Biotech & Pharma · Week of Oct 26, 2026
Membranous nephropathy data headline Kidney Week: biotech roundup
Kidney Week data on membranous nephropathy, a psoriasis Phase 2b readout and a new Abbott cancer test led a week dominated by clinical updates.
The clearest thread this week came from ASN Kidney Week 2026 in Denver, where two companies presented approaches to membranous nephropathy. Biohaven highlighted BHV-1420, a TRAP degrader it says is designed to selectively remove the autoantibodies that drive the disease, while Climb Bio reported initial Phase 2 PrisMN data for its anti-CD19 antibody budoprutug in primary membranous nephropathy.
Elsewhere, Oruka Therapeutics reported positive Week 16 Phase 2b results for ORKA-001 in psoriasis and says it plans Phase 3 trials in the first half of next year. Abbott launched a whole-genome sequencing version of its Oncodetect MRD test, and Neurocrine Biosciences presented a patient-reported outcome threshold for tardive dyskinesia. Commercial and corporate items included Citius Oncology's LYMPHIR shipment growth and an Alberta Securities Commission ruling in Aurora Cannabis's dispute with Curaleaf.
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
Neurocrine Biosciences Presents New Analysis Establishing Benchmark for Clinically Meaningful Change in Overall Health Reported by Patients with Tardive Dyskinesia
Neurocrine Biosciences presented an analysis establishing a 6-point increase on the EQ Visual Analogue Scale as a threshold for clinically meaningful change in overall health ratings in tardive dyskinesia patients treated with INGREZZA (valbenazine). The company says the threshold helps contextualize patient-reported improvements with the drug.
Abbott
Abbott launches whole-genome sequencing Oncodetect® molecular residual disease (MRD) test to detect traces of cancer during and after treatment
Abbott launched a next-generation Oncodetect molecular residual disease test built on whole-genome sequencing and MAESTRO technology, which it says tracks up to 5,000 patient-specific variants. Abbott says the test has a limit of detection below one part per million under high-end inputs, aimed at detecting traces of cancer during and after treatment.
Biohaven Ltd.
Biohaven Oral Presentation at ASN Kidney Week 2026 Spotlights BHV-1420, a Novel TRAP Degrader Designed to Selectively Remove the Autoantibodies that Drive Membranous Nephropathy
Biohaven gave an oral presentation at ASN Kidney Week 2026 on BHV-1420, an investigational TRAP extracellular protein degrader designed to selectively remove autoantibodies that drive membranous nephropathy. It is the company's second TRAP degrader for kidney disease, which Biohaven says expands its Yale-licensed platform into a nephrology franchise.
Climb Bio, Inc.
Climb Bio Presents Initial PrisMN Phase 2 Data from Budoprutug in pMN at an Oral Session at ASN Kidney Week 2026
Climb Bio presented initial data from its Phase 2 PrisMN dose-escalation trial of the anti-CD19 antibody budoprutug in treatment-experienced patients with moderate to severe primary membranous nephropathy, reporting B-cell depletion, reduced PLA2R antibody levels and immunologic remission at Week 12 in the 200 mg cohort. The company says early 600 mg data suggest greater drug exposure and deeper B-cell depletion, and that the drug has been generally well tolerated to date.
Aurora Cannabis Inc.
Aurora Cannabis Announces the Alberta Securities Commission has dismissed Curaleaf's Application and ruled in favour of the Company's At-the-Market Program
Aurora Cannabis said the Alberta Securities Commission dismissed Curaleaf's application concerning Aurora's at-the-market program. Aurora says the ruling confirms the ATM program complies with securities laws.
Oruka Therapeutics, Inc.
Oruka Therapeutics Announces Positive Week 16 Results for ORKA-001 from the Ongoing EVERLAST-B Trial in Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis
Oruka Therapeutics reported positive Week 16 results from its EVERLAST-B Phase 2b trial of ORKA-001, a half-life extended IL-23p19 monoclonal antibody, in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, citing results consistent with EVERLAST-A. The company says it will engage regulators and plans to start Phase 3 trials in the first half of next year, with potential dosing once to twice per year.
Azitra, Inc.
Azitra, Inc. Announces Revitalizing Results from Ex Vivo Study of ATR-COSF Demonstrating Ability to Reduce Fine Lines and Improve Elasticity in Human Skin
Azitra reported ex vivo results for ATR-COSF, a supernatant-based formulation containing an active recombinant human domain of filaggrin. The company says two models using cosmetic surgery skin explants showed visible improvements in fine lines, wrinkles and elasticity after a single dose.
Citius Oncology, Inc.
Citius Oncology Reports Continued Institutional Demand and 120% Growth in Shipments of LYMPHIR® Units to U.S. Wholesalers During the Fiscal Fourth Quarter of 2026
Citius Oncology, a majority-owned subsidiary of Citius Pharmaceuticals, reported 120% growth in shipments of LYMPHIR units to U.S. wholesalers during its fiscal fourth quarter of 2026. The company attributes the figure to continued institutional demand, an early indicator of the product's commercial uptake.
This roundup is written with AI assistance from the press releases listed above, using only what they state. The releases are the companies' own announcements, not Times Beats reporting.