Core Viewpoint - Zura Bio Limited has appointed Dr. Sandeep Kulkarni as the new CEO, effective January 21, 2026, succeeding Kim Davis, who served as Interim CEO since October 2025 [1][2][3] Leadership Transition - Dr. Kulkarni will also continue his role as a Director of Zura, while Kim Davis will retain her positions as Chief Operating Officer, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary [2] - Robert Lisicki, the previous CEO, is resigning effective January 21, 2026, after taking a medical leave of absence [2] Dr. Kulkarni's Background - Dr. Kulkarni has over two decades of experience in biotechnology, investment, entrepreneurship, and medicine, previously serving as co-founder and CEO of Tourmaline Bio [3][5] - His leadership at Tourmaline Bio included guiding the company through its acquisition by Novartis, which was completed in October 2025 [3] Company Strategy and Pipeline - Zura is entering a critical period with two potentially transformative readouts expected over the next 18 months [3] - The lead program, tibulizumab, is a bispecific antibody targeting IL-17 and BAFF pathways, validated in multiple autoimmune diseases, and is among the most advanced in development for such conditions [4][7] - Zura's pipeline includes additional candidates like crebankitug and torudokimab, which have completed Phase 1/1b studies and are being evaluated for various autoimmune and inflammatory conditions [7]

Core Viewpoint - Boehringer Ingelheim and Cue Biopharma have entered into a strategic research collaboration and license agreement to develop Cue Biopharma's CUE-501, a differentiated B cell depletion therapy aimed at treating autoimmune diseases [1][3]. Company Overview - Boehringer Ingelheim is a biopharmaceutical company focused on human and animal health, emphasizing innovative therapies for high unmet medical needs, with over 53,500 employees serving in more than 130 markets [5]. - Cue Biopharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a novel class of injectable biologics designed to selectively engage and modulate disease-specific T cells [6][7]. Collaboration Details - The collaboration aims to leverage Cue Biopharma's proprietary T-cell engager platform to enhance the development of CUE-501, potentially providing a more effective treatment option for patients with autoimmune diseases [3][4]. - Cue Biopharma will receive an upfront payment of $12 million, along with research support payments, and could earn up to approximately $345 million in milestone-based payments and royalties on net sales [4]. Product Candidate - CUE-501 is designed to bind to a B cell specific membrane protein while selectively engaging virus-specific memory killer T cells, allowing for targeted depletion of B cells and reduction of autoimmune and inflammatory processes [2][6]. - The candidate has the potential to provide improved benefits and safety compared to existing therapies targeting B cells, aiming to reach patients earlier in their treatment journey [2][6].