Galmed Announces a Collaboration Agreement with Tel Aviv University to Evaluate its SCD1 inhibitor, Aramchol, as a Targeted Therapy for Metastatic Brain Cancers

Rhea-AI Summary

Galmed (NASDAQ: GLMD) announced on April 14, 2026 a research collaboration with Tel Aviv University (via Ramot) to evaluate its brain-penetrant SCD1 inhibitor Aramchol as a targeted therapy for p53-deficient metastatic brain cancers. The collaboration will use TAU's 3D in vitro and in vivo models to validate Aramchol's efficacy and support ongoing clinical work at Virginia Commonwealth University's Massey Cancer Center.

News Market Reaction – GLMD

-6.70%

5 alerts

-6.70% Session close to close

+22.8% Peak Tracked

-5.8% Trough Tracked

$5.02M Market Cap

0.0x Rel. Volume

In the Apr 14 session, GLMD declined 6.70%, reflecting a notable negative market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +22.8% during that session. Argus tracked a trough of -5.8% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 5 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

The stock moved -6.7% in the session following this news. A negative reaction despite this collabora...

Analysis

The stock moved -6.7% in the session following this news. A negative reaction despite this collaboration would contrast with earlier positive responses to Aramchol oncology and CNS updates, including a +26.14% move on Apr 9, 2026. Such weakness could reflect market focus on Galmed’s going-concern language, listing risk from the January Nasdaq notice, and execution risk around translating preclinical p53/SCD1 data in brain metastases into meaningful clinical outcomes.

Key Figures

2-year survival in BM: below 10%

1 metrics

2-year survival in BM below 10% Overall 2-year survival for brain metastasis patients

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Apr 09 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
Apr 09	CNS formulation update	Positive	+26.1%	Announced brain-penetrant Aramchol formulation with strong positive preclinical CNS data.
Mar 31	Annual report filing	Neutral	+8.2%	Filed Form 20-F highlighting focus on Aramchol and key risk disclosures.
Jan 30	Nasdaq bid notice	Negative	-6.3%	Received Nasdaq notice for trading below $1.00 minimum bid price requirement.
Dec 08	Conference abstract	Positive	+8.0%	Announced late-breaking HEP-DART abstract with preclinical oncology combo data.
Dec 04	Patent grant	Positive	+5.6%	Reported new-use patents for Aramchol combinations in NASH/MASH across regions.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Recent GLMD news, especially around Aramchol and oncology/CNS, has generally coincided with positive price reactions, while regulatory or listing risk updates saw modest downside.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, Galmed has repeatedly highlighted Aramchol’s repositioning beyond liver disease. On Dec 4, 2025 it reported new-use patents for Aramchol combinations in MASH, followed on Dec 8, 2025 by preclinical oncology data in HCC. A Nasdaq minimum bid notice on Jan 30, 2026 brought listing risk into focus. Since then, the company has emphasized CNS and brain-penetrant Aramchol, with an April 2026 breakthrough formulation update drawing a strong positive market reaction. Today’s TAU collaboration extends that CNS/oncology strategy into metastatic brain cancer.

Key Terms

scd1, p53, synucleinopathies, cns, +4 more

8 terms

scd1 medical

"brain-penetrant SCD1 inhibitor, potentially positioning Aramchol as a first-in-class therapy"

SCD1 is an enzyme that acts like a factory machine inside cells, converting certain solid fats into softer, more usable fats that influence energy storage, cell membranes, and signaling. Investors pay attention because drugs or diagnostics that block or measure SCD1 activity are pursued for conditions such as metabolic disease, cancer and skin disorders; success or failure in clinical trials, safety issues, or regulatory decisions around SCD1-targeted therapies can materially affect company value.

p53 medical

"identified a causal link between p53 inactivation and upregulation of SCD1"

p53 is a protein produced from the TP53 gene that acts like a cellular quality-control inspector, sensing DNA damage and either pausing cell growth so repairs can happen or triggering damaged cells to self-destruct. Because many cancers arise when p53 stops working, measuring or restoring its activity is a key goal for diagnostics and treatments, so advances involving p53 can affect clinical outcomes and the commercial value of oncology drugs and tests.

synucleinopathies medical

"first-in-class therapy for synucleinopathies and other CNS diseases"

Synucleinopathies are a group of brain disorders caused by abnormal clumps of a protein that build up inside nerve cells, disrupting their function much like lint clogging a machine. They include conditions that progressively impair movement, thinking, and autonomic functions. Investors care because these disorders drive demand for diagnostics, long‑term care and novel treatments; breakthroughs or regulatory setbacks in this area can materially affect pharmaceutical, biotech and medical-device markets.

cns medical

"synucleinopathies and other CNS diseases.Among CNS unmet conditions, brain metastasis"

CNS stands for the central nervous system, the brain and spinal cord that control thought, movement and bodily functions. For investors, CNS-focused products and research matter because therapies aimed at this “delicate wiring” are scientifically challenging, often carry higher development and regulatory risk, and can take longer to prove safe and effective — but successful treatments also tend to command large markets and premium pricing.

brain metastasis medical

"Among CNS unmet conditions, brain metastasis (BM) remains a lethal progression"

Brain metastasis is when cancer cells from another part of the body travel through the bloodstream or lymph system and form new tumors in the brain. Investors care because these secondary brain tumors change treatment needs, raise development and regulatory hurdles for drugs and devices, and often signal larger market opportunities for therapies, diagnostics, and supportive care — like spotting seeds that have spread to a new garden and require different tools to remove.

in vitro medical

"3D in vitro and in vivo modeling capabilities of the Satchi-Fainaro Lab"

In vitro describes laboratory tests performed on cells, tissues, or biological molecules outside a living body—literally “in glass,” such as in test tubes or dishes. For investors, in vitro results are an early sign that a drug or technology has a desired effect under controlled conditions, but they don’t guarantee it will work or be safe in animals or people; think of them as a prototype tested on a bench rather than in real-world use.

in vivo medical

"3D in vitro and in vivo modeling capabilities of the Satchi-Fainaro Lab"

In vivo describes tests or experiments performed inside a living organism, such as an animal or human, to observe how a drug, device or biological process behaves in a real, functioning body. Investors care because in vivo results reveal safety, effectiveness and possible side effects that lab tests cannot, much like road-testing a prototype car in traffic rather than only on a bench — outcomes can strongly influence regulatory approval, clinical success and a company’s valuation.

3d tumor models medical

"Our 3D tumor models and spontaneous brain metastasis models closely recapitulate"

Three-dimensional tumor models are lab-grown clusters of cancer cells arranged to mimic the architecture and behavior of real tumors, like a miniature 3D model of a building rather than a flat blueprint. Investors care because these models often predict how drugs will perform in humans better than traditional flat cell tests, helping companies identify promising therapies earlier, reduce costly late-stage failures, and shorten development timelines.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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• Recently, Galmed announced breakthrough medicinal chemistry work converting Aramchol into a brain-penetrant SCD1 inhibitor, potentially positioning Aramchol as a first-in-class therapy for synucleinopathies and other CNS diseases.
• Among CNS unmet conditions, brain metastasis (BM) remains a lethal progression of the primary cancer in urgent need of novel and effective therapies. Despite multimodal therapies, including surgical resection, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, individuals with BM have a poor prognosis, with an overall 2-year survival below 10%.
• A recent publication from Tel Aviv University (TAU) identified a causal link between p53 inactivation and upregulation of SCD1 as essential for the proliferation of brain-metastasizing cells. The collaboration agreement with Ramot at Tel Aviv University Ltd. - TAU's technology transfer company - aims to translate these genomic and metabolic insights into a therapeutic strategy using Aramchol, Galmed's first-in-class brain-penetrating SCD1 inhibitor.

RAMAT-GAN, Israel, April 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Galmed Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NASDAQ: GLMD) ("Galmed" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company for liver disease and GI oncological therapeutics, announced today a research collaboration agreement with Ramot at Tel Aviv University - Tel Aviv University's technology transfer company - to evaluate Galmed's brain-penetrating SCD1 inhibitor, Aramchol, as a targeted therapy for metastatic brain cancer.  By combining the genomic expertise of the Ben-David Lab with the advanced 3D in vitro and in vivo modeling capabilities of the Satchi-Fainaro Lab (both TAU internationally renowned research labs), Galmed aims to validate Aramchol's efficacy in treating p53-deficient brain metastases. The findings from the new research would also support Galmed's clinical work underway at Virginia Commonwealth University's Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center in colorectal cancers, where p53 mutations are highly prevalent.

The published research by Prof. Ben-David and Prof. Satchi-Fainaro demonstrated that the loss of p53 induces profound metabolic adaptations of the tumor, facilitating metastatic colonization in the lipid-rich brain microenvironment. SCD1, an enzyme that converts saturated fatty acids into monounsaturated fatty acids, is essential for lipid synthesis and membrane production in proliferating cancer cells. Owing to SCD1 upregulation in p53-deficient tumors, its downregulation by Aramchol could potentially treat the metabolic-dependent brain tumor, as confirmed in preclinical models.

Allen Baharaff, Galmed's Co-founder and CEO commented: "p53 is widely known as the 'guardian of the genome', playing a critical role in maintaining cellular integrity, with its mutations often leading to cancer and metastases. The findings that p53 inactivation drives metastasis to the brain through SCD1 upregulation and increased fatty acid metabolism open up a promising and innovative therapeutic option for Aramchol in metastatic cancers. Today's announced collaboration with the esteemed researchers at TAU maps a potential development path for Aramchol as a novel and effective therapeutic solution for one of the most challenging clinical conditions."  

Prof. Uri Ben-David commented: "A major hurdle in treating brain metastases is understanding how cancer cells adapt to survive in the brain's unique environment. We recently established that p53 inactivation drives this adaptation through SCD1 upregulation and altered fatty acid metabolism. Collaborating with Galmed enables us to apply Aramchol against SCD1-expressing brain metastases, taking a critical step toward an innovative therapeutic solution for metastatic brain cancer."

Prof. Ronit Satchi-Fainaro commented:" I am very enthusiastic about this collaboration with Galmed Pharmaceuticals to evaluate Aramchol in our advanced preclinical systems. Following our recent findings published in Nature Genetics on the role of p53 and SCD1 in breast cancer brain metastasis, this partnership represents a valuable opportunity to translate mechanistic insights into therapeutic strategies. Our 3D tumor models and spontaneous brain metastasis models closely recapitulate tumor complexity and metastatic progression in the clinical setting, providing a robust, predictive platform to assess Aramchol's efficacy and mechanism of action. I believe these models can significantly strengthen the preclinical validation of the drug and support its development in this challenging clinical setting".

The collaboration is managed by Ramot, Tel Aviv University's technology transfer company. Ramot is dedicated to bringing the groundbreaking research of Prof. Uri Ben-David and Prof. Ronit Satchi-Fainaro to the clinic. Their work on the metabolic vulnerabilities of p53-deficient tumors represents a transformative approach to treating metastatic brain cancer, offering a new path for patients with high unmet needs.

About Galmed Pharmaceuticals Ltd.:

We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of Aramchol. We have focused almost exclusively on developing Aramchol for the treatment of liver disease, and we are currently seeking to advance the development of Aramchol for oncological indications beyond NASH and fibrosis. In addition, as part of our growth strategy, we are actively pursuing opportunities to expand and diversify our product pipeline, specifically targeting cardiometabolic indications and other innovative product candidates that align with our core expertise in drug development.

About Ramot

Ramot is the Technology Transfer Company of Tel Aviv University, dedicated to transforming pioneering research from university researchers into market-ready products. By scaling up these innovative technologies and integrating them with industry expertise, Ramot fosters strategic partnerships that turn groundbreaking discoveries into global impact.

www.ramot.org

Forward-Looking Statements:

Forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results as of the date they are made. Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the development path for Aramchol as a novel and effective therapeutic solution. Many factors could cause our actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the development and approval of the use of Aramchol or any other product candidate for indications outside of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, also known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH, and fibrosis or in combination therapy; the timing and cost of any pre-clinical or clinical trials of Aramchol or any other product candidate we develop; completion and receiving favorable results of any pre-clinical or clinical trial; regulatory action with respect to Aramchol or any other product candidate by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA, or the European Medicines Authority, or EMA, including but not limited to acceptance of an application for marketing authorization, review and approval of such application, and, if approved, the scope of the approved indication and labeling; the commercial launch and future sales of Aramchol and any future product candidates; our ability to comply with all applicable post-market regulatory requirements for Aramchol, or any other product candidate in the countries in which we seek to market the product; our ability to achieve favorable pricing for Aramchol, or any other product candidate; third-party payor reimbursement for Aramchol, or any other product candidate; our estimates regarding anticipated capital requirements and our needs for additional financing; market adoption of Aramchol or any other product candidate by physicians and patients; the timing, cost or other aspects of the commercial launch of Aramchol or any other product candidate; our ability to obtain and maintain adequate protection of our intellectual property; the possibility that we may face third-party claims of intellectual property infringement; our ability to manufacture our product candidates in commercial quantities, at an adequate quality or at an acceptable cost; our ability to establish adequate sales, marketing and distribution channels; intense competition in our industry, with competitors having substantially greater financial, technological, research and development, regulatory and clinical, manufacturing, marketing and sales, distribution and personnel resources than we do; our expectations regarding licensing, acquisitions and strategic operations; current or future unfavorable economic and market conditions and adverse developments with respect to financial institutions and associated liquidity risk; our ability to maintain the listing of our ordinary shares on The Nasdaq Capital Market; and the security, political and economic instability in the Middle East that could harm our business, including due to the current security situation in Israel. We believe these forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, these statements are only current predictions and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our or our industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. We discuss many of these risks in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2026 in greater detail under the heading "Risk Factors." Given these uncertainties, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf speak only as of the date hereof and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in this report. We undertake no obligations to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. In evaluating forward-looking statements, you should consider these risks and uncertainties.

 

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SOURCE Galmed Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

FAQ

What did Galmed (GLMD) announce on April 14, 2026 about Aramchol and Tel Aviv University?

Galmed announced a research collaboration with Tel Aviv University to test Aramchol in brain-metastasis models. According to Galmed, the agreement will use TAU's 3D and in vivo systems to evaluate Aramchol against p53-deficient brain-metastasizing tumors.

How will the Tel Aviv University collaboration advance Aramchol development for GLMD shareholders?

The collaboration aims to generate preclinical evidence of Aramchol activity in p53-deficient brain metastases. According to Galmed, TAU's models could strengthen translational data supporting Aramchol's clinical program at Massey Cancer Center in colorectal cancers.

Why is SCD1 inhibition relevant to metastatic brain cancer research for GLMD (GLMD)?

SCD1 is upregulated in p53-inactivated tumors and supports lipid metabolism needed for brain colonization. According to Galmed, downregulation by Aramchol may impair tumor lipid synthesis and proliferation in brain-metastatic cells.

Which TAU labs are involved in the GLMD collaboration and what models will they use?

The collaboration pairs the Ben-David lab and the Satchi-Fainaro lab to test Aramchol in advanced models. According to Galmed, they will use 3D in vitro systems and spontaneous brain metastasis in vivo models to assess efficacy and mechanism.

Does the April 14, 2026 GLMD announcement create immediate clinical-stage changes for Aramchol?

No immediate clinical approvals were announced; the agreement is preclinical research to validate mechanisms. According to Galmed, results would support existing clinical work but do not constitute new regulatory filings or approvals at this time.