BioLineRx and Hemispherian to showcase preclinical data for first-in-class glioblastoma asset at ASCO 2026

BioLineRx (NASDAQ:BLRX) and Hemispherian announced that two abstracts featuring their experimental oncology compound, GLIX1, will be published at the upcoming American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2026 Annual Meeting.

The datasets highlight the mechanism of action, blood-brain barrier penetration, and therapeutic combinations for GLIX1, a first-in-class, orally administered small molecule designed to restore the activity of the ten-eleven translocation 2 (TET2) enzyme.

TET2 acts as a critical tumor suppressor that is frequently suppressed in aggressive malignancies, and its restoration selectively drives lethal DNA strand breaks within tumor cells while sparing healthy tissue.

The first abstract will outline preclinical evaluations of GLIX1 as a monotherapy.

In multiple orthotopic in vivo glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) models, including temozolomide-resistant patient-derived xenografts, the compound demonstrated potent anti-tumor activity and robust brain penetration.

Toxicology evaluations also indicated a favorable safety profile in animal models.

The second abstract focuses on combination strategies, detailing synergistic cytotoxicity when GLIX1 is paired with multiple poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors.

The data suggest that combining GLIX1's DNA-damaging properties with the repair-blocking mechanisms of PARP inhibitors could expand the drug's therapeutic utility beyond central nervous system tumors into broader solid tumor indications.

The preclinical disclosures coincide with early clinical development.

The companies recently initiated a first-in-human, open-label Phase 1/2a multicenter clinical trial (NCT07464925) evaluating GLIX1 in adults with recurrent or progressive high-grade gliomas.

The dose-escalation phase of the study is designed to enroll up to 30 patients to establish safety, pharmacokinetics, and the maximum tolerated dose, with initial clinical insights anticipated in the first half of 2027.