In the most recent trading session, the value of BeyondSpring Inc. (NASDAQ: BYSI) shares increased significantly, rising 25.18% to close at $3.43. The increase in confidence among investors is ascribed to the latest developments.
Virtual R&D Day Highlights Key Innovations
On May 15, 2024, BeyondSpring (BYSI) hosted a virtual Research and Development (R&D) Day to discuss Plinabulin, the company’s primary asset. Pllinabulin is a maturation agent for dendritic cells (DCs), and combination treatments using it are being researched to bridge therapeutic gaps in cancer, particularly for patients who have not responded to prior PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. At the event, there were also updates on SEED Therapeutics, a company that develops innovative molecular glue drugs using the Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD) technology.
Prospective Developments And Strategic Alliances
Numerous Investigator-Initiated Trials (IITs) of Plinabulin at prestigious universities in China and the United States are yielding significant advances. These studies are anticipated to yield preliminary results in the second half of 2024. These findings are anticipated to further substantiate Plinabulin’s unique MOA and could lead to a transformative period for BeyondSpring.
Dr. Lan Huang, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of BeyondSpring, expressed optimism about the potential to extend and accelerate Plinabulin’s reach through third-party partnerships if the interim clinical data validate its unique MOA. Following the presentations on Plinabulin, Dr. Lan Huang elaborated on SEED Therapeutics’ proprietary TPD platforms, which develop “molecular glues” for traditionally undruggable targets.
Unlike PROTAC platforms, molecular glues can target proteins that lack ligandable pockets or are unfolded, such as Tau proteins. The SEED TPD platform, known as RITE3, leverages the scientific breakthroughs of its co-founders, including a Nobel Laureate and two Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigators, to create a dynamic drug development pipeline.
Collaboration And Milestones With Eli Lilly
Eli Lilly is a significant investor and research and development collaborator with SEED Therapeutics, committing up to $780 million in upfront and milestone payments, along with tiered royalties. To date, SEED has achieved three milestones in its collaboration with Eli Lilly, showcasing the promising potential of their combined efforts in the field of drug development.
