LAEKNA-B (02105) has announced that it has commenced subject recruitment for its Phase I clinical study of LAE118, designed to treat advanced solid tumors, in China. The company confirmed that enrollment of the first patient has been completed.
In June 2026, LAEKNA-B entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Vasque Bio, Inc. Under the terms of that agreement, the company is eligible to receive non-refundable and non-creditable upfront and milestone payments totaling up to $527 million. In addition, LAEKNA-B is entitled to tiered sales royalties ranging from single-digit to double-digit percentages, calculated on future net sales of LAE118 within the licensed territory.
The company also holds the right to receive, at no additional cost, up to a high-double-digit percentage equity stake in Vasque Bio's issued ordinary shares, or alternatively, a cash payment in lieu of such shares. Should Vasque Bio complete a qualifying strategic collaboration or acquisition transaction that meets specific conditions related to the use of LAE118, LAEKNA-B would be entitled to an additional payment, potentially reaching up to 50% of the strategic transaction's value.
Vasque Bio focuses primarily on developing therapies for rare diseases, while LAEKNA-B concentrates on advancing oncology applications of LAE118 outside the licensed region. This arrangement enables the company to accelerate the global development and commercialization of LAE118 for a broader set of indications within the licensed territory, while also expediting downstream value creation opportunities—such as licensing, partnerships, or merger and acquisition exits.
LAEKNA-B will continue to focus on specific therapeutic areas where it has built deep expertise and accumulated substantial practical experience. To further enhance the efficiency of its discovery research and shorten preclinical development timelines, the company is accelerating the integration of artificial intelligence across its discovery platform—spanning target identification, lead compound optimization, predictive toxicology, and clinical candidate screening.
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