Zura Bio Limited 9NASDAQ:ZURA) announced it is expanding the patient population for its mid-stage trial of tibulizumab in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a move intended to bolster the study’s statistical power as the company prepares for a critical data readout later this year.
The Henderson, Nevada-based biotechnology firm is increasing enrollment in its Phase 2 TibuSHIELD study to 225 participants, up from the previously planned 180, after recruitment outpaced initial projections.
Consequently, the company now expects to report topline data in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Zura also adjusted the timeline for its Phase 2 study in systemic sclerosis (SSc), with results now anticipated in the first half of 2027.
“We believe tibulizumab could be a paradigm shift in addressing the unmet needs of patients suffering from complex and debilitating immune disorders,” said Interim CEO Kim Davis, who took the helm in late 2025.
The drug is a first-in-class bispecific antibody designed to simultaneously neutralize the IL-17 and BAFF pathways—two biological drivers of inflammation that have historically been targeted individually by blockbuster drugs like Taltz and Benlysta.
Zura enters 2026 with a strengthened balance sheet, guiding that its current cash reserves are sufficient to fund operations through 2027.
This runway ensures the company can reach its primary clinical milestones in both HS and SSc without the immediate need for dilutive financing.