Biotech & Pharma · Week of Oct 26, 2026
Kidney Week and ESMO data lead the week in biotech releases
Conference season drove the week: early and mid-stage clinical readouts at ASN Kidney Week and ESMO, plus diagnostics and corporate updates.
Clinical data dominated the week's releases, much of it timed to medical meetings. Climb Bio presented initial Phase 2 data for its anti-CD19 antibody budoprutug at ASN Kidney Week 2026, and ArriVent BioPharma reported initial Phase 1 results for its CDH17-targeted antibody-drug conjugate ARR-217 at the ESMO Congress 2026. Oruka Therapeutics released Week 16 Phase 2b results for ORKA-001 in psoriasis and says it plans to start Phase 3 trials in the first half of next year. Neurocrine Biosciences added a post-hoc analysis defining a clinically meaningful change in patient-reported health for tardive dyskinesia patients treated with INGREZZA.
Outside the clinic, Abbott launched a whole-genome sequencing version of its Oncodetect molecular residual disease test, and Azitra reported ex vivo skin data for its cosmetic candidate ATR-COSF. Corporate news was limited: Northwest Biotherapeutics said it expanded its US technical team, and 111, Inc. said its special committee appointed an independent financial advisor and legal counsel.
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
Neurocrine Biosciences Presents New Analysis Establishing Benchmark for Clinically Meaningful Change in Overall Health Reported by Patients with Tardive Dyskinesia
Neurocrine Biosciences says a new analysis sets a 6-point increase on the EQ Visual Analogue Scale as the threshold for clinically meaningful change in overall health ratings among tardive dyskinesia patients treated with INGREZZA (valbenazine). The company says the threshold helps put patient-reported improvements with the drug in context.
Abbott
Abbott launches whole-genome sequencing Oncodetect® molecular residual disease (MRD) test to detect traces of cancer during and after treatment
Abbott has launched a next-generation Oncodetect molecular residual disease test based on whole-genome sequencing and MAESTRO technology, which it says tracks up to 5,000 patient-specific variants. Abbott says the test has a limit of detection below one part per million under high-end inputs, aimed at detecting traces of cancer during and after treatment.
Climb Bio, Inc.
Climb Bio Presents Initial PrisMN Phase 2 Data from Budoprutug in pMN at an Oral Session at ASN Kidney Week 2026
Climb Bio presented initial data from its PrisMN Phase 2 dose-escalation trial of budoprutug in primary membranous nephropathy at ASN Kidney Week 2026, reporting B-cell depletion, lower PLA2R antibody levels and immunologic remission at Week 12 in the 200 mg cohort. The company says early 600 mg data suggest greater drug exposure and deeper B-cell depletion, and that the drug has been generally well tolerated through Week 12.
Oruka Therapeutics, Inc.
Oruka Therapeutics Announces Positive Week 16 Results for ORKA-001 from the Ongoing EVERLAST-B Trial in Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis
Oruka Therapeutics reported positive Week 16 results from its EVERLAST-B Phase 2b trial of ORKA-001, a half-life extended IL-23p19 antibody, in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The company says results were consistent with EVERLAST-A, points to potential once- to twice-yearly dosing, and plans to engage regulators ahead of Phase 3 trials in the first half of next year.
Azitra, Inc.
Azitra, Inc. Announces Revitalizing Results from Ex Vivo Study of ATR-COSF Demonstrating Ability to Reduce Fine Lines and Improve Elasticity in Human Skin
Azitra says ex vivo studies of ATR-COSF, a supernatant-based formulation containing an active recombinant human filaggrin domain, showed visible improvements in fine lines, wrinkles and elasticity after a single dose. The data come from two models using cosmetic surgery skin explants, not human trials.
ArriVent BioPharma, Inc.
ArriVent Announces Initial Phase 1 Data for CDH17-targeted ADC ARR-217 in Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancers at ESMO Congress 2026
ArriVent BioPharma presented initial Phase 1 data at ESMO Congress 2026 for ARR-217 (MRG007), a CDH17-targeting antibody-drug conjugate developed with Lepu Biopharma, in heavily pretreated gastrointestinal cancer patients. The company says it observed responses and a manageable safety profile, and that the results support moving to a Phase 1b dose optimization study.
Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc.
Northwest Biotherapeutics Announces Expansion of Its Technical Team
Northwest Biotherapeutics, developer of DCVax personalized immune therapies for solid tumors, says it has expanded its technical team in the US. The company describes the hiring as an expansion of key operational areas.
111, Inc.
111, Inc. Announces Appointment of Independent Financial Advisor and Legal Counsel to the Special Committee
111, Inc., a China-based tech-enabled healthcare platform company, says the special committee of its board, made up of three independent directors, has appointed an independent financial advisor and legal counsel. The release does not state in the excerpt provided what matter the committee is evaluating.
This roundup is written with AI assistance from the press releases listed above, using only what they state. The releases are the companies' own announcements, not News Today Lines reporting.