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MOMA Therapeutics Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 1 Clinical Trial for MOMA-341, a Highly Potent and Selective Werner Helicase Inhibitor

On July 17, 2025 MOMA Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing a new generation of precision therapeutics, reported that the first patient has been dosed in its Phase 1 clinical trial to assess the safety and tolerability of MOMA-341, a potent and selective Werner helicase inhibitor with a novel chemical scaffold (Press release, MOMA Therapeutics, JUL 17, 2025, View Source [SID1234654436]).

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MOMA-341 is being developed as a monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy or immunotherapy for the treatment of advanced or metastatic solid tumors that exhibit high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) and/or DNA mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR), including colorectal, gastric and endometrial cancers. The fact that Werner helicase is required for survival of MSI-H/dMMR tumor cells makes it a promising emerging drug target. MOMA anticipates an initial readout of monotherapy data in mid-2026.

"We are proud to enter the clinic for the second time in less than a year, with initial readouts for both MOMA-341 and MOMA-313, our novel Polθ helicase inhibitor, expected in early-to- mid 2026," said Asit Parikh, M.D., Ph.D., chief executive officer of MOMA. "Given that MOMA-341’s novel chemical scaffold confers excellent target coverage, we are eager to evaluate its best-in-class potential for patients through this Phase 1 study."

About the MOMA-341 Phase 1 Trial

The Phase 1 clinical trial is a global multi-center, open-label dose escalation and dose optimization study (NCT06974110) designed to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and preliminary clinical activity of MOMA-341 as an orally administered single agent or combination therapy with either the chemotherapy agent irinotecan or immunotherapy. Adult participants must have unresectable advanced or metastatic microsatellite instability high (MSI-H) or DNA mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) solid tumors.

About the KNOMATIC platform

MOMA-341 and MOMA-313, were discovered and developed through the application of MOMA’s KNOMATIC platform. The KNOMATIC platform integrates deep structural insights, advanced hit-finding technologies and computation-enabled lead optimization to accelerate discovery of novel therapeutics targeting families of highly dynamic proteins, such as ATPases and GTPases.

Janux Therapeutics to Host Virtual R&D Day on July 24, 2025

On July 17, 2025 Janux Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: JANX) (Janux), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a broad pipeline of novel immunotherapies by applying its proprietary technology to its Tumor Activated T Cell Engager (TRACTr) and Tumor Activated Immunomodulator (TRACIr) platforms, reported that it will host a virtual R&D Day at 1:30 PM PT on Thursday, July 24, 2025 (Press release, Janux Therapeutics, JUL 17, 2025, View Source [SID1234654435]).

The event will include a presentation from management highlighting product candidates identified from its preclinical pipeline to move into clinical trials. These previously undisclosed preclinical programs utilize Janux’s expertise and platform technologies to potentially address significant unmet medical needs.

Event Information

To join the webcast, please visit this link, or the Events & Presentations page of the Investors section on the Company’s website at View Source A replay of the webcast will be archived and available following the event.

Participant Dial-In Numbers:
USA / International +1 (646) 307-1963
USA – Toll-Free (800) 715-9871
Conference ID 9235403

Janux’s TRACTr and TRACIr Pipeline

Janux’s first clinical candidate, JANX007, is a TRACTr that targets prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and is being investigated in a Phase 1 clinical trial in adult patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Janux’s second clinical candidate, JANX008, is a TRACTr that targets epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and is being studied in a Phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of multiple solid cancers including colorectal carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, small cell lung cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and triple-negative breast cancer. We are also generating a number of additional TRACTr and TRACIr programs for potential future development, some of which are at development candidate stage or later. We are currently assessing priorities in our preclinical pipeline.

Ajax Therapeutics and Schrödinger Expand Research Collaboration to Include Additional JAK Target

On July 17, 2025 Ajax Therapeutics, Inc. and Schrödinger, Inc. (Nasdaq: SDGR) reported an expansion of their exclusive research collaboration to include a new Janus kinase (JAK) target (Press release, Ajax Therapeutics, JUL 17, 2025, View Source [SID1234654434]). The partnership was established in 2019 with a goal of leveraging Schrödinger’s advanced computational platform and Ajax’s structural biology insights to develop a pipeline of novel molecules, with a focus on JAK inhibitors. Ajax’s lead candidate from the collaboration, AJ1-11095, is a potential first-in-class Type II JAK2 inhibitor currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical study for the treatment of myelofibrosis.

"We’re excited to expand our longstanding research collaboration with Schrödinger," stated Martin Vogelbaum, chief executive officer of Ajax Therapeutics. "Given our teams’ history of success in creating more selective and potent JAK2 inhibitors, we expect to take a similar approach to this new JAK target with the goal of generating a new class of inhibitors that extend beyond oncology indications to include inflammatory and autoimmune disorders."

"Our collaboration with Ajax and the progress of AJ1-11095 demonstrates the power of combining our world-leading computational platform at scale with Ajax’s novel structural biology insights," stated Ramy Farid, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Schrödinger. "We are really pleased with the progress our teams have made over the course of this partnership, and we look forward to working with the Ajax team on this new JAK family target."

Abnormal JAK signaling is a key driver in myeloproliferative neoplasms, including myelofibrosis, as well as in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. In collaboration with Schrödinger, Ajax is leveraging advanced computational methods and structural biology insights to develop next-generation inhibitors with the potential for greater selectivity and deeper, more durable responses compared to existing JAK inhibitors.

Under the terms of the amended agreement, Ajax and Schrödinger will collaborate on the discovery of the development candidate, and Ajax will be responsible for clinical development and commercialization. Schrödinger is eligible to receive discovery and development milestones similar to the terms of the original agreement. Schrödinger is also eligible to receive sales milestones and single-digit royalties on net sales of any products emerging from the additional target.

In 2024, Ajax completed an oversubscribed $95 million Series C financing, in which Schrödinger participated as a continuing investor. Schrödinger was a co-founder of Ajax and maintains an equity stake in the company.

About AJ1-11095

AJ1-11095 was designed using structure-based drug design and computational methods at scale to selectively bind the Type II conformation of the JAK2 kinase to provide greater efficacy with disease modification compared to all currently approved JAK2 inhibitors, including ruxolitinib, which bind the Type I conformation of JAK2. AJ1-11095 has been shown in preclinical studies to reverse marrow fibrosis, reduce mutant allele burden, and maintain efficacy against MPN cells that become resistant to chronic Type I JAK2 inhibition. AJ1-11095 is currently in a Phase I study for patients with MF who have been failed by a Type1 JAK2 inhibitor. Further details about the study can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

MAIA Biotechnology Announces Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication of Data Validating Second Generation Ateganosine Prodrugs for Anticancer Therapy

On July 17, 2025 MAIA Biotechnology, Inc. (NYSE American: MAIA) ("MAIA", the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing targeted immunotherapies for cancer, reported the publication of preclinical data from its second generation ateganosine prodrugs platform in Nucleic Acids Research (NAR), a leading open-access peer-reviewed scientific journal (Press release, MAIA Biotechnology, JUL 17, 2025, View Source [SID1234654433]). The study, titled "Novel Telomere-Targeting Dual-Pharmacophore Dinucleotide Prodrugs for Anticancer Therapy," details MAIA’s lead ateganosine (THIO)-derived second-generation prodrugs as promising new molecules in its strategy for enhancing cancer treatment and overcoming drug resistance. The manuscript with the data was published on June 26, 2025, in Volume 53, Issue 12 of the NAR journal.

In January 2023, MAIA nominated one lead new molecular entity candidate (designated as MAIA-2021-20) and one back-up new molecular entity candidate (MAIA-2022-12) for further advancement into preclinical GLP-toxicity and other studies. More than 80 ateganosine-like compounds have been developed as part of MAIA’s second-generation telomere targeting program.

In the featured study, MAIA designed and synthesized divalent dinucleotide prodrugs comprised of two nucleosides. The lead THIO-containing compounds, with two THIO pharmacophores, demonstrated the strongest anticancer efficacy in vivo and induced the strongest host immune-memory responses in vivo.

"The reported study data has shown that the sequential combination of MAIA-2022-12 or MAIA-2021-20 with an immune checkpoint inhibitor demonstrated a significantly lower 50% inhibitory concentration with superior anticancer efficacy compared with the corresponding monotherapies. The results suggest that MAIA-2022-12 and MAIA-2021-20 are promising candidates for future preclinical and clinical studies," said MAIA Chairman and CEO Vlad Vitoc, M.D. "We are working now to advance at least one of the candidates into human clinical trials upon completion of required GLP-toxicity and other evaluations."

About Ateganosine

Ateganosine (THIO, 6-thio-dG or 6-thio-2’-deoxyguanosine) is a first-in-class investigational telomere-targeting agent currently in clinical development to evaluate its activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Telomeres, along with the enzyme telomerase, play a fundamental role in the survival of cancer cells and their resistance to current therapies. The modified nucleotide 6-thio-2’-deoxyguanosine induces telomerase-dependent telomeric DNA modification, DNA damage responses, and selective cancer cell death. Ateganosine-damaged telomeric fragments accumulate in cytosolic micronuclei and activates both innate (cGAS/STING) and adaptive (T-cell) immune responses. The sequential treatment of ateganosine followed by PD-(L)1 inhibitors resulted in profound and persistent tumor regression in advanced, in vivo cancer models by induction of cancer type–specific immune memory. Ateganosine is presently developed as a second or later line of treatment for NSCLC for patients that have progressed beyond the standard-of-care regimen of existing checkpoint inhibitors.

One Biosciences Announces €15 Million Series A Financing to Advance Clinical Single Cell Profiling

On July 17, 2025 One Biosciences ("One Biosciences" or the "Company"), a precision oncology techbio company pioneering clinical grade single-cell tumor transcriptomic profiling, reported a €15 million Series A financing led by Redmile Group and Blast, with participation from Galion.exe, Invus, Adamed Technology, Sofinnova Partners, Polytechnique Ventures, and Kima Ventures (Press release, One Biosciences, JUL 17, 2025, View Source [SID1234654432]). This round brings One Biosciences’ total funding, to date, to over €20 million including Home Biosciences’ seed financing.

One Biosciences technology creates detailed functional profiles of patient tumors, unlocking insights that may drive better clinical decision-making, patient selection, therapy development, and potentially optimizing clinical trials. Proceeds from the financing will accelerate the clinical development of One Biosciences’ flagship OneMap platform and support the scaling of strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

Hedi Ben Brahim, CEO of One Biosciences, said: "This funding enables us to translate our breakthrough single-cell technology into real-time insights that could directly inform physician decision-making, improve patient care, and accelerate drug development. The extraordinary support we have received from this group of leading global investors reinforces our conviction and fast-tracks our route to market."

Dr. Céline Vallot, Co-Founder of One Biosciences and group leader at Curie Institute, commented: "This investment coupled with our established capacity to train our AI algorithms with proprietary single-cell patient datasets will further substantiate our ability to predict the response to most classes of oncology therapeutics from clinical grade specimens."

Dr Mehdi Touat, Assistant Professor, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière and Paris Brain Institute, said: "Widespread use of next generation sequencing (NGS) profiling has led to substantial advances in cancer care but the clinical benefit remains limited to small patient subsets. We believe clinical grade single cell profiling has the potential to catalyze the next generation of diagnostic and therapeutic advances ".