June 24, 2026 —Laekna, Inc. (2105.HK) today announced that the company has received the upfront payment from Vasque Bio in connection with the entry into an exclusive license agreement (the “License Agreement”) for LAE118 (an internally discovered Novel PI3KαPan-Mutant Selective Inhibitor) on 9 June, 2026, consisting of a cash payment of USD10 million and the right to acquire, for no additional consideration, up to high teen percentage of Vasque Bio’s outstanding common stock or cash payments in lieu of such common stock.
According to the License Agreement, Vasque Bio is granted an exclusive, worldwide license (excluding Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan) (the “Licensed Territory”) to develop, manufacture, commercialize and otherwise exploit LAE118.
In return, on top of the upfront payment received, Laekna is also eligible to receive development and sales milestone payments up to USD517 million in total, as well as tiered royalty payments ranging from single-digit to double-digit percentages on future net sales of LAE118 in the Licensed Territory. In the event of a qualifying strategic partnering or acquisition transaction meeting certain conditions pertaining to the use of LAE118 entered by Vasque Bio, Laekna shall be entitled to receive additional payments of up to 50% of such strategic transaction value.
About LAE118
LAE118 is an internally discovered novel PI3Kα pan-mutant selective inhibitor. Laekna has obtained Investigational New Drug approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) and the Centre for Drug Evaluation of the National Medical Products Administration of China (the “CDE”) for LAE118 and is actively advancing this drug candidate to clinical studies as novel therapies for PIK3CA-mutant solid tumors.
About Vasque Bio
Vasque Bio, Inc. is a U.S.-based, clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to the development of therapeutics to transform the standard of care for people living with serious, life-altering rare diseases. Vasque Bio is supported by a renowned consortium of top-tier life science investors, including The Column Group (“TCG”) and F-Prime.
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Contact Us
Corporate and Business Development BD@laekna.com
About Laekna
HKEK Stock Code: 2105.HK
Patient needs in major disease areas—such as metabolic diseases, oncology, and liver fibrosis—remain the driving force behind our mission. Laekna, a science-driven biotechnology company, is committed to bringing novel therapeutics to patients around the world.
Leveraging our tremendous experience and extensive know-how in disease biology, we have built a pipeline of over 20 internally discovered innovative drug candidates with proprietary intellectual property rights. We keep expanding our global reach through strategic partnerships, fostering collaborative success across regions.
In oncology, we have completed subject enrollment for the Phase III clinical trial of LAE002 (afuresertib, an AKT inhibitor) for breast cancer (AFFIRM-205). We plan to submit NDA to the CDE in 2026, which will mark Laekna’s pivotal transition from clinical development to commercialization. Laekna has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Qilu Pharma to further accelerate the delivery of this novel therapeutic to patients across China.
In metabolic diseases, building on our deep expertise and extensive knowhow in the ActRII pathway, we have established a globally competitive, differentiated portfolio comprising LAE102, LAE103, and LAE123. We are rapidly advancing the clinical development of LAE102 in both China and the United States. In the U.S., Laekna has successfully completed the Phase I SAD study, in collaboration with Eli Lilly, to accelerate the global development of this high-quality weight management therapy.
From our laboratory in Zhangjiang Pharma Valley in Shanghai, to clinical trials conducted across China, the U.S., and Australia, our footprint spans the globe. Looking ahead, Laekna will continue to collaborate with international partners to accelerate delivery of novel therapeutics to patients worldwide.
For more information, please visit: https://www.laekna.com/ or https://www.linkedin.com/company/74110713/
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain certain “forward-looking statements” which are not historical facts, but instead are predictions about future events based on Laekna’s current beliefs, assumptions and expectations, commonly identified by words such as "would", "may", "expects", "believes", "plans", "intends", "projects" and other terms with similar meaning. Although we believe that our predictions are reasonable, future events are inherently uncertain and our actual future results or performance may be materially different from what we expect. Accordingly, you are strongly cautioned that reliance on any forward-looking statements is subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements contained herein are qualified by reference to the cautionary statements set forth in this section. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release and are based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable as of this date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.



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