Clinical trial coverage on Peptide News Digest pulls in Phase 1 through Phase 3 readouts across the peptide universe — GLP-1 obesity and cardiometabolic trials (SELECT, SURMOUNT-4, ACHIEVE-3, REDEFINE-1, SYNCHRONIZE-1), peptide vaccine work (AMPLIFY-201, MEL39), peptide-drug conjugate trials, and antimicrobial peptide programs.
Most of the noise sits with Lilly and Novo, but the interesting reads are usually elsewhere: Bicycle Therapeutics on solid tumors, Lirum on Ewing sarcoma, Cerapedics on lumbar fusion, Pelage on hair loss. Real-world evidence and registry data also land here when they reframe what the randomized trials showed.
Each entry names the sponsor, the phase, and the endpoint. Browse the latest below, or jump to the readouts by drug at #semaglutide, #tirzepatide, or #orforglipron.
On June 1 Avacta reported updated Phase 1a/1b data for faridoxorubicin (AVA6000), a pre|CISION-enabled, FAP-activated doxorubicin peptide-drug conjugate that releases its payload inside the tumor microenvironment. At the recommended expansion dose of 310 mg/m², nearly three times conventional doxorubicin's 75 mg/m² maximum tolerated dose, toxicity stayed below historical doxorubicin rates, and the salivary gland cancer cohort held multiple confirmed responses: four partial and nine minor responses among 38 evaluable patients.
BriaCell's three June 1 poster presentations moved past the previously reported 16.6-month Phase 2 median overall survival to the first blinded data from the pivotal Phase 3 Bria-ABC study: sustained quality of life despite advanced disease and a meaningful TWiST (time without symptoms or toxicity) result. Biomarker tracking continued, with stable or decreasing CAML counts correlating with better progression-free survival in 60% of evaluable patients. The Phase 3 regimen starts the checkpoint inhibitor in Cycle 1 and uses a Bria-IMT formulation without interferon-gamma.
Pfizer presented updated Phase 1 data for sigvotatug vedotin (PF-08046047), an integrin β6-directed antibody-drug conjugate that carries the microtubule inhibitor MMAE through a cleavable linker, combined with pembrolizumab in non-small cell lung cancer. The early efficacy supports the ongoing first-line SigVie-003 Phase 3 trial, while SigVie-002 tests the conjugate as monotherapy in previously treated advanced NSCLC. The readout extends ASCO's targeted-conjugate theme from peptide scaffolds to antibody carriers sharing the same MMAE payload.
Published May 12 in Nature Medicine and presented at ECO 2026, the first-of-its-kind ATTAIN-MAINTAIN trial (NCT06584916) tested whether adults who had already lost substantial weight on Wegovy or Zepbound could maintain it after switching to once-daily orforglipron. Over 52 weeks, the semaglutide-switch group regained an average of 1 kg and the tirzepatide-switch group an average of 5 kg, with most cardiometabolic gains preserved. Carel le Roux and Louis Aronne led the analysis.
Perspective Therapeutics presented progress on its three clinical lead-212 (²¹²Pb) targeted alpha-therapy programs at ASCO 2026: [212Pb]VMT-α-NET in somatostatin-receptor-2-positive neuroendocrine tumors, VMT01 in melanoma, and PSV359 in solid tumors. The NET program's earlier Phase 1/2a readout showed a 39% objective response rate in its second cohort and no dose-limiting toxicities at the 5.0 mCi dose, supporting movement toward a registrational trial. The platform pairs a peptide-based targeting vector with a short-range alpha emitter.
BioVaxys presented results from the investigator-initiated PESCO trial of maveropepimut-S (MVP-S) combined with pembrolizumab and low-dose cyclophosphamide in recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. MVP-S is a DPX-based vaccine built from five survivin-derived peptides plus a T-helper peptide and an innate immune stimulant, designed to drive a cytotoxic T-cell response against survivin, an antigen highly expressed in ovarian tumors but nearly absent in normal tissue.
Immutep presented a pooled exploratory analysis at ASCO 2026 (May 30, Poster 359, Abstract 2569) of 592 late-stage cancer patients across five trials — TACTI-mel, TACTI-002, TACTI-003, AIPAC, and AIPAC-003 — spanning non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, metastatic breast cancer, and melanoma. Patients who mounted an immune response to eftilagimod alfa (efti) lived a median 7.7 months longer than those who did not. Eftilagimod alfa is a soluble LAG-3 protein that activates antigen-presenting cells via MHC class II, driving rapid and sustained lymphocyte activation. The analysis showed that 30 mg subcutaneous efti plus standard of care (chemotherapy or a PD-1 antagonist) significantly increased circulating absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) — a blood-based immune-activity marker — versus standard of care alone. The data positions ALC increase as a potential pharmacodynamic biomarker of efti response. The result follows the earlier futility-halt of efti's Phase 3 first-line NSCLC trial, making the pooled survival signal a credibility rebuild for the MHC-II-activator mechanism.
ImPact Biotech presented first-cohort Phase 1 data at ASCO 2026 (May 30, 9:00 AM CT, GI Cancer session) on intra-arterial padeliporfin vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy (VTP) in locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (LA-PDAC). The light-dose escalation study showed a consistent tolerability profile with early signs of clinical efficacy, including potential to convert patients with unresectable stage III tumors to surgically resectable candidates — a meaningful endpoint in pancreatic cancer where surgical resection is the only curative path. Padeliporfin VTP is a minimally invasive drug-device combination: the bacteriochlorophyll-derived photosensitizer is activated by non-thermal laser light delivered via optical fibers, producing selective tumor ablation in the tumor microenvironment. ImPact's lead program is the Phase 3 ENLIGHTED trial in low-grade upper-tract urothelial carcinoma (updated data at AUA 2026 in May). The pancreatic data extends the VTP platform into one of oncology's hardest-to-treat solid tumors.
EASL 2026's final day delivered a cluster of hepatitis B functional-cure late-breakers spanning gene, epigenetic, and immune approaches. TUNE Therapeutics presented TUNE-401 (May 30, 13:30 CEST), a first-in-class epigenetic silencer of HBV demonstrating deep and durable antiviral activity. Precision BioSciences presented PBGENE-HBV gene-editing data from the ELIMINATE-B study showing first evidence of elimination and inactivation of cccDNA — the persistent viral reservoir that makes HBV functionally incurable — in liver biopsies from treated chronic HBV patients. Brii Bio presented end-of-study data from the Phase 2 ENSURE study supporting BRII-179, a protein-based therapeutic HBV vaccine designed to restore immune control. The functional-cure wave advances alongside the entry-inhibitor approaches covered earlier in the week — Gilead's just-approved bulevirtide peptide (Hepcludex) and Assembly Biosciences' oral ABI-6250 — illustrating that HBV/HDV is becoming a multi-modality battleground across peptides, gene editing, epigenetic silencing, and therapeutic vaccines.
Corbus Pharmaceuticals reported updated CRB-701 (SYS6002) Phase 1/2 data at ASCO 2026, presented by Professor Yohann Loriot (Gustave Roussy) in the May 29 4:57 PM CDT gynecological cancer session (Abstract 5508). CRB-701 — a next-generation Nectin-4 antibody-drug conjugate with a site-specific cleavable linker, drug-antibody ratio of 2, and MMAE payload — demonstrated a confirmed objective response rate of 42.9% in second-line oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) at 3.6 mg/kg (median duration of response 6.3 months, PFS 5.6 months) and 34.4% in second-line cervical cancer (median DOR 8.0 months, PFS 4.3 months). Both tumor types express high Nectin-4 and are HPV-driven. The FDA granted CRB-701 two Fast Track designations. Corbus is on track to start the registrational TEMPO-1 study in 2L OPSCC in summer 2026 — a randomized 250-patient trial vs investigator's-choice monotherapy with ORR as the primary endpoint for potential accelerated approval. CRB-701 competes in the Nectin-4 space with Pfizer's Padcev (enfortumab vedotin) and Bicycle Therapeutics' bicyclic-peptide zelenectide pevedotin.
Telix Pharmaceuticals reported ProstACT Global Phase 3 Part 1 data at ASCO 2026 as a late-breaking presentation. TLX591-Tx (lutetium-177 rosopatamab tetraxetan) — a PSMA-targeted lutetium radio-antibody-drug conjugate — met its primary safety objectives in the safety and dosimetry lead-in, demonstrating an acceptable tolerability profile with no new safety signals when combined with enzalutamide (Xtandi), abiraterone (Zytiga), or followed by docetaxel in PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). ProstACT Global is an international Phase 3 trial evaluating TLX591-Tx plus standard of care versus standard of care alone. The drug sits in the PSMA-targeted radioligand class alongside Novartis's approved Pluvicto (lutetium-177 PSMA-617, a peptide-based radioligand), but uses an antibody rather than a small-molecule peptide as the targeting vector. The PSMA radioligand field — Pluvicto, ProstACT, plus the Aktis AKY-2519 B7-H3 miniprotein radioconjugate covered earlier this week — is one of the fastest-growing targeted-conjugate categories in oncology.
Aligos Therapeutics presented additional EASL 2026 data on its chronic hepatitis B (HBV) combination strategy. An analog of ALG-170675, a potential best-in-class antisense oligonucleotide (ASO), demonstrated additive-to-synergistic effects when combined with ALG-001075 (the active parent moiety of pevifoscorvir sodium, a capsid assembly modulator). Separately, 40% of HBeAg-positive chronic HBV patients treated with pevifoscorvir sodium for 48 weeks reached HBsAg reductions low enough to potentially qualify for ASO treatment — supporting a sequencing strategy toward functional HBV cure where the capsid modulator lowers viral antigen load before the ASO finishes the job. The data complements the ALG-055009 THR-β MASH results (46.2% liver-fat reduction) Aligos presented earlier in the week. The combination-and-sequencing approach mirrors the broader trend in liver disease toward layered mechanisms rather than single-agent therapy, and positions Aligos across the HBV, HDV, and MASH liver-disease franchises.
MetaVia's higher-dose Phase 1 readout for DA-1726 at EASL 2026 produced specific efficacy numbers: the 48 mg cohort in obese but otherwise healthy adults achieved 9.1% mean body-weight reduction and a 9.8 cm waist-circumference reduction at Day 54, with exploratory FibroScan liver improvements and no serious adverse events. DA-1726 is a once-weekly subcutaneous oxyntomodulin analog acting as a 3:1 ratio GLP-1/glucagon dual receptor agonist for obesity and MASH. The 9.1% weight loss in roughly eight weeks is a fast trajectory for an early-phase obesity peptide and supports MetaVia's case heading into the 16-week Phase 1 Part 3 titration study reading out Q4 2026. The waist reduction (a glucagon-receptor-driven visceral-fat signal) and the FibroScan liver improvements position DA-1726 in the dual obesity-and-MASH lane alongside survodutide and pemvidutide. MetaVia's three ADA 2026 late-breaking abstracts (June 7 New Orleans) extend the DA-1726 and vanoglipel data sets.
BriaCell's ASCO 2026 poster presentations added a biomarker finding beyond the headline 16.6-month median overall survival for Bria-IMT. In an ongoing analysis of heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer patients, 65% showed stability or a drop in Cancer-Associated Macrophage-Like cells (CAMLs) — circulating cells in the blood that reflect tumor activity — and that change significantly correlated with better progression-free survival. The CAML biomarker offers a potential early blood-based readout of Bria-IMT response, which matters for an immunotherapy where conventional imaging can lag the immune response. BriaCell's six ASCO 2026 data items (three posters, three publication-only abstracts) cover the pivotal Phase 3 Bria-ABC study of Bria-IMT plus checkpoint inhibitor plus further Phase 2 analyses. Bria-IMT is a whole-cell allogeneic peptide-and-cell immunotherapy in heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer that has failed ADC, checkpoint, and CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy. The biomarker work supports patient selection and response monitoring as the program advances toward accelerated-approval discussions.
Altimmune presented the full Week 48 top-line IMPACT Phase 2b oral data for pemvidutide in MASH today at EASL 2026 Barcelona (Dr. Mazen Noureddin, Houston Methodist Hospital, 17:00 CEST). The 1.8 mg dose reduced triglycerides 23.7%, total cholesterol 15.4%, body weight 7.5%, BMI 3.0 kg/m², and waist circumference 5.3 cm, alongside blood pressure reduction. Safety held at 48 weeks with roughly 1% discontinuation due to adverse events and mostly mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal events. Previously reported: 27.8% (1.2 mg) and 32.4% (1.8 mg) of patients achieved combined ELF and LSM improvements versus 3.2% on placebo. The 48-week analysis carries the 'Best of EASL 2026' designation. Pemvidutide is a balanced 1:1 GLP-1/glucagon dual receptor agonist peptide with FDA Fast Track + Breakthrough Therapy Designations for MASH. The cardiometabolic-risk-factor profile positions pemvidutide as differentiated on the lipid and cardiovascular axis versus pure GLP-1 agonists.
Boehringer Ingelheim's survodutide full 48-week Phase 2 MASH dataset published in the New England Journal of Medicine alongside the EASL 2026 presentation. MASH improvement without worsening of fibrosis occurred in 47% of the 2.4 mg group, 62% of the 4.8 mg group, and 43% of the 6.0 mg group, versus 14% on placebo. Up to 52% of survodutide-treated adults achieved significant improvement across fibrosis stages F1, F2, and F3 versus around 26% on placebo. Survodutide is an investigational long-acting glucagon/GLP-1 receptor dual agonist (BI 456906, partnered with Zealand Pharma) for once-weekly subcutaneous administration. The Phase 3 program is advancing through LIVERAGE (~1,800 adults with MASH F2-F3) and LIVERAGE-Cirrhosis (~1,590 adults with compensated MASH cirrhosis F4). Survodutide also posted 16.6% weight loss in the SYNCHRONIZE-1 obesity Phase 3 (April 2026). The NEJM publication is the strongest peer-reviewed validation of the GLP-1/glucagon dual mechanism in MASH to date.
Aligos Therapeutics presented positive data across ten presentations at EASL 2026 Barcelona. The headline MASH data: ALG-055009, a THR-β (thyroid hormone receptor beta) agonist small molecule, met its primary endpoint in the Phase 2a HERALD study with robust liver-fat reduction at week 12 — doses of 0.5 mg to 0.9 mg achieving statistically significant reductions with placebo-adjusted median relative reductions up to 46.2% as measured by MRI-PDFF. On the viral hepatology side, Aligos presented Phase 1 data on pevifoscorvir sodium suggesting a reduced cccDNA reservoir in chronic HBV patients, with an investigator-led study showing ≥24-week follow-up in HBeAg+ participants after 96 weeks of monotherapy. The combined slate spans the Aligos chronic HBV, HDV, MASH, and liver cancer pipeline. The ALG-055009 THR-β mechanism puts Aligos in direct competition with Madrigal's Rezdiffra (resmetirom), the only FDA-approved MASH therapy, on the same receptor target.
Mayo Clinic researchers led by Dr. Kathryn Ruddy will present a randomized Phase 2 trial of the folate receptor alpha (FRα) peptide vaccine TPIV200 in early-stage triple-negative breast cancer at ASCO 2026 (Abstract 536, June 1, 1:30-4:30 PM CDT). The trial dosed 80 patients with vaccine; 58 were evaluable for immunogenicity. The TPIV200 multi-epitope FRα peptide vaccine was found safe and immunogenic using a single low-dose injection without cyclophosphamide priming. FRα is overexpressed on the cell surface in breast, ovarian, and lung cancers, making it a shared-antigen vaccine target distinct from personalized neoantigen approaches. The data supports combining TPIV200 with an immune checkpoint inhibitor to extend recurrence-free or progression-free survival in TNBC — the breast cancer subtype with the highest mortality risk and fewest targeted-therapy options. The vaccine adds to the peptide cancer vaccine cohort (BioVaxys MVP-S, Dana-Farber NeoVax, Greenwich GP2) at ASCO 2026.