Evogene and Shanghai Lishan Biopharmaceuticals Co. Announce Exclusive Licensing Agreement for BMC128, a Microbiome-Based Therapeutic for Renal and Lung Cancer

Rhea-AI Summary

Evogene (NASDAQ: EVGN) subsidiary Biomica granted Shanghai Lishan Biopharmaceuticals an exclusive worldwide license to BMC128 (LS-LBP-002), a live four-strain microbiome-based therapeutic showing early Phase 1 clinical promise in renal cell carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer.

BMC128 displayed an excellent safety profile and early signs of efficacy, including disease stabilization in patients with prior progression. Under the deal, Lishan Biotech will lead global development, manufacturing, and commercialization; Biomica is eligible for development milestones and future royalties. Lishan plans Phase 2 studies and regulatory filings in China and the United States.

Positive

• Exclusive worldwide licensing agreement transfers global development and commercialization to Lishan Biotech
• Biomica eligible for development milestone payments and future royalties
• BMC128 completed Phase 1 with an excellent safety profile and early signs of efficacy

Negative

• BMC128 remains in early-stage development (Phase 1), so clinical benefit is not yet confirmed
• Deal discloses no upfront payment, milestone values, or royalty rates, limiting near-term financial visibility

News Market Reaction

+4.81% 456.0x vol

26 alerts

+4.81% News Effect

+20.2% Peak Tracked

-14.0% Trough Tracked

+$464K Valuation Impact

$10M Market Cap

456.0x Rel. Volume

On the day this news was published, EVGN gained 4.81%, reflecting a moderate positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +20.2% during that session. Argus tracked a trough of -14.0% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 26 alerts that day, indicating elevated trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $464K to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $10M at that time. Trading volume was exceptionally heavy at 456.0x the daily average, suggesting very strong buying interest.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Phase 1 status: Phase 1 clinical study Planned Phase 2: Phase 2 clinical study Bacterial strains: Four human gut bacterial strains +1 more

4 metrics

Phase 1 status Phase 1 clinical study BMC128 currently completing first-in-human trial

Planned Phase 2 Phase 2 clinical study Lishan Biotech plans next-stage trial for BMC128

Bacterial strains Four human gut bacterial strains Composition of BMC128 live biopharmaceutical consortium

Indications Renal cell and non-small cell lung cancer Current Phase 1 oncology indications for BMC128

Market Reality Check

Price: $1.08 Vol: Volume 36,402 is 1.29x th...

normal vol

$1.08 Last Close

Volume Volume 36,402 is 1.29x the 20-day average of 28,153 shares. normal

Technical Price 1.04 is trading below the 200-day MA at 1.21, reflecting a longer-term downtrend.

Peers on Argus

EVGN was up 1.96% pre-news while several biotech peers such as ERNA (-21.36%) an...

EVGN was up 1.96% pre-news while several biotech peers such as ERNA (-21.36%) and MBIO (-14.4%) traded lower, indicating stock-specific dynamics rather than a sector-wide move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 07 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 07	R&D collaboration	Positive	-0.9%	AI-driven small-molecule collaboration with Unravel for demyelinating disorders.
Dec 30	Management change	Positive	-3.2%	Appointment of new VP Business Development to scale partnerships and ChemPass AI.
Nov 11	Strategic partnership	Positive	+4.6%	Casterra–Fantini mechanization collaboration for scalable commercial castor farming.
Nov 06	Earnings schedule	Neutral	-1.7%	Announcement of date and call details for Q3 2025 financial results.
Aug 28	Conference appearance	Neutral	-1.3%	Participation in H.C. Wainwright conference to highlight ChemPass AI strategy.

Pattern Detected

Positive corporate and collaboration news has often seen muted or negative next-day moves, with only one of the recent positive items aligning with an upward reaction.

Recent Company History

Over the past six months, Evogene has focused on partnerships and visibility around its AI-driven platforms. Collaborations, such as the Unravel Biosciences deal on Jan 07, 2026, and agricultural partnerships like Casterra–Fantini on Nov 11, 2025, highlight diversified applications. However, several positive updates, including management changes and collaborations, were followed by flat-to-negative price reactions. Today’s licensing news for a microbiome-based oncology asset fits the pattern of strategic partnering across therapeutic areas.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights an exclusive global licensing agreement for BMC128, a microbiome-based ...

Analysis

This announcement highlights an exclusive global licensing agreement for BMC128, a microbiome-based oncology therapeutic completing a Phase 1 trial with encouraging safety and early efficacy signals. Lishan Biotech will lead global development and commercialization, while Biomica retains milestone and royalty potential. In context of Evogene’s collaboration-driven strategy, investors may track upcoming Phase 2 initiation, regulatory filings in China and the U.S., and further updates from its broader AI-enabled pipeline.

Key Terms

microbiome-based therapeutic, Phase 1 clinical study, Phase 2 clinical study, immunotherapy, +4 more

8 terms

microbiome-based therapeutic medical

"BMC128, a first-in-class microbiome-based therapeutic designed to enhance"

A microbiome-based therapeutic is a medicine that works by adding, removing or changing the community of tiny living organisms (bacteria, viruses and fungi) that live in or on the human body, often in the gut or on the skin. Investors care because these treatments represent a new way to address diseases by 'tuning' a biological ecosystem rather than targeting a single molecule, which can mean large market potential, novel regulatory paths and unique manufacturing risks and rewards.

Phase 1 clinical study medical

"BMC128 was developed by Biomica and is currently completing a Phase 1 clinical study"

A phase 1 clinical study is the first stage of testing a new drug or therapy in people to check safety, how the body handles the treatment, and appropriate dosing. Think of it as a cautious test drive with a small group to confirm the product won’t cause serious harm and to gather early clues about whether it might work; for investors, positive phase 1 results reduce risk, guide development timelines and costs, and make later-stage value more tangible.

Phase 2 clinical study medical

"Lishan Biotech plans to advance BMC128 into a Phase 2 clinical study"

A phase 2 clinical study is a mid-stage human test that checks whether a new drug or medical treatment works for the intended condition and further evaluates safety and dosing in a larger but still limited group of patients. For investors, phase 2 results are a key signal: positive findings make it more likely the treatment will progress toward larger, definitive trials and regulatory approval, while negative results can sharply reduce a drug’s commercial prospects, much like a prototype failing vital real-world tests.

immunotherapy medical

"capabilities that enhance responses to immunotherapy and stimulate anti-tumor immune"

Treatment that uses or enhances the body’s immune system to detect and fight disease, most often cancers or chronic infections; think of it as training or arming the body’s own soldiers to find and destroy targets. It matters to investors because successful immunotherapies can lead to high-value drug approvals, recurring revenue from long-term treatments, and changes in competitive dynamics, while failures or safety issues in clinical trials can materially affect company valuations.

renal cell carcinoma medical

"Phase 1 clinical study in renal cell carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer"

A type of kidney cancer that starts in the cells lining the small tubes inside the kidney; it grows as a tumor that can spread to other organs if untreated. Investors pay attention because outcomes from clinical trials, regulatory approvals, or new treatments can dramatically affect healthcare companies’ revenues and stock value—think of it as a critical part in a factory failing, where a successful fix or failure changes the business outlook.

non-small cell lung cancer medical

"Phase 1 clinical study in renal cell carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer"

A broad category of lung tumors that grow from the cells lining the airways and make up the majority of lung cancer cases; it includes several subtypes that behave and respond to treatment differently, like different models of the same car family. It matters to investors because its large patient population and variety of treatment options — surgery, traditional chemo, targeted drugs and immunotherapies — create major markets where clinical trial results, drug approvals or changing treatment guidelines can quickly affect a company’s revenue and stock value.

stable disease medical

"patients with previously progressive disease achieving stable disease during treatment"

Stable disease describes a situation in a clinical trial or treatment where a patient’s condition neither meaningfully improves nor worsens—tumors don’t shrink significantly but also don’t grow. For investors, this signal can matter because it shows a therapy may halt progression, which can support regulatory decisions, extend patient benefit and influence a drug’s commercial prospects; think of it as a stalled race where forward movement has paused but relapse hasn’t accelerated.

anti-tumor immune activity medical

"therapeutic designed to enhance anti-tumor immune activity"

Anti-tumor immune activity describes the ability of a patient’s immune system—or a medicine that boosts it—to recognize, attack and reduce cancer cells. Think of it like a security system that spots and removes intruders; stronger activity usually means a treatment is working. For investors, measurable immune activity can signal clinical benefit, improve odds of regulatory approval, and increase a therapy’s commercial value.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

BMC128 was developed by Biomica, Evogene's subsidiary, and is currently completing Phase 1 clinical study, showing promising early clinical results

REHOVOT, Israel and SHANGHAI, Feb. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Evogene Ltd. (Nasdaq: EVGN) (TASE: EVGN) ("Evogene"), a pioneering computational chemistry company specializing in generative design of small molecules for the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries, and Shanghai Lishan Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. ("Lishan Biotech"), a China-based clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on innovative therapies in the fields of immunity and inflammation, today announced that Biomica Ltd. ("Biomica"), Evogene's subsidiary and Lishan Biotech entered into an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement for BMC128 (designated as LS-LBP-002 by Lishan Biotech), a first-in-class microbiome-based therapeutic designed to enhance anti-tumor immune activity. BMC128 was developed by Biomica and is currently completing a Phase 1 clinical study, showing promising early clinical results.

 

 

 

BMC128 is a live biopharmaceutical consortium composed of four human gut bacterial strains with defined functional capabilities that enhance responses to immunotherapy and stimulate anti-tumor immune activity. BMC128 is currently completing a Phase 1 clinical study in renal cell carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer and has demonstrated encouraging early clinical promise. Results to date show an excellent safety and tolerability profile, together with early signs of efficacy, including a high proportion of patients with previously progressive disease achieving stable disease during treatment.

Under the agreement, Lishan Biotech will assume responsibility for global clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialization of BMC128. Biomica will be eligible to receive development milestone payments and royalties on future commercial sales, in accordance with an agreed-upon schedule.

Lishan Biotech plans to advance BMC128 into a Phase 2 clinical study and to pursue regulatory filings in both China and the United States for future commercialization.

Dr. Weijie Chen, Chairman of Lishan Biotech, stated: "This collaboration ensures that BMC128 continues to advance toward its next clinical milestones. We are impressed by the effects observed with BMC128 in lung and renal cancer patients who had experienced disease progression prior to treatment, and we look forward to advancing the program through further development and ultimately toward commercialization, for the benefit of cancer patients worldwide."

Ofer Haviv, CEO of Evogene and Biomica, commented: "We are pleased to partner with Lishan Biotech as BMC128 enters its next phase of development. Lishan Biotech's strong development capabilities and commitment to innovative microbiome-based therapeutics position this program for meaningful value creation in difficult-to-treat cancers. As a major shareholder of Biomica, Evogene expects to benefit from BMC128's future success."

Dr. Jing Bao, MD, a Director (Board Member) of Biomica Ltd with a PhD from the Weizmann Institute of Science, stated: "We are very pleased to see the execution of this meaningful and impactful collaboration agreement. This partnership brings together China's clinical development capabilities with Israel's innovation in microbiome science. We believe the success of this project will benefit patients worldwide and contribute to important breakthroughs in microbiome-based therapeutics."

About Evogene Ltd.: 

Evogene Ltd. (Nasdaq/TASE: EVGN) is a pioneering company in computational chemistry, specializing in the generative design of small molecules for the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries.

At the core of its technology is ChemPass AI^TM, a proprietary generative AI engine that enables the design of novel, highly potent small molecules optimized across multiple critical parameters. This powerful platform significantly improves success rates while reducing development time and costs.

Built on this powerful technological foundation, and through strategic partnerships alongside internal product development, Evogene is focused on creating breakthrough products for the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries, driven by the integration of scientific innovation with real-world industry needs.

For more information, please visit www.evogene.com. 

About Lishan Biotech:

Lishan Biotech is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to the research and development of innovative therapies. Its globally unique Swarming technology enables it to break through the century-old challenge of gut microbial colonization. It has built a "Golden Triangle" system comprising " Stable Strain Colonization + Microbiome Mimicry + Precise Clinical Enrollment". The company is focused on development of microbiome-based innovative therapies for complex chronic diseases, including inflammation, oncology, and neurological disorders. By targeting world-leading drug targets and mechanisms of action, Lishan Biotech aims to address high-value unmet medical needs with first-in-class or best-in-class therapies, delivering safe and reliable pharmaceutical products to patients worldwide.

For more information, please visit https://www.lishan.ltd. 

Forward-Looking Statements:  

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" relating to future events. These statements may be identified by words such as "will", "may", "could", "expects", "intends", "anticipates", "plans", "believes", "scheduled", "estimates", "demonstrates", or words of similar meaning. For example, Evogene and Biomica are using forward-looking statements in this press release when they discuss Lishan Biotech's success of advancing BMC128 into a Phase 2 clinical study and filling for regulatory approval towards future commercialization, Biomica's receipt of development milestone payments and royalties on future commercial sales and potential value creation, and the safety and potential efficacy of BMC128 and its potential benefits for patients with renal cell carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions, describe opinions about future events, and involve certain risks and uncertainties which are difficult to predict and are not guarantees of future performance. Therefore, actual future results, performance or achievements of Evogene and its subsidiaries may differ materially from what is expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, many of which are beyond the control of Evogene and its subsidiaries, including, without limitation, the aftermath of the recent war between Israel and each of (i) the terrorist groups, Hamas and Hezbollah, (ii) Iran, and (iii) other regional terrorist groups supported by Iran, and any potential destabilizations in Israel, neighboring territories or the Middle East region, as well as those additional risk factors identified in Evogene's reports filed with applicable securities authorities. Evogene and its subsidiaries disclaim any obligation or commitment to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments or changes in expectations, estimates, projections, and assumptions.

Contact
ir@evogene.com
Tel: +972-8-9311901

lishan@lishan.ltd
Tel: +86-021-68888088

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2876780/5751817/Lishan_Biotech_Logo.jpg
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1947468/Evogene_Logo.jpg

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/evogene-and-shanghai-lishan-biopharmaceuticals-co-announce-exclusive-licensing-agreement-for-bmc128-a-microbiome-based-therapeutic-for-renal-and-lung-cancer-302678749.html

SOURCE Evogene; Shanghai Lishan Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.

FAQ

What did Evogene (EVGN) announce about BMC128 on February 4, 2026?

Evogene's subsidiary Biomica licensed BMC128 exclusively to Lishan Biotech for global development and commercialization. According to the company, Lishan will assume clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialization while Biomica may receive milestones and royalties.

What clinical progress has BMC128 shown in renal and lung cancer trials for EVGN?

BMC128 completed a Phase 1 study with an excellent safety and tolerability profile and early efficacy signals. According to the company, patients with prior progression showed a high proportion achieving disease stabilization during treatment.

What are Lishan Biotech's next steps for BMC128 after licensing from EVGN?

Lishan plans to advance BMC128 into a Phase 2 clinical study and pursue regulatory filings in China and the United States. According to the company, these actions aim to progress toward potential future commercialization.

How will the Biomica–Lishan license affect Evogene shareholders (EVGN)?

Evogene expects to benefit indirectly as a major Biomica shareholder through potential milestone payments and royalties tied to BMC128's success. According to the company, Biomica will be eligible for development milestones and future commercial royalties.

Are financial terms of the BMC128 licensing deal disclosed for EVGN investors?

The announcement does not disclose upfront fees, milestone amounts, or royalty percentages for the license. According to the company, Biomica will be eligible for development milestone payments and royalties under an agreed-upon schedule.