CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. announced June 13 that it struck a potential $5.33 billion deal with Astrazeneca plc to develop novel preclinical small-molecule candidates using CSPC’s AI-driven drug development platform.
Cullinan Therapeutics Inc. swept up ex-China rights to a multiple myeloma (MM)-targeting BCMAxCD3 bispecific T-cell engager (TCE) velinotamig from Chongqing Genrix Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd. via a potential $712 million deal June 4. The plan is to repurpose the cancer drug to autoimmune disease.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Inc. has synthesized tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type 6 (PTPN6; PTP-1C; SH-PTP1) activators reported to be useful for the treatment of autoimmune disease and cancer.
Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which immune cells invade various organs and unleash harmful inflammatory responses. Estrogen may contribute to the condition, which would explain why it affects women over men in a 9:1 ratio.
CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. has entered into a strategic research collaboration agreement with Astrazeneca plc for the discovery and development of novel oral small-molecule candidates utilizing the group’s AI-driven, dual-engine efficient drug discovery platform.
Therapies involving B-cell depletion targeting CD19 or BCMA have shown efficacy in the treatment of B-cell malignancies. Recently, this approach has shown efficacy in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or rheumatoid arthritis, by repopulation and resetting of B cells and immunoglobulins.
Celldex Inc.’s KIT inhibitor, barzolvolimab, which hit its phase II endpoints in late 2023, kicking off phase III development in chronic spontaneous urticaria, offered up some impressive long-term findings at the EAACI Congress 2025, including complete responses in patients for as long as seven months after the cessation of therapy, which analysts said could position the drug as a potentially best-in-class option.
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) maintain immune homeostasis by inhibiting excessive immune responses. Dysregulation of Tregs, characterized by reduced cell numbers or impaired suppressive function, is implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy expands Tregs and enhances their suppressive capacity while minimizing the activation of T cells and natural killer (NK) cells.
Immunoprecise Antibodies Ltd. has discovered a highly conserved epitope across all four dengue virus serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4) using its proprietary Lensai platform powered by its Hyft technology.
It’s a good week to be working on drugs targeting STAT6. Kymera Therapeutics Inc.’s, KT-621, the first oral STAT6 degrader candidate to enter the clinic, surpassed expectations with impressive safety, pharmacokinetic and biomarker data from a phase I trial, while potential fast-followers from Nurix Therapeutics Inc. and Recludix Pharma Inc. advanced via respective partnerships with Sanofi SA.