BEIJING, March 15, 2026 — InnoCare Pharma (HKEX: 09969; SSE: 688428), a leading biopharmaceutical firm specializing in cancer and autoimmune disease treatments, announced today that the first healthy participant has been dosed in the clinical trial of ICP-538, a VAV1-targeted molecular glue degrader (MGD), in China. This is the first VAV1 degrader approved to enter clinical trials in China and the second globally.
ICP-538 is an innovative, potent, highly selective oral molecular glue degrader targeting VAV1—a key protein downstream of T-cell and B-cell receptors. It induces rapid and efficient VAV1 protein degradation in a dose-dependent way by selectively mediating the formation of a ternary complex between the CRBN E3 ubiquitin ligase and VAV1. ICP-538 will be developed to treat autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, and multiple sclerosis. Currently, there are no globally approved VAV1-targeted therapies.
VAV1 degradation effectively inhibits T-cell proliferation, differentiation, activation, and cytokine release, as well as B-cell activation and cytokine secretion. This exerts anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, alleviating autoimmune and inflammatory pathological processes. Preclinical studies show that ICP-538 triggers deep VAV1 degradation, leading to a significant reduction in cytokines linked to immune-mediated diseases, with no detectable impact on other proteins.
Dr. Jasmine Cui, Co-founder, Chairwoman, and CEO of InnoCare, said: “We are committed to developing innovative drugs for autoimmune diseases. As a novel therapy, the VAV1 molecular glue degrader offers three key advantages: high target selectivity, multiple mechanisms of action, and strong efficacy. We are pleased to see rapid progress in clinical development and believe ICP-538 will become a better treatment option for patients with autoimmune diseases.”
About InnoCare
InnoCare is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, and commercializing first-in-class and/or best-in-class drugs for cancers and autoimmune diseases with unmet medical needs in China and globally. It has branches in Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and the United States.
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