Roche Holding AG

EPALINGES, Switzerland I August 13, 2025 I Pilatus Biosciences , Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing novel metabolic checkpoint immunotherapies for liver and gastrointestinal cancers, today announced a clinical trial collaboration with Roche. Under the terms of the agreement, Roche will provide atezolizumab (Tecentriq®), its anti-PD-L1 therapy, to support Pilatus’ upcoming first-in-human Phase 1 trial evaluating PLT012 in combination with atezolizumab in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). PLT012 is Pilatus’ lead immunomodulatory candidate designed to reprogram the fibrotic and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) characteristic of HCC. The investigational combination will be assessed in Pilatus-sponsored clinical trials to assess safety and tolerability. “We are pleased to collaborate with Roche as we explore the potential synergy between PLT012 and atezolizumab in patients with HCC,” said Raven Lin, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, Pilatus Biosciences. “Current treatments, including checkpoint inhibitors as monotherapy, often fail to generate durable responses in liver cancer. PLT012’s ability to reshape the TME may enhance immune activation and unlock deeper, more sustained responses when administered in combination with anti-PD-L1 therapies such as atezolizumab.” “This collaboration represents an opportunity to investigate how modulation of the TME can enhance immune checkpoint blockade in liver cancer,” said Dr. Ann-Lii Cheng, NTU Chair professor and President Emeritus of the NTU Cancer Center of National Taiwan University, and scientific collaborator at Pilatus Biosciences. “Combining PLT012 with atezolizumab has the potential to overcome key mechanisms of resistance in HCC and potentially drive more durable patient response and potentially improve patient outcomes for this aggressive disease.” Dr. Cheng also served as the global principal investigator of the landmark IMbrave150 trial (atezolizumab plus bevacizumab for HCC, published in NEJM 2020). Atezolizumab, a standard of care treatment for first-line HCC in combination with bevacizumab (Avastin®), will be provided by Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, for use in Pilatus’ clinical research. HCC is the most common type of primary liver cancer and remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Tecentriq® (atezolizumab) and Avastin® (bevacizumab) are registered trademarks of Genentech, a member of the Roche Group. About PLT012 PLT012 is a humanized monoclonal antibody designed to selectively block CD36-mediated lipid uptake, a key mechanism driving immunosuppression and immune exclusion within the tumor microenvironment. By targeting lipid metabolism, PLT012 exerts a unique mechanism of action: it depletes immunosuppressive cell populations, including Tregs and pro-tumor macrophages, while simultaneously enhancing anti-tumor activities of intratumoral NK cell and cytotoxic CD8+ T cell that are otherwise susceptible to lipid-induced exhaustion. In preclinical studies, PLT012 has demonstrated potent monotherapy efficacy in models of liver malignancies, with a favorable safety profile across species. Leveraging its distinct mechanism of action, PLT012 further acts as a potent sensitizer in combination with anti–PD-L1 therapies, effectively overcoming drug resistance in immune “cold” tumors and liver metastases. About Pilatus Biosciences Pilatus Biosciences is a biopharmaceutical company developing metabolic checkpoint immunotherapies to address unmet medical needs in cancer and immune-related diseases. Founded in 2022 from the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, and supported by the Cancer Research Institute, Pilatus operates internationally with R&D teams in Switzerland and Taiwan. The company’s lead program, PLT012, targets CD36 to reprogram the tumor microenvironment and restore anti-tumor immunity in solid tumors. For more information, visit www.pilatusbio.com . SOURCE: Pilatus Biosciences

The Slovak Nutraceutical Company LifeBridge Has Concentrated and Optimized Ingredients From Quail Eggs to Effectively and Safely Suppress Allergies Within Minutes of Consumption FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Aug. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SnizIQ is the only all-natural product on the market with clinically confirmed efficacy against hay fever symptoms. The Serbian nutraceutical brand LifeBridge has taken the proven power of quail eggs and used it to create SnizIQ's unique formulation. This provides targeted concentration for natural allergy relief in as little as 15 minutes. Allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, is a struggle for many people around the world. In the U.S. alone, around 20% of the population deals with the condition each year. A 2021 study found that over 81 million people deal with allergies on a seasonal basis. Hay fever comes with a variety of unpleasant symptoms, including: Stuffiness and sneezing Wheezing and coughing Itchy nose and sore throat Red and watery eyes Excessive mucus in the nose and throat Along with the obvious physical components, allergic rhinitis often leads to tiredness and headaches. These cold-like symptoms can be difficult to manage and can have a significant impact on an individual's quality of life for weeks and even months at a time. SnizIQ offers a way to manage these symptoms without resorting to stronger synthetic options, like Zyrtec or Claritin. "Stronger pharmaceuticals for allergy relief can be concerning, especially when used for one season after another," explained the CEO and co-founder of LifeBridge, Ladislav. "We don't know many of the side effects, and both tolerance and dependency are concerns. SnizIQ uses the allergy-fighting power of quail eggs to quickly and naturally reduce hay fever symptoms without fear of side effects." SnizIQ has been clinically shown to reduce hay fever symptoms within 15 minutes of consumption. It uses the eggs of the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), which contain ovomucoids and ovoinhibitors that are capable of suppressing 200% of the average histamine production in the body. This allows individuals to access quick relief through a product that is formulated with the ideal dosage and concentration for safe, natural, and ongoing allergy relief support. About LifeBridge LifeBridge is a Slovak nutraceutical company that was founded in 2018. It was formed to focus on the distribution of food supplements in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. Its founders bring 30 years of executive experience from across the Pharma Industry, including stints in the C-suite at Roche, Pfizer, and Bayer. LifeBridge uses that past experience to explore natural solutions to common health concerns, from allergies to the immune system and more. Learn more at stopalerg.sk. Ladislav Čižmárik +(421) 908-883317 SOURCE LifeBridge WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

Pilatus Biosciences has snagged a big pharma partner for the first-in-human study of its CD36-targeting monoclonal antibody (mAb), PLT012. Roche will provide its PD-L1 inhibitor Tecentriq (atezolizumab) to be dosed in combination with the biotech's candidate in a Phase I trial of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The open-label, dose escalation study is expected to enrol about 30 patients and will launch next year, Pilatus CEO Raven Lin told FirstWord. PLT012 is designed to reprogramme the tumour microenvironment by depleting immunosuppressive cells such as regulatory T cells, and boosting populations of NK cells and CD8+ T cells. The thinking behind dosing the mAb with Tecentriq, Lin explained, is because PLT012 has the potential to increase "the progenitor exhausted T cell population, which is the primary responder to PD-(L)1 inhibitors.""By combining these mechanisms, the therapy aims to both unleash the immune system’s ability to recognise tumour cells and create a tumour microenvironment more favourable to sustained immune attack," he added. "This dual approach could translate into improved clinical outcomes for patients with HCC."The PLT012-Tecentriq combo could also offer a tolerability benefit over the current standard-of-care checkpoint inhibitor regimen for HCC, Tecentriq plus the anti-VEGF mAb Avastin (bevacizumab). While that duo can inhibit tumour angiogenesis and promote immune responses, its efficacy may be limited by VEGF-related toxicities, as well as resistance mechanisms that dampen effect functions."PLT012 has a differentiated mechanism of action, reprogramming the tumour microenvironment by simultaneously disarming immunosuppressive cell populations and boosting effect functions, thereby unleashing the efficacy of PD-(L)1 inhibitors independently of VEGF-mediated angiogenesis," Lin said. "Combining PLT012 with a PD-1 pathway inhibitor has the potential for robust anti-tumour activity and to deliver durable protective immunity with a distinct safety profile, potentially benefiting patients who do not respond or become resistant to PD-1/VEGF combinations."