CASI Pharmaceuticals Announces Approval of Clinical Trial Application by China NMPA for Phase 1 / 2 Study of CID-103 for Renal Allograft Antibody-Mediated Rejection (AMR)
Rhea-AI Summary
CASI Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:CASI) announced on January 15, 2026 that China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved a Clinical Trial Application to run a Phase 1/2 study of CID-103 in adults with chronic active renal allograft antibody-mediated rejection (AMR).
CID-103 is described as a potentially best-in-class anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody that binds a unique CD38 epitope. The Phase 1/2 trial is a dose-ranging safety study to evaluate tolerability and efficacy in renal allograft AMR. CASI also holds a prior U.S. Phase 1 IND for CID-103 in AMR.
The company framed the approvals as milestones toward developing an approved therapy for a condition with no approved treatments and high risk of transplant loss.
Positive
- NMPA CTA approved for Phase 1/2 CID-103
- U.S. Phase 1 IND already in place for CID-103
- CID-103 targets a unique CD38 epitope
Negative
- Program remains early-stage with no clinical efficacy data yet
- Phase 1/2 focus is safety/tolerability, not approval-readiness
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, CASI gained 1.96%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +20.4% during that session. Argus tracked a trough of -12.0% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 7 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $411K to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $21M at that time. Trading volume was exceptionally heavy at 6.5x the daily average, suggesting very strong buying interest.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
CASI was down 1.92% pre-announcement while only one peer (KLTO) appeared in momentum scans, moving up, and broader peer moves were mixed, pointing to stock-specific dynamics.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 12 | Clinical update & M&A | Positive | -1.8% | Strong CID-103 ITP data and preliminary premium acquisition proposal. |
| Dec 23 | Nasdaq extension | Positive | -5.9% | Nasdaq grants extension to regain MVLS compliance and avoid suspension. |
| Dec 11 | Convertible financing | Neutral | +10.8% | Up to $20M convertible notes to fund AMR study and CID-103 formulation. |
| Dec 08 | ASH trial data | Positive | -3.1% | Positive Phase 1 ITP results for CID-103 presented at ASH meeting. |
| Nov 19 | Board change | Neutral | -0.8% | James Huang appointed Non-Executive Chairman; Wei-Wu He steps down as Executive Chair. |
Positive CID-103 and listing-related news often coincided with flat-to-negative next-day moves, while financing and governance updates saw more balanced reactions.
Over the last few months, CASI focused on advancing CID-103 and stabilizing its listing. A Nov 19, 2025 governance change installed James Huang as Non-Executive Chairman. December brought positive CID-103 Phase 1 ITP data at ASH, followed by up to $20 million in convertible note financing to fund AMR work in China. On Dec 23, 2025, Nasdaq granted a listing extension to Feb 17, 2026. On Jan 12, 2026, CASI reported strong additional Phase 1 ITP data and a preliminary buyout proposal.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement adds an NMPA-approved Phase 1/2 trial in renal allograft AMR to CID-103’s U.S. Phase 1 program, extending CASI’s reach into transplant rejection. Recent history shows active clinical development, new financing and ongoing Nasdaq compliance efforts. Investors evaluating this news may focus on future efficacy and safety readouts, regulatory interactions in both the U.S. and China, and how trial execution interacts with the company’s capital structure and listing milestones.
Key Terms
antibody-mediated rejection medical
monoclonal antibody medical
clinical trial application regulatory
nmpa regulatory
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
CID-103 is a potential best-in-class, anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody; binds to unique CD38 epitope
AMR is a leading cause of kidney transplant loss with no approved treatments
U.S. IND previously approved by FDA for Phase 1 AMR study
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / January 15, 2026 / CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASI), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing CID-103, a potentially best-in-class, anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, for patients with organ transplant rejection and autoimmune diseases, today announced that China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved a Clinical Trial Application (CTA) to conduct a Phase 1 /2 clinical trial for CID-103 in adults with chronic active renal allograft antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). The Phase 1 / 2 clinical trial is a dose-ranging and safety study evaluating the tolerability and efficacy of CID-103 in patients with renal allograft AMR.
"Antibody-mediated rejection remains a significant challenge for patients following kidney transplantation, with no approved therapies and limited treatment options available, leading to significant complications and ultimately requiring patients return to dialysis in the event of kidney transplant failure," said Junping Chen, MD, PhD, China Chief Medical Officer of CASI. "Safe and effective therapeutic treatment options are urgently needed for patients with resistant AMR."
"We now have regulatory approvals for a Chinese Phase 1 / 2 CTA and a U.S. Phase 1 IND in adults with chronic active renal allograft AMR," said David Cory, CEO of CASI. "These approvals are significant milestones in our mission at CASI toward developing an approved therapy for patients with renal allograft AMR. We look forward to providing guidance in the future regarding next steps in the CID-103 development program."
About CASI Pharmaceuticals
CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a public biopharmaceutical company developing CID-103, an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody for organ transplant rejection and autoimmune diseases.
CID-103 is a fully human IgG1, potentially best-in-class, clinical stage, anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody which targets a unique epitope and has demonstrated an encouraging pre-clinical efficacy and clinical safety profile compared to other anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies, and for which CASI owns exclusive global rights. CASI has received regulatory approvals of a Chinese Phase 1 / 2 CTA and a U.S. Phase 1 IND in adults with chronic active renal allograft antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). In parallel, CASI is actively recruiting and dosing patients in an ongoing Phase 1 study in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). In addition, CASI is assessing multiple technologies for development of a stable, high concentration protein solution for subcutaneous formulation.
More information on CASI is available at www.casipharmaceuticals.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as the Company's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the possibility that we may be delisted from trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market if we fail to regain compliance during the compliance period; uncertainties related to the Proposal; uncertainties related to the possibility that the transaction for the divestiture of certain assets in China (the "Transaction") will not occur as planned if events arise that result in the termination of the Equity and Assets Transfer Agreement, or if one or more of the various closing conditions to the Transaction are not satisfied or waived; the possibility that our plan with respect to our business operations after the consummation of the Transaction can be implemented successfully; our recurring operating losses have raised substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern; the volatility in the market price of our ordinary shares; the risk of substantial dilution of existing shareholders in future share issuances; the difficulty of executing our business strategy on a global basis including China; our inability to enter into strategic partnerships for the development, commercialization, manufacturing and distribution of our proposed product candidates or future candidates; legal or regulatory developments in China that adversely affect our ability to operate in China; our lack of experience in manufacturing products and uncertainty about our resources and capabilities to do so on a clinical or commercial scale; risks relating to the commercialization, if any, of our products and proposed products (such as marketing, safety, regulatory, patent, product liability, supply, competition and other risks); our inability to predict when or if our product candidates will be approved for marketing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, European Medicines Agency, PRC National Medical Products Administration, or other regulatory authorities; our inability to receive approval for renewal of license of our existing products; the risks relating to the need for additional capital and the uncertainty of securing additional funding on favorable terms; the risks associated with our product candidates, and the risks associated with our other early-stage products under development; the risk that result in preclinical and clinical models are not necessarily indicative of clinical results; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical trials, including delays to the commencement of such trials; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights; the lack of success in the clinical development of any of our products; and our dependence on third parties; the risks related to our dependence on Juventas to conduct the clinical development of CNCT19 and to partner with us to co-market CNCT19; risks related to our dependence on Juventas to ensure the patent protection and prosecution for CNCT19; the risk related to the Company's ongoing development of and regulatory application for CID-103 with respect to the treatment of antibody-mediated rejection for organ transplant and the license arrangements of CID-103; risks relating to interests of our largest shareholder and our Chairman that differ from our other shareholders; risks related to the development of a new manufacturing facility by CASI Pharmaceuticals (Wuxi) Co., Ltd.; and risks related to our disagreement with Acrotech with respect to the termination of agreements regarding EVOMELA®. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the SEC. All information provided herein is as of the date of this announcement, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained herein.
EVOMELA® is proprietary to Acrotech Biopharma Inc. and its affiliates. FOLOTYN®is proprietary to Acrotech Biopharma Inc and its affiliates. The Company is currently involved in disputes and legal proceedings related to certain pipeline products, including EVOMELA® and CNCT-19. Please refer to the Company's earlier SEC filing for further information.
COMPANY CONTACT:
Ingrid Choong, PhD
650-619-6115
ingridc@casipharmaceuticals.com
SOURCE: CASI Pharmaceuticals
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
FAQ
What did CASI (NASDAQ:CASI) announce on January 15, 2026 about CID-103?
What is the design of the CID-103 Phase 1/2 trial approved by NMPA?
Has CID-103 received any regulatory clearance in the U.S. for AMR studies?
What makes CID-103 distinct as a therapy for transplant rejection?
What are the near-term implications for CASI shareholders from the NMPA CTA approval?
