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Avere announced an additional $500 million private placement of common stock and pre-funded warrants to support oral IL-23R candidate AVR-001. It is expected to close immediately before the proposed NextCure merger, alongside an earlier $320 million arrangement. Closing remains conditional, and the earlier arrangement includes convertible-note exchanges; headline commitments should not be treated entirely as newly received cash.
Vilya-2 extends the company’s all-atom representation from individual molecules to interactions with protein targets using a diffusion-transformer model. The preprint focuses on noncanonical residues, macrocyclization, and complex topologies. Company examples include modeling icotrokinra and enlicitide complexes. Structural predictions support discovery hypotheses rather than proving oral exposure or clinical activity for newly designed candidates.
Chugai reported that AQUA07, its third macrocyclic peptide project, had entered the clinical stage, with Phase 1 dosing in ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer expected shortly. Its pipeline identifies AQUA07 as an oral allosteric ALK inhibitor originating from SnipeTide. The milestone does not establish that human efficacy has already been demonstrated.
FDA approved LIPFENDRA, or enlicitide, on July 15, with Merck announcing the decision on July 16. The once-daily 20 mg oral macrocyclic PCSK9 inhibitor is indicated alongside diet and exercise to reduce LDL-C in adults with hypercholesterolemia, including HeFH. Its approved lipid indication should not be conflated with product-specific proof of cardiovascular-event reduction.
Hansoh granted Avere exclusive development, manufacturing, and commercialization rights to HS-20118, also called AVR-001, outside Greater China. The oral cyclic IL-23R antagonist agreement includes $120 million in upfront payments, up to $2.18 billion in milestones, and royalties. Avere also announced a proposed NextCure merger. Conditional milestone value and a signed merger agreement do not represent realized payments or closing.
Vilya’s technical preprint describes an all-atom model for conformational sampling and developability prediction across macrocycles with diverse chemistries and noncanonical residues. The framework supports permeability modeling and molecular design within the company’s oral-macrocycle strategy. Computational benchmark performance does not demonstrate human oral bioavailability, efficacy, or safety; the report is a preprint rather than peer-reviewed clinical evidence.
Salubris announced NMPA clinical-trial clearance for SAL0167 tablets for hyperlipidemia and identified the proprietary candidate as a cyclic peptide. The authorization permits clinical development but does not establish human dosing, quantitative oral exposure, or lipid-lowering efficacy. General statements about cyclic-peptide advantages should not be treated as demonstrated properties of this particular candidate.
LG AI Research and D&D Pharmatech signed a master agreement for next-generation oral peptide discovery, explicitly including macrocyclic peptides. The collaboration combines AI design with peptide development expertise. Named candidates, targets, financial terms, and human results were not disclosed. The agreement sets research objectives rather than demonstrating that oral absorption or clinical efficacy challenges have been solved.
Ironwood announced FDA approval of linaclotide for functional constipation in children ages 2 and older, extending the previous indication covering ages 6 and older. A 12-week, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trial in children ages 2–5 supported the decision, with improved spontaneous bowel-movement frequency at 72 micrograms. This concerns a gut-acting oral peptide, rather than systemic peptide delivery.
20n Bio announced $7.5 million in Seed+ financing to advance AI-enabled cyclic peptide discovery, screening workflows, and its therapeutic pipeline. The company identifies oral peptides among potential applications but has not disclosed a validated clinical oral cyclic peptide candidate or human oral pharmacokinetics. The strategic lead investor was unnamed; investors from earlier rounds should not be assigned to this financing.
Hansoh presented two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 1 studies of HS-20118 involving 129 treated participants, including healthy volunteers and 23 patients with psoriasis. The company reported sustained pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic activity and early skin-response signals supporting exploration of weekly oral dosing. Small patient cohorts and short treatment duration limit conclusions about comparative efficacy and long-term safety.
Merck announced a Science publication describing large-scale biocatalytic synthesis of enlicitide. Engineered enzymes enable peptide-fragment formation, coupling, and macrocyclization, combined with crystallization-based purification. The work addresses manufacturing of a complex orally available macrocyclic peptide. It provides a process-development example rather than new clinical efficacy evidence or a universally transferable route for every macrocycle.
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