US-based POP Biotechnologies Inc has announced that the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is to provide up to $9.7 million in additional funding to help advance the company’s SNAP (Spontaneous Nanoliposome Antigen Particle) protein vaccine platform into a Phase 1 clinical trial. The deal builds on an initial $1.5 million investment from CEPI announced in July 2025, which supported early-stage research into the technology.
AstraZeneca Plc has reported positive results in two Phase 2b trials for a candidate obesity and diabetes drug with potentially broad applications for cardiometabolic and kidney diseases. The drug, elecoglipron, is a small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist that can be taken as a pill. It was in-licenced from Eccogene (Shanghai) Co Ltd in 2023 to be the backbone of AstraZeneca’s prospective treatments for obesity and weight-related diseases. By taking a broad therapeutic approach, the company argues that it could chart a new path for obesity treatment in the future.
Abivax SA has confirmed plans to submit a new drug application for obefazimod, its candidate product for ulcerative colitis, to the US Food and Drug Administration late in the fourth quarter. This follows results from a Phase 3 trial that showed strong efficacy. The small molecule drug upregulates a microRNA known as miR124 in order to stabilise the immune response in patients with ulcerative colitis, a disease that affects the colon.
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