Curis Announces Eleven Active Clinical Sites in TakeAim CLL Study, Reaffirms Patient Dosing Guidance, and Reports Stockholder Approval of Reverse Stock Split
Eleven sites open for patient enrollment in TakeAim CLL combination study with zanubrutinib; Company reaffirms guidance for dosing of initial five patients by end of July 2026 with data expected December 2026; Stockholders approve reverse stock split
LEXINGTON, Mass., June 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Curis, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRIS), a biotechnology company focused on the development of emavusertib (CA-4948), an orally available, small molecule IRAK4 and FLT3 inhibitor, today announced that eleven clinical sites have been initiated and are now open for patient enrollment in its Phase 2 TakeAim CLL study evaluating emavusertib in combination with zanubrutinib in patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. The Company also reaffirmed its guidance for the dosing of the initial five patients in the TakeAim CLL study by the end of July 2026, with data expected in December 2026. In addition, the Company reported that its stockholders approved a reverse stock split proposal at the special meeting of stockholders held on June 25, 2026.
TakeAim CLL Update
Eleven clinical sites are now open for enrollment in the TakeAim CLL study, reflecting strong investigator interest in the combination of emavusertib and zanubrutinib as a strategy to enable dual blockade of NF-kB, a key driver of CLL disease. The Company reaffirmed its expectations to announce the dosing of the initial five patients in the TakeAim CLL combination study with zanubrutinib by the end of July 2026, with data expected in December 2026.
"We are pleased with both our operational progress in the CLL study and the strong support from our shareholders as we work to regain compliance with the NASDAQ bid price listing requirement," said James Dentzer, President and CEO of Curis, "and we look forward to building on those successes in the weeks and months to come."
Special Meeting Vote Results
At the Company's special meeting of stockholders held on June 25, 2026, stockholders approved a proposal to amend the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding shares of common stock at a ratio ranging from 1-for-5 to 1-for-25, in furtherance of the Company's regaining compliance with Nasdaq's $1.00 bid price rule, with the final ratio to be determined at the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors. The Company intends to announce the specific ratio and effective date in advance of the reverse stock split becoming effective. Curis's shares of common stock will continue to trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol "CRIS."
Additional information regarding the reverse stock split proposal can be found in the Company's definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 5, 2026, available at www.sec.gov and www.curis.com.
About the TakeAim CLL Study
The TakeAim CLL is an open label phase 2 study of emavusertib in combination with zanabrutinib in patients with CLL (CA-4948-203, NCT07271667). Participants in the study must be in a partial response (PR) or partial response with lymphocytosis (PR-L), measurable residual disease positive (MRD+) as determined by the ClonoSEQ assay and actively taking zanubrutinib for at least 12 months.
About Curis, Inc.
Curis is a biotechnology company focused on the development of emavusertib, an orally available, small molecule IRAK4 and FLT3 inhibitor. Emavusertib is currently being evaluated in the TakeAim Lymphoma Phase 1/2 study (CA-4948-101) of emavusertib in combination with the BTK inhibitor, ibrutinib, in patients with relapsed/refractory primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) and in the TakeAim CLL Phase 2 study (CA-4948-203) of emavusertib in combination with the BTK inhibitor, zanubrutinib, in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The Company's monotherapy and combination studies in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are substantially complete, with additional funding the Company plans to continue development of emavusertib in AML. Emavusertib has received Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of PCNSL, AML and MDS and from the European Commission for the treatment of PCNSL. Curis, through its 2015 collaboration with Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited, has the exclusive license to emavusertib (CA-4948). For more information, visit Curis's website at www.curis.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, statements concerning Curis's expectations with respect to regaining compliance with Nasdaq's bid price rule, the dosing of the first five patients in the TakeAim CLL study and the timing of initial data from such study. Forward-looking statements may contain the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "intends," "seeks," "estimates," "assumes," "predicts," "projects," "targets," "will," "may," "would," "could," "should," "likelihood", "continue," "potential," "opportunity," "focus," "strategy," "mission," or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. Curis may experience adverse results, delays and/or failures in its drug development programs and may not be able to successfully advance the development of its drug candidates in the time frames it projects, if at all. Curis's drug candidates may cause unexpected toxicities, fail to demonstrate sufficient safety and efficacy in clinical studies and/or may never achieve the requisite regulatory approvals needed for commercialization. Favorable results seen in preclinical studies and early clinical trials of Curis's drug candidates may not be replicated in later trials. Curis is dependent on the success of emavusertib and any delays in the development of emavusertib could have a material adverse effect on its business. There can be no guarantee that the collaboration agreement with Aurigene or the CRADA with NCI will continue for their full terms, that Curis or its collaborators will each maintain the financial and other resources necessary to continue financing its portion of the research, development and commercialization costs, or that the parties will successfully discover, develop or commercialize drug candidates under the collaboration. Curis will require substantial additional capital to fund its business. Based on its available cash resources, it does not have sufficient cash on hand to support current operations within the next 12 months from the date of this press release. Curis will require substantial additional funding to fund the development of emavusertib through regulatory approval and commercialization, and to support its continued operations. If it is not able to obtain sufficient funding, it will be forced to delay, reduce in scope or eliminate the development of emavusertib, including related clinical trials and operating expenses, potentially delaying the time to market for, or preventing the marketing of, emavusertib, which could adversely affect its business prospects and its ability to continue operations, and would have a negative impact on its financial condition and its ability to pursue its business strategies. Curis faces substantial competition. Curis and its collaborators face the risk of potential adverse decisions made by the FDA, EMA and other regulatory authorities, investigational review boards, and publication review bodies. Curis may not obtain or maintain necessary patent protection and could become involved in expensive and time-consuming patent litigation and interference proceedings. Unstable market and economic conditions, natural disasters, public health crises, political crises and other events outside of Curis's control, including its ability to regain and maintain its listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, could significantly disrupt its operations or the operations of third parties on which Curis depends and could adversely impact Curis's operating results and its ability to raise capital. Other important factors that may cause or contribute to actual results being materially different from those indicated by forward-looking statements include the factors set forth under the captions "Risk Factor Summary" and "Risk Factors" in our most recent Form 10-K, and the factors that are discussed in other filings that Curis periodically makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent the views of Curis only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing Curis's views as of any subsequent date. Curis disclaims any intention or obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
SOURCE Curis, Inc.