Major Multinational Pharma Companies Halt Development of Key Drug Candidates in Early June 2026

　　【Pharmaceutical Network - Industry Trends】 Since 2026, the global pharmaceutical industry has been undergoing a profound structural adjustment, with a large number of pharmaceutical companies announcing the termination of new drug development due to clinical trial failures or results falling short of expectations. For instance, in early June, numerous multinational pharmaceutical companies, including Elicio Therapeutics, Neumora, and Sanofi, announced research and development failures.
 

On June 15, Elicio Therapeutics announced the latest data from the Phase II AMPLIFY-7P clinical trial of ELI-002 7P, a KRAS vaccine for adjuvant treatment of pancreatic cancer. The study did not meet its primary endpoint of disease-free survival (DFS).
 

ELI-002 7P is Elicio Therapeutics’ lead pipeline asset, a therapeutic vaccine built on the AMP platform that targets KRAS mutations, including G12D, G12R, G12V, G12C, G12S, G12A, and G13D. Although the Phase II clinical trial failed, clinical data indicated early therapeutic activity, with disease-free survival (DFS) rates approximately 14% higher at 3 and 6 months; however, the survival curves crossed after 9 months.
 

On June 15, Neumora Therapeutics announced the termination of all development efforts for navacaprant (a KOR antagonist) in the field of major depressive disorder. Currently, all clinical trials of the drug for this indication have failed.
 

It is reported that Navacaprant, a κ-opioid receptor antagonist, failed to meet its primary endpoints in the Koastal-1 clinical trial, as announced by Neumora in early 2025. This year, the Koastal-2 and Koastal-3 trials have also consecutively failed. Consequently, the company has decided to terminate the development of this candidate drug and plans to lay off 35% of its workforce.
 

On June 10, Sanofi announced that the Phase III MOBILIZE trial (NCT06290128) of riliprubart in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) who are refractory to standard therapy will be terminated.
 

This decision was made following an interim analysis by the Independent Data Monitoring Committee, which determined that the MOBILIZE study was unlikely to demonstrate sufficient efficacy. MOBILIZE is a Phase III, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
 

On June 5, Corcept Therapeutics announced the Phase II DAZALS study data for dazucorilant in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which failed to meet the primary endpoint of reduction in the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) score.
 

The DAZALS trial, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II clinical study, failed to meet its primary endpoint. Compared with the placebo group, the Dazucorilant group showed no significant difference in ALSFRS-R scores and did not effectively slow the decline in motor skills and other functional measures; however, overall survival (OS) was significantly prolonged.
 

On June 2, biopharmaceutical company Fulcrum Therapeutics announced that it would terminate the development of its experimental sickle cell disease therapy, Pociredir, due to serious concerns raised by the U.S. FDA regarding potential carcinogenic risks, and initiate a strategic transformation that includes seeking a sale or merger of the company.
 

Pociredir is an investigational oral medication designed to increase fetal hemoglobin levels by targeting a key subunit of the PRC2 protein complex, thereby alleviating anemia, pain, and organ damage in patients with sickle cell disease.
 

Overall, the wave of clinical failures in June 2026 marks a definitive end to the era of extensive capital market investment driven by “stories” and “concepts.” Going forward, the clinical value and commercial certainty of innovative drugs will become the key factors shaping pharmaceutical companies’ investment strategies.
 

　　Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall the information contained herein or the opinions expressed constitute investment advice for any person.