participants who completed either parent study.

Review of data from the ongoing open-label clinical trial experience with opakalim in focal epilepsy support the potential for opakalim to achieve compelling efficacy and to deliver a highly favorable and differentiated safety profile. Open-label treatment with opakalim demonstrated clinically meaningful reductions in seizure frequency compared to the pretreatment baseline observation period prior to randomization. Specifically, 55% of participants showed ≥50% reductions in seizure frequency (≥50% responder rate), for those who completed at least 6 months of treatment with opakalim 75 mg once daily in the open-label study; and this result is comparable to the ≥50% responder rate published for other investigational agents in the class such azetukalner (which has reported 56% of patients with a ≥50% responder rate over any consecutive best 6-month period from its Phase 2b OLE data). Notably, the antiseizure effects of opakalim were correlated with plasma concentrations, based on a preliminary exposure-response analysis. Opakalim was well-tolerated in the open-label study with a low incidence of CNS adverse events, consistent with prior studies with opakalim.

These preliminary observations support the paradigm-shifting potential of opakalim to achieve antiseizure efficacy with a highly favorable and differentiated tolerability profile compared to other approved ASMs and those in development.

Pivotal topline results for opakalim in the treatment of focal epilepsy are expected in 2026.
Opakalim Offers Potential Best-in-Clinic Kv7-Activator Profile

Obesity Program: Targeting High Quality Weight Loss

Taldefgrobep alfa is Biohaven’s novel inhibitor of the myostatin-activin signaling pathway with the potential to achieve high quality weight loss in people living with obesity.

Biohaven initiated a taldefgrobep Phase 2 proof-of-concept study in obesity during the fourth quarter of 2025 (NCT07281495). This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 24-week, dose-ranging study is evaluating the efficacy and tolerability of once-weekly and once-monthly taldefgrobep as monotherapy, via self-administered autoinjector, in adults living with overweight and obesity. Approximately 150 participants will be enrolled. The primary outcome measure is percent change in total body weight from baseline to Week 24.

Taldefgrobep’s differentiated mode of action targets fat reduction, builds muscle, and increases bone density.

In the clinic, taldefgrobep has demonstrated beneficial changes in fat mass and lean mass in non-obese populations, including healthy adult participants in a Phase 1 study. Participants who received taldefgrobep once-weekly realized significant reductions in total body fat mass (>6%) and increases in lean muscle mass (up to 4%) after one month of dosing. Notably, these body composition parameters continued to demonstrate additional improvements after cessation of dosing associated with the persistence of the pharmacologically active taldefgrobep-myostatin complex and suggesting the drug may support extended dosing intervals. Recent nonclinical data demonstrates that this complex cam also potently inhibit the Activin E-ALK7 signaling axis within adipocytes, further underpinning the complementary mechanistic advantages of taldefgrobep in both growing muscle and reducing fat.

Taldefgrobep has an established safety profile that is well-suited for an indication in overweight and obesity. It has been previously evaluated in >700 clinical trial participants across 5 completed studies and an ongoing Phase 3 trial in spinal muscular atrophy. Throughout its clinical development, taldefgrobep has been well tolerated, with rates of muscle and gastrointestinal adverse events comparable to placebo.

Phase 2 topline results for taldefgrobep in the treatment of obesity are expected in 2026.
Taldefgrobep Monotherapy Dose-Ranging (Q1W and Q4W) Study Initiated

Advancement of Key Next Generation ADC Oncology Programs

BHV-1510 (Trop2 ADC): Preliminary Phase 1 results for BHV-1510 showed encouraging clinical activity with confirmed responses and a differentiated safety profile demonstrating clinical proof of principle with Biohaven’s novel topoisomerase 1 (TopoIx) payload. In a pretreated population of participants with advanced/metastatic cancer, the majority with prior PD-(L)1 treatment, BHV-1510 2.5 mg/kg IV Q3W plus cemiplimab resulted in a confirmed objective response rate of 72.7% (8/11), including 3/5 (60%) in NSCLC, 4/4 (100%) in endometrial cancer, and 1/2 (50%) in urothelial cancer. BHV-1510 demonstrated low rates of adverse events consistent with very low levels of unconjugated payload (such as hematological toxicities and diarrhea), and there were no cases of interstitial lung disease, thus indicating a differentiated safety profile of BHV-1510 from other Trop2 ADCs. The most frequent toxicity was oral mucositis/stomatitis, a known class effect that is manageable with supportive care. Based on these data, an expansion cohort has initiated in endometrial cancer for the combination of BHV-1510 plus cemiplimab.

Biohaven also announced the successful initiation of subcutaneous administration with BHV-1510, as the first and only Trop2 ADC in clinic with the potential for subcutaneous delivery. In the first patients, early data showed bioavailability in the predicted range with tumor shrinkage in first patient dosed. Subcutaneous delivery may offer several advantages over intravenous infusion, including a more patient-friendly experience and rapid administration (minutes vs hours). In addition, subcutaneous dosing may provide an optimized pharmacokinetic profile with lower Cmax and more stable exposure, which may support improved safety and efficacy.

BHV-1530 (FGFR3 ADC): Biohaven also provides an update of the ongoing first-in-human clinical trial of BHV-1530, a potential first-in-class FGFR3-directed ADC that also leverages the proprietary TopoIx payload. In the initial cohorts, no dose-limiting toxicities were observed, and no safety signals have emerged. Early tumor reduction was seen in a patient with an FGFR3 mutation as dosing enters the predicted efficacious range. The pharmacokinetic profile indicates a highly stable ADC, consistent with Biohaven’s next-generation platform technology. FGFR3 is a promising therapeutic target in patients with genetic alterations or overexpression including urothelial cancer and may also be relevant across other solid tumors with high unmet need.

Encouraging Early Clinical Activity and High Response Rates of BHV-1510 + Cemiplimab

Progress across portfolio of clinical and next-generation discovery programs:

Patient enrollment continues in pivotal Phase 2/3 clinical trial in early Parkinson’s disease with brain-penetrant TYK2/JAK1 inhibitor, BHV 8000.

Biohaven Discovery Engine: Next wave of innovative, therapeutics primed to advance forward at an intentional cadence.

Discovery has advanced multiple novel development candidates for future clinical development. Beyond the degrader platform, these include:
BHV-1955 targeting the oxytocin receptor centrally for the treatment of tinnitus;
BHV-2120, oral small molecule TRPM3 inhibitor for epilepsy
BHV-8555, a brain penetrant, oral small molecule preventing a-synuclein aggregation in Parkinson’s disease; and
BHV-8100, a brain-penetrant, oral small molecule activating the M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase (PKM2) for neurodegenerative disorders and aging.

(Press release, Biohaven Pharmaceutical, JAN 12, 2026, View Source [SID1234661979])

France Expands National AAC Access for Agenus’ Botensilimab + Balstilimab for Ovarian Cancer and Soft-Tissue Sarcomas

On January 12, 2026 Agenus Inc. (Nasdaq: AGEN), a leader in immuno-oncology innovation, reported that France’s National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM) has approved an updated national treatment protocol for botensilimab (BOT) plus balstilimab (BAL) under France’s Autorisation d’Accès Compassionnel (AAC) framework.

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The updated protocol expands France’s previously granted AAC authorization for BOT+BAL in patients with microsatellite-stable (MSS) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) without active liver metastases to eligible patients with certain ovarian cancers and soft-tissue sarcomas—diseases with substantial unmet medical need after standard options have been exhausted.

The revised protocol is designed to broaden the eligibility criteria, allowing more patients with advanced solid tumors to have early access to BOT+BAL under reimbursed compassionate use, and to enhance monitoring and treatment procedures in participating hospitals.

BOT+BAL is a chemotherapy- and radiation-free immunotherapy combination being evaluated in clinical studies and available in compassionate access settings authorized by ANSM. In studies conducted to date, antitumor activity has been observed in heavily pretreated patients, including in tumor types that have historically shown limited responsiveness to standard immunotherapy approaches.

France’s AAC pathway enables hospital-based access for patients with serious or life-threatening diseases who lack appropriate therapeutic alternatives. Treatment under AAC is governed by a national protocol that standardizes the conditions of use, including patient eligibility, treatment administration, effectiveness and safety data collection and follow-up under France’s national health system oversight.

For eligible French patients treated in hospital under AAC, BOT+BAL is fully reimbursed.

Expanded AAC eligibility

Under the updated national protocol, reimbursed AAC access to BOT+BAL is authorized in France for eligible adult patients with:

MSS metastatic colorectal cancer without active liver metastases, following progression on standard therapies;
Platinum-refractory or platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer, after exhaustion of approved treatment options; and
Advanced or metastatic soft-tissue sarcomas, including multiple high-grade histologies, following failure of standard therapies.
Significance of the update

By extending fully reimbursed AAC access across colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, and sarcoma, France has implemented a multi-tumor early access framework for a single investigational immunotherapy combination under one nationally standardized protocol. This represents an uncommon level of national early-access authorization and enables consistent hospital access to an investigational treatment while maintaining ANSM oversight and structured patient follow-up as additional clinical and real-world evidence continues to develop.

BOT+BAL remains investigational and is not approved for commercial marketing in France or elsewhere.

(Press release, Agenus, JAN 12, 2026, View Source;Balstilimab-for-Ovarian-Cancer-and-Soft-Tissue-Sarcomas/default.aspx [SID1234661978])