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Triastek and its Shanghai subsidiary entered a collaboration and license agreement with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV to develop oral medicines using 3D printing and delivery technologies for peptides and other modalities. JJDC will also make an equity investment. Financial terms and named collaboration candidates were undisclosed, and the agreement does not establish clinical performance for T25.
Johnson & Johnson reported Week 112 results from ICONIC-LEAD in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The company said skin clearance and patient-reported improvements remained sustained, with no new safety signals identified. The update adds longer-term evidence for an oral IL-23 receptor peptide, although company-reported follow-up does not eliminate ongoing safety monitoring needs.
Viking began an exploratory study evaluating oral and less frequent injectable VK2735 maintenance strategies after initial weekly injections. Approximately 195 adults are expected to participate, with maintenance evaluated through Week 33 and results anticipated in 2027. This adjacent oral peptide delivery study has not established successful weight maintenance; a later correction clarified the oral dosing schedule.
Cyprumed announced that MSD initiated a Phase 1 trial using its licensed oral tablet technology, triggering a milestone payment. The candidate and its structural class were undisclosed, so the program cannot be identified as a cyclic peptide. The earlier agreement’s potential $493 million comprises upfront and milestone payments, rather than cash already received. This is included as a delivery-platform reference.
Johnson & Johnson announced European Commission authorization of ICOTYDE on September 21; EMA records the authorization date as September 18. Eligible patients include adults and adolescents aged at least 12 years weighing at least 40 kg with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy. This regional authorization does not approve other inflammatory indications.
Orbis Medicines and Novo Nordisk signed a multi-target discovery and licensing agreement for orally bioavailable macrocycles in cardiometabolic disease. Orbis is eligible for up to $1.4 billion in upfront and future milestone payments, plus royalties, and Novo will make a strategic investment. Separate upfront and investment amounts were undisclosed; the headline value is not cash already paid.
Circle Pharma raised $92.5 million in Series E financing led by The Column Group, with investors including Eli Lilly. Proceeds prioritize CID-165, an oral macrocyclic cyclin D1 RxL inhibitor planned to enter clinical development in the first quarter of 2027, and support the broader pipeline. Reported CID-165 antitumor activity remains preclinical.
D&D Pharmatech and QIC announced selection for a Korean national R&D program targeting oral α4β7 therapeutics, with a July 2026–June 2028 period and KRW1.358 billion total budget. QIC designs candidates while D&D applies ORALINK and evaluates activity. QIC identifies the program as an oral cyclic peptide in lead optimization, rather than a clinically validated medicine.
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.
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