Percheron Therapeutics (ASX:PER) has confirmed that it is moving ahead with the development of its lead oncology candidate, HMBD-002, following the completion of the transfer of technology and regulatory responsibilities from Hummingbird Bioscience.
The program is now under Percheron’s control as it prepares for a Phase 2 clinical trial.
The company announced that it has taken possession of all HMBD-002 data and existing drug supplies, with sponsorship of the Investigational New Drug (IND) application formally transferred to Percheron by the US Food and Drug Administration. Percheron has also assumed ownership of the intellectual property portfolio and is working with global patent authorities to maintain protection for the program<.
Manufacture of a new batch of drug substance for the planned Phase 2 trial has already begun, with completion expected in the first half of 2026. Meanwhile, the company has expanded its executive team with senior appointments specialising in biologic drug development. The company is actively consulting with leading scientists and clinicians in the United States to inform the design of the Phase 2 trial. An initial overview of the study is expected before the end of 2025.
HMBD-002 is a monoclonal antibody targeting VISTA, an immune checkpoint regulator implicated in cancer progression. The drug has demonstrated anti-tumour activity across multiple animal models and recently completed a Phase I clinical trial in the United States, showing it to be generally safe and well-tolerated in patients with advanced cancers.
Percheron will release the full Phase 1 results at an investor webinar on 7 October 2025, before outlining details of the next stage of clinical development later in the year.