Roche Expands Pipeline Through Global Bexobrutideg Partnership with Nurix Therapeutics; Incyte to Acquire Vega Therapeutics; Tango Therapeutics Unveils Promising Pancreatic Cancer Data with Vopimetostat–Daraxonrasib Combination; Otsuka Announces Encouraging 12-Month eGFR Outcomes from Phase 3 VISIONARY Study of VOYXACT in IgAN; Innovent Biologics Unveils Phase 3 DREAMS-3 Findings for First Approved GCG/GLP-1 Dual Receptor Agonist

Roche and Nurix Therapeutics Partner to Advance BTK Degrader Bexobrutideg

Roche has entered into an exclusive licensing and collaboration agreement with Nurix Therapeutics to jointly develop and commercialize bexobrutideg (NX-5948), Nurix’s investigational Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) degrader. Through this partnership, both companies will advance a broad clinical development program across B-cell malignancies, immunology, and neurology. The addition of bexobrutideg further strengthens Roche’s hematology franchise while expanding opportunities to address diseases in immunology and neurology.

Despite significant progress with BTK inhibitors and other therapeutic approaches, substantial unmet needs remain for patients with B-cell–driven cancers. In particular, individuals with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) frequently experience disease progression due to acquired resistance mutations, incomplete inhibition of disease-driving pathways, or treatment-related intolerance that restricts long-term use. As a result, effective options remain limited for patients who relapse following existing therapies.

BTK-directed therapies continue to represent one of the most important treatment classes within the growing non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and CLL markets. Together, these markets are expected to reach approximately $41 billion by 2031, with BTK inhibitors projected to remain the leading revenue-generating drug class, accounting for nearly $19 billion in sales.¹ Growth is particularly strong in CLL, where the market is anticipated to expand from around $12 billion in 2024 to $16 billion by 2035.

Bexobrutideg, an orally administered BTK degrader, is expected to enter Phase III clinical development in the summer of 2026 as a second-line treatment for CLL. Early clinical findings indicate the potential for best-in-class efficacy and improved tolerability compared with currently available therapies. Moreover, its mechanism of action may help address resistance pathways that limit the effectiveness of existing BTK inhibitors. The collaboration therefore, provides a strategic opportunity to combine bexobrutideg’s potential with Roche’s established leadership in malignant hematology, further strengthening its position in the evolving CLL and NHL treatment landscape.

Incyte to Buy Vega Therapeutics, Expanding Opportunities in Bleeding Disorders

Incyte has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Vega Therapeutics, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Star Therapeutics, for an upfront payment of $1.25 billion. In addition, Star Therapeutics may receive up to $750 million in milestone-based payments tied to future sales performance, bringing the total potential deal value to $2.0 billion, subject to customary closing adjustments. Through this acquisition, Incyte will strengthen its hematology pipeline with the addition of VGA039, an investigational monoclonal antibody.

Vega Therapeutics’ lead asset, VGA039, is designed to regulate Protein S activity to enhance hemostasis and improve the body’s ability to manage bleeding across multiple bleeding disorders. The therapy is currently in Phase III pivotal development for von Willebrand disease (VWD), the most prevalent inherited bleeding disorder. If approved, VGA039 could become the first prophylactic treatment administered subcutaneously with a convenient dosing schedule, offering an alternative to existing therapies that often require frequent intravenous administration.

In the United States, an estimated 135,000 individuals have been diagnosed with VWD. The condition is marked by recurrent and sometimes severe bleeding episodes that can substantially impair patients’ quality of life. Current preventive treatment options largely rely on factor replacement therapies that typically necessitate two to three intravenous infusions per week.

VGA039 has been granted Breakthrough Therapy, Fast Track, Orphan Drug, and Rare Pediatric Disease designations by the FDA. The candidate is currently being evaluated in the Phase III VIVID-6 trial (NCT07115004), a global, single-arm crossover study assessing the safety and efficacy of subcutaneous VGA039 as a prophylactic treatment for bleeding in patients across all types of VWD, including those with significant disease burden.

The proposed transaction has received approval from the boards of directors of both Incyte and Star Therapeutics. Under the stock purchase agreement, Incyte will acquire all outstanding shares of Vega Therapeutics. Completion of the acquisition remains subject to customary closing conditions, including expiration of the waiting period required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. The all-equity transaction is anticipated to close in the third quarter of 2026, pending regulatory review. Upon closing, Incyte expects to record an R&D charge of approximately $1.25 billion, which will be reflected in its third-quarter and full-year 2026 GAAP and non-GAAP financial results.

Tango Therapeutics Reports Breakthrough-Level Response Rates in Pancreatic Cancer Trial

Tango Therapeutics, Inc. reported encouraging preliminary findings from its ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating vopimetostat, its investigational PRMT5 inhibitor, in combination with Revolution Medicines’ RAS(ON) inhibitors in patients with MTAP-deleted and RAS-mutant metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

According to Dr. Malte Peters, Chief Executive Officer of Tango Therapeutics, the initial clinical data demonstrated promising antitumor activity, with 92% of evaluable PDAC patients treated with the vopimetostat and daraxonrasib combination achieving an objective response. These findings are consistent with preclinical evidence indicating synergistic effects between PRMT5 inhibition and RAS-targeted therapy. Additionally, approximately 90% of PDAC patients remained progression-free after six months of follow-up, suggesting durable clinical benefit. Both combination regimens also exhibited a generally favorable tolerability profile.

Dr. Peters noted that the company’s immediate priority is advancing the PRMT5 plus RAS inhibitor strategy in pancreatic cancer, while continuing to generate key clinical data for vopimetostat as a monotherapy in lung cancer and for TNG456 in glioblastoma, programs that are expected to contribute to the company’s long-term growth strategy.

As of the May 28, 2026 data cutoff, a total of 59 patients with previously treated MTAP-deleted and RAS-mutant PDAC or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) had received vopimetostat-based combination therapy with either daraxonrasib or zoldonrasib. The study population included 20 PDAC and 5 NSCLC patients treated with daraxonrasib, along with 34 PDAC patients treated with zoldonrasib. Participants generally had advanced-stage disease and were heavily pretreated, with over half receiving the investigational combinations as third-line therapy. Liver metastases were present in 70% of patients in the daraxonrasib PDAC cohort and 77% of patients in the zoldonrasib cohort.

Within the dose-escalation cohort evaluating vopimetostat plus daraxonrasib, patients received either 200 mg or 250 mg of vopimetostat once daily in combination with daraxonrasib 100 mg once daily. At the time of analysis, 12 PDAC patients and 3 NSCLC patients had completed at least 14 weeks of follow-up and were considered evaluable for response assessment.

Otsuka Reports Positive Interim Phase 3 VISIONARY Results, with VOYXACT Demonstrating Kidney Function Preservation in IgAN

Otsuka Pharmaceutical and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. announced new findings demonstrating that VOYXACT® (sibeprenlimab-szsi) helped maintain kidney function compared with placebo over a 12-month period in adults with primary IgA nephropathy (IgAN) who were at risk of disease progression. Patients receiving VOYXACT experienced a mean increase in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 0.7 mL/min/1.73 m² from baseline, whereas those in the placebo group showed a decline of 4.8 mL/min/1.73 m². These interim findings suggest that sibeprenlimab may slow or stabilize kidney function deterioration in IgAN patients, a benefit that continues to be evaluated in the ongoing Phase III VISIONARY study.

The data were presented during the 2026 European Renal Association Congress 2026 in Glasgow as part of a pre-specified interim analysis of the Phase III VISIONARY trial. VOYXACT demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile consistent with previously reported results. Complete findings from the final VISIONARY analysis are expected to be shared at a future scientific meeting. The results provide further evidence that selective inhibition of A Proliferation-Inducing Ligand (APRIL) can translate into preservation of kidney function, supporting VOYXACT’s potential to improve long-term renal outcomes.

In the interim analysis of the global VISIONARY Phase III study involving 320 participants (152 receiving sibeprenlimab and 168 receiving placebo), treatment with sibeprenlimab resulted in a mean eGFR increase of 0.7 mL/min/1.73 m² (95% CI: -0.9 to 2.3), compared with a mean decrease of 4.8 mL/min/1.73 m² (95% CI: -6.3 to -3.3) in the placebo arm. This corresponded to an overall treatment benefit of 5.5 mL/min/1.73 m² (95% CI: 3.4 to 7.6). Notably, the 12-month eGFR outcome achieved the treatment objective outlined by the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes guidelines, which aim to limit annual kidney function decline to less than 1 mL/min/1.73 m².

Further supporting these findings, analysis of the annualized eGFR slope showed a decline of 3.0 mL/min/1.73 m²/year (95% CI: -4.6 to -1.4) among patients treated with sibeprenlimab, compared with a decline of 7.6 mL/min/1.73 m²/year (95% CI: -9.1 to -6.1) in the placebo group. This translated into a treatment effect of 4.6 mL/min/1.73 m²/year (95% CI: 2.5 to 6.8), indicating a meaningful slowing of kidney function loss.

The safety profile of VOYXACT was comparable to placebo, with infections and injection-site reactions being the most frequently reported adverse events. Overall, sibeprenlimab was generally well tolerated, and the incidence and nature of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were similar between the treatment and placebo groups.

Innovent Biologics Highlights DREAMS-3 Outcomes in Direct Comparison with Semaglutide

Innovent Biologics, Inc. reported key findings from the Phase III DREAMS-3 study evaluating mazdutide, the world’s first approved dual glucagon (GCG) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, against semaglutide in Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity. The results were presented in an oral session (1226-OR) at the 2026 American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions. DREAMS-3 was a randomized, head-to-head study comparing mazdutide with the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide. 

The trial demonstrated that mazdutide 6 mg achieved superior outcomes in both glycemic control and body weight reduction. After 32 weeks of treatment, 48.0% of patients receiving mazdutide 6 mg achieved the combined endpoint of HbA1c below 7.0% and at least 10% weight loss, compared with 21.0% of patients treated with semaglutide 1 mg. Additionally, mean HbA1c levels declined by 2.03% from baseline in the mazdutide group versus 1.84% in the semaglutide group.

The multicenter, randomized, open-label Phase III DREAMS-3 trial (NCT06184568) enrolled 329 Chinese adults with T2D and obesity who had not achieved adequate glycemic and weight management through lifestyle modifications alone or metformin monotherapy. Participants had a mean age of 42.4 years, average HbA1c of 8.02%, diabetes duration of 1.8 years, body weight of 90.5 kg, and BMI of 33.0 kg/m² at baseline. Subjects were randomized equally to receive either mazdutide or semaglutide for 32 weeks, including an 8-week dose-escalation phase. 

Mazdutide doses were increased from 2 mg to 6 mg, while semaglutide doses were escalated from 0.25 mg to 1 mg. Following the initial treatment period, patients in the semaglutide arm entered a four-week follow-up and completed the study, whereas those receiving mazdutide continued into a 24-week extension phase at either 6 mg or 9 mg based on weight-loss response and treatment tolerability. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants achieving both HbA1c below 7.0% and a minimum 10% reduction in body weight at Week 32.

Mazdutide has received substantial recognition from both the scientific community and the pharmaceutical industry due to its strong clinical performance. Its study findings have been published in leading journals such as Nature, The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), JAMA, Nature Communications, Diabetes Care, and eClinicalMedicine. Notably, mazdutide became the first innovative medicine developed in China to have two clinical studies published simultaneously in Nature and remains the only GLP-1-based therapy to secure publications in both Nature and NEJM. 

The therapy has also been incorporated into several Chinese expert consensus guidelines for obesity and type 2 diabetes management. Furthermore, mazdutide was previously featured in Fierce Pharma’s “Top 10 Most Anticipated Innovative Drugs of 2025,” while its Phase II study in overweight and obese Chinese individuals was recognized by Nature Communications as one of the “50 Most Significant Translational Medicine Studies” and highlighted by the journal’s editors.