BioLineRx and Hemispherian Form Joint Venture to Advance Promising Glioblastoma Candidate

Israeli pharmaceutical company BioLineRx has announced a strategic partnership with Norwegian biotech firm Hemispherian to develop GLIX1, a novel small molecule candidate for the treatment of glioblastoma (GBM). The collaboration, revealed on September 29, 2025, marks a significant step forward in the pursuit of new therapies for this aggressive form of brain cancer.

Joint Venture Structure and Asset Development

Under the terms of the agreement, BioLineRx will take the lead in managing, funding, and executing all development activities for GLIX1. The Israeli company will initially hold a 40% stake in the joint venture, with provisions to increase its ownership to 70% as it invests further in the program. Hemispherian, meanwhile, retains global rights to the asset.

BioLineRx CEO Philip Serlin expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "Following a comprehensive review of pipeline expansion opportunities in oncology and rare diseases, we are thrilled to have identified a highly innovative asset such as GLIX1, with the potential to become an effective and safe treatment option for cancer patients with high unmet needs."

GLIX1: A Promising Candidate for Brain Cancer Treatment

GLIX1 has already achieved several important milestones in its development journey. The candidate received investigational new drug (IND) approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in August 2025. Additionally, it has secured orphan drug designations from both the FDA and the European Medicines Agency, highlighting its potential in addressing the critical need for improved GBM treatments.

Hemispherian CEO Zeno Albisser provided insights into GLIX1's mechanism of action, describing it as "a small molecule that crosses the blood-brain-barrier, has a novel mechanism of action targeting a DNA repair mechanism in cancer cells and has demonstrated impressive efficacy and a favorable safety profile in preclinical models."

Upcoming Clinical Trials and Future Directions

The joint venture is set to launch a phase 1/2a trial for GLIX1 in glioblastoma patients during the first quarter of 2026. This study will be conducted at the prestigious Malnati Brain Tumor Institute of the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern University.

The trial's design includes a phase 1 portion enrolling approximately 30 patients to assess safety and determine optimal dosing. The subsequent phase 2a expansion will investigate GLIX1 in three distinct cohorts:

1. Recurrent GBM
2. Newly diagnosed GBM in combination with standard of care
3. Combination therapy with PARP inhibitors for other solid tumors

BioLineRx and Hemispherian anticipate preliminary phase 1 data to be available in the first half of 2027. Beyond glioblastoma, the partners plan to explore GLIX1's potential in treating other solid tumors, broadening the candidate's therapeutic scope.

The collaboration also grants BioLineRx first-look rights to other assets in Hemispherian's pipeline, which currently includes three additional preclinical candidates. This aspect of the agreement positions BioLineRx for potential future expansion of its oncology portfolio.