CSTONE PHARMA-B (02616.HK): Kimia Clinical Development Pact for DDR Asset

NewTimeSpace News: On 4 November 2026, CStone Pharmaceuticals (stock code: 02616) announced on a voluntary basis that it has entered into a clinical collaboration agreement with Kimia Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapeutics for oncology and immunology, to advance the clinical development of a potential first-in-class asset targeting the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway critical for solid tumour cell survival. CStone will lead clinical development in mainland China and Australia.

Under the collaboration, CStone will apply its full-spectrum oncology clinical development and regulatory capabilities to lead Phase I development in mainland China and Australia, while Kimia will contribute clinical supply of the asset, scientific guidance, product-related regulatory oversight and other agreed development support. The planned Phase I study comprises dose-escalation and expansion parts to evaluate the asset in biomarker-selected patients as an initial proof of concept, defining safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and early anti-tumour activity. Kimia will reimburse CStone for the applicable clinical development costs, and CStone is eligible to receive milestone payments during the applicable royalty term plus royalties on the asset's global net sales.

CStone said the collaboration underscores international recognition of its clinical development and regulatory expertise and fits its strategy of disciplined external innovation and global expansion, and establishes a scalable framework that may be extended to other programmes with Kimia and other TCG portfolio companies. CStone has four approved innovative drugs and 21 new drug application approvals across nine indications, with 13 innovative candidates in its pipeline. Kimia, based in Berkeley, California, uses its proprietary ATLAS platform for AI-enabled small-molecule discovery and is a portfolio company of The Column Group. No transaction value was disclosed, and the Company included the Rule 18A.05 warning that it may not successfully develop and commercialise the asset.