Immunome, Inc.

BOTHELL, WA, USA I March 10, 2025 I Immunome, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMNM), a biotechnology company focused on developing first-in-class and best-in-class targeted cancer therapies, today announced that the first patient has been dosed in the Phase 1, first-in-human trial of IM-1021, a ROR1-targeted ADC. “Immunome is developing differentiated ADCs that we believe can greatly benefit cancer patients,” said Bob Lechleider, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Immunome. “The dosing of our first patient with IM-1021 advances that mission, as we work to establish safety and explore efficacy of IM-1021 in patients with high unmet need in B-cell lymphomas and solid tumors.” IM-1021 is an optimized, ROR1-targeted ADC that incorporates Immunome’s proprietary TOP1 inhibitor, HC74. The Phase 1 trial is an open-label, multicenter dose escalation and expansion study designed to determine the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary anti-tumor activity of IM-1021. The study is expected to include participants with advanced B-cell lymphomas and advanced solid tumors. About Immunome Immunome is a clinical-stage targeted oncology company committed to developing first-in-class and best-in-class targeted therapies designed to improve outcomes for cancer patients. We are advancing an innovative portfolio of therapeutics, drawing on leadership that previously played key roles in the design, development, and commercialization of cutting-edge targeted cancer therapies, including antibody-drug conjugate therapies (ADCs). Our most advanced pipeline programs are varegacestat (formerly AL102), a gamma secretase inhibitor which is currently in a Phase 3 trial for treatment of desmoid tumors; IM-1021, a ROR1-targeted ADC which is currently in a Phase 1 trial; and IM-3050, a FAP-targeted radioligand, which is the subject of an IND expected to be submitted in the first quarter of 2025. Our pipeline also includes IM-1617, IM-1335, and IM-1340, all of which are preclinical ADCs pursuing undisclosed targets with expression in multiple solid tumors. For more information, visit www.immunome.com . SOURCE: Immunome

CSPC Megalith Biopharmaceutical secured Chinese regulatory clearance to start a clinical trial of an antibody-drug conjugate in December. \n Radiance Biopharma is heating up the ROR1 race. The U.S. biotech is paying (PDF) China’s CSPC Megalith Biopharmaceutical $15 million upfront for rights to an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), securing itself a shot at challenging Merck & Co. for the opportunity.Merck is setting the pace in the ROR1 race. In December, the Big Pharma reported a 100% complete response rate in a trial of its ROR1-directed ADC. The data emboldened Merck to take the candidate, which it acquired in the $2.75 billion VelosBio buyout, into phase 3. Boehringer Ingelheim dropped out in 2020 but companies including CStone Pharmaceuticals, Immunome and Ipsen are still giving chase. Radiance has secured a spot in the chasing pack by paying Megalith $15 million upfront for exclusive rights to SYS6005 in markets including the U.S. and European Union. Megalith, a subsidiary of CSPC Pharmaceutical, is in line to receive up to $150 million in development and regulatory milestones. If the ADC comes to market, sales milestones could add more than $1 billion to the total value of the deal.CSPC secured (PDF) Chinese regulatory clearance to start a clinical trial of the ADC in December. The company sees SYS6005 as a potential treatment for blood cancers, ovarian cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Merck reported the 100% complete response rate in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and has moved into phase 3 in that setting. The Big Pharma terminated a solid tumor study last year, citing business reasons, but is still running a phase 1/2 bladder cancer trial. Merck is also testing its ADC candidate in blood cancers beyond DLBCL. Immunome’s phase 1 trial, which started this month, is assessing a ROR1 ADC in advanced B-cell lymphomas and solid tumors. CStone, which entered the clinic in 2022, is going after similar indications.Immunome paid Zentalis $35 million in cash and stock for global rights to the then-preclinical ADC last year. Ipsen agreed to pay Sutro Biopharma $90 million in the near term for global rights to a preclinical ADC months after the Immunome deal. CStone became an early entrant to the ROR1 race when it paid LigaChem Biosciences $10 million upfront for global rights to LCB71 in 2020.

Plus, news about Immunome, 89bio and Valneva: Tectonic’s $185M private placement: After a hectic week of stock swings, Tectonic Therapeutic disclosed plans for a large private placement. The Boston-area biotech will raise the money from Adage Capital Partners, Ally Bridge Group, Deep Track Capital, EcoR1 Capital and others. Last week, Eli Lilly’s decision to terminate a mid-stage heart failure program tanked Tectonic’s stock $TECX . The company is working on a similar relaxin program. Days later, the biotech released early-stage data for that drug that led to a major rebound in its share price. Its stock is up 12% over the last month. — Kyle LaHucik Acelyrin returns rights to drug: After ending development of izokibep in November, the Los Angeles biotech is officially handing back the rights to the dermatology drug candidate to Affibody. “It is clear that Acelyrin has not been able to fully capitalize on the potential demonstrated by izokibep’s best-in-class Phase 3 data,” Affibody CEO David Bejker said in a statement . Acelyrin’s stock price $SLRN is down 73% over the past 12 months. — Kyle LaHucik Immunome upsized its public offering, bringing in $172.5 million. — Jaimy Lee 89bio raised a total of $287.5 million in its public offering. — Jaimy Lee Valneva’s contract with the DoD: The French drugmaker said last week it will now supply at least $32.8 million of Ixiaro, its Japanese encephalitis vaccine, to the US. — Jaimy Lee