Emily Schoenthaler

Lilly adds Ascidian’s RNA exon-editing platform for rare inherited kidney disease targets in a deal with no disclosed clinical data.

Interim phase 1b/2 data from Tenaya Therapeutics’ MyPEAK-1 study showed TN-201 gene therapy was generally well-tolerated and associated with improvements in cardiac remodeling, symptom burden, and functional measures in patients with MYBPC3-associated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.¹

Today’s BioPharm Brief covers FDA draft guidance aimed at streamlining rare disease gene therapy development, Phase 3 trial updates involving dual survival endpoints in oncology programs, and Eli Lilly’s $1.2 billion licensing deal for a GLP-2 therapy in short bowel syndrome.

Eli Lilly has entered a licensing agreement with Hanmi Pharmaceutical for sonefpeglutide, a long-acting GLP-2 receptor agonist in Phase 2 development for short bowel syndrome. The deal includes $75 million upfront and up to $1.2 billion in milestone payments, plus royalties.

FDA draft guidance outlines how prior scientific knowledge may support gene therapy development for rare and life-threatening diseases.

From multifunctional antibodies and T-cell engagers to in vivo cell therapies and hepatitis B functional cures, the most important large-molecule therapies of 2026 reveal the technological trends driving the next generation of biologic medicines.

New data in lung cancer and solid tumors highlight the growing impact of next-generation immunotherapies, including bispecific antibodies and TCR-based therapies, as developers report encouraging efficacy across difficult-to-treat patient populations.

New clinical and translational data presented at ASCO 2026 and published in Nature Medicine demonstrate encouraging anti-tumor activity and manageable safety for Immatics’ IMA401 TCR bispecific in patients with MAGE-A4-positive solid tumors.

Phase 3 HARMONi-6 results presented at ASCO 2026 showed that ivonescimab plus chemotherapy significantly improved overall survival and progression-free survival compared with PD-1 inhibitor-based therapy in first-line squamous non-small cell lung cancer.

Pfizer’s $10.5 billion oncology collaboration with Innovent, early clinical progress for a novel PD-1/IL-2 fusion protein, and promising Phase III hepatitis B cure data highlight today’s key developments in biopharmaceutical innovation.

New five-year data from the Phase 3 tebentafusp (brand name Kimmtrak) trial are continuing to generate attention across oncology, particularly in metastatic uveal melanoma, a rare and historically difficult-to-treat cancer with limited treatment options and poor long-term survival outcomes. The study, presented during the 2026 annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, represents the longest prospective Phase 3 randomized trial to report five-year overall survival data in metastatic uveal melanoma and the longest follow-up study for any T-cell engager in a solid tumor.

Five-year follow-up data from the Phase 3 Kimmtrak trial are providing new evidence that precision immunotherapy approaches can deliver durable benefits in metastatic uveal melanoma, a disease long considered resistant to immune-based treatments.

Phase 3 B-Well trial results published in The New England Journal of Medicine showed that GSK's investigational antisense oligonucleotide bepirovirsen achieved functional cure rates of up to 26% in chronic hepatitis B, significantly exceeding outcomes typically seen with current standard-of-care therapies.

Pfizer and Innovent Biologics have entered a global oncology collaboration worth up to $10.5 billion to develop 12 early-stage cancer programs, underscoring growing interest among multinational pharmaceutical companies in China's biotechnology innovation ecosystem.

New translational data from the AIPAC-003 trial suggest that systemic immune activation induced by eftilagimod alfa may be associated with improved progression-free and overall survival in patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving chemoimmunotherapy.

New research presented by Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute found similar safety and quality outcomes for CAR-T cell therapy delivered at accredited and non-accredited centers, suggesting treatment location may play an important role in improving patient access to care.

Newly published Phase 3 HERIZON-GEA-01 results in The New England Journal of Medicine showed durable progression-free and overall survival benefits with zanidatamab-containing regimens in first-line HER2-positive gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma, supporting their potential role as a new treatment standard.

Olezarsen’s latest pancreatitis data, Apogee’s advancing atopic dermatitis program, and Jade Biosciences’ first-in-human autoimmune trial highlight continued momentum in RNA therapeutics, immunology, and antibody development across the biopharmaceutical industry.

Vir Biotechnology announced complete 96-week Phase 2 SOLSTICE trial data evaluating the combination of tobevibart and elebsiran in chronic hepatitis delta virus infection, with results showing sustained virologic suppression and liver function improvements.

Jade Biosciences announced dosing of the first participant in a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating JADE201, an investigational anti-BAFF-R monoclonal antibody designed for autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis.

Apogee Therapeutics reported positive 16-week Phase 2 data for zumilokibart in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, with the investigational anti-IL-13 antibody meeting all primary and secondary endpoints and supporting advancement into Phase 3 trials later this year.

Today’s BioPharm Brief covers promising Phase 1 data for Eli Lilly’s gene-editing therapy VERVE-102, evolving CAR-T and bispecific competition in multiple myeloma, and new preclinical findings for a Parkinson’s disease regenerative therapy candidate.

Andrea Zobel and Marco Hogenboom of Cencora World Courier discuss the operational and logistical challenges shaping the radiopharmaceutical sector as therapies move toward broader commercialization. The executives outline how regulatory complexity, short delivery windows, AI-enabled logistics systems, and global coordination requirements are redefining advanced therapy supply chains.

Celltrion’s Dr. Juby Jacob-Nara discussed how subcutaneous infliximab may improve convenience, adherence, and sustained remission for patients with inflammatory bowel disease, while reducing reliance on infusion centers and supporting broader patient-centered treatment goals.

New Phase 1 data from Eli Lilly’s investigational gene-editing therapy VERVE-102 showed durable LDL cholesterol reductions of up to 62% after a single dose, highlighting growing momentum for one-time cardiovascular genetic medicines targeting PCSK9.

A new DelveInsight pipeline report highlights how late-stage CAR-T and bispecific antibody therapies are driving the next wave of innovation in multiple myeloma, with several BCMA-targeted biologics advancing toward potential regulatory milestones. The report underscores growing industry focus on earlier-line immunotherapy use, durable responses, and evolving treatment sequencing strategies in relapsed and refractory disease.

Today’s BioPharm Brief covers major developments in oncology, rare disease therapeutics, and ADC manufacturing, including positive Phase 3 data for Kelun-Biotech’s sac-TMT in triple-negative breast cancer, promising hypochondroplasia results for vosoritide, and new perspectives on risk-based cleaning validation for highly potent drug manufacturing.

Subcutaneous infliximab may help improve treatment convenience, dosing consistency, and long-term adherence for patients with inflammatory bowel disease, according to discussions at DDW 2026. Clinicians highlighted the potential for self-administered infliximab to support sustained remission while reducing infusion-center burden and improving patient-centered care.

Kelun-Biotech reported positive Phase 3 results for sacituzumab tirumotecan in first-line metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival versus chemotherapy. The findings further strengthen momentum behind TROP2-directed antibody-drug conjugates in oncology and highlight growing competition in the metastatic breast cancer treatment landscape.

This edition of The BioPharm Brief highlights major advances in obesity, oncology, and regenerative medicine, including Merck’s Phase 3 ADC study in metastatic colorectal cancer, Eli Lilly’s promising retatrutide obesity trial results, and manufacturing progress supporting Klotho cell therapy development. Together, these updates reflect the biopharma industry’s accelerating focus on targeted therapies, next-generation weight loss drugs, and scalable cell therapy innovation.