Lisata Therapeutics shares surge 20.19% intraday after mutual termination of Qilu Pharmaceutical license, regaining certepetide rights in Greater China.

Lisata Therapeutics surged 20.19% intraday after announcing the mutual termination of its license agreement with Qilu Pharmaceutical for certepetide in the Greater China region. The termination allows Lisata to regain full, exclusive development and commercialization rights to its iRGD cyclic peptide candidate, certepetide, which has Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations for pancreatic cancer. While Qilu retains obligations to complete its ongoing Phase 2 trial, Lisata emphasized the strategic benefit of controlling certepetide’s development in a key market, enhancing its potential for global partnerships and clinical advancements. The move aligns with recent positive investor sentiment, as the stock had already risen 88% over the prior week, reflecting optimism about the drug’s pipeline and regulatory milestones.