HOOKIPA Pharma Divests Immunooncology Assets to NeoTrail Therapeutics

HOOKIPA Pharma Inc. has transferred its oncology-focused therapeutic programs to NeoTrail Therapeutics, Inc., marking a strategic shift in the company’s development priorities. The divestiture encompasses two core immunotherapy candidates: Eseba-vec (HB-200) and HB-700, both developed on HOOKIPA’s proprietary arenavirus immunotherapy platform. The asset purchase agreement was finalized on January 28, 2026, with the transaction expected to conclude during the second quarter of 2026. Financial specifics of the transaction remain undisclosed.

“We’re pleased that these promising therapeutic candidates will continue their clinical advancement under NeoTrail’s leadership, potentially delivering benefits across multiple significant market segments,” commented Mark Winderlich, Chief R&D Officer at HOOKIPA. NeoTrail Therapeutics, a privately-held biopharmaceutical organization, now assumes responsibility for advancing these programs toward clinical maturity.

HB-200: Next-Generation HPV16 Immunotherapy

Eseba-vec (HB-200) represents a novel investigational immunotherapeutic agent targeting HPV16-positive malignancies. The candidate has achieved notable regulatory recognition, securing Fast Track Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration alongside PRIME designation from the European Medicines Agency—accelerated pathways typically reserved for therapies addressing significant unmet medical needs.

Clinical validation emerged in late 2024 when preliminary Phase 2 trial data demonstrated encouraging results. The study examined HB-200 in combination with pembrolizumab—a well-established checkpoint inhibitor—in patients with recurrent or metastatic HPV16-positive head and neck cancers in the first-line treatment setting. The data was presented at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Conference. HOOKIPA subsequently completed trial close-out procedures before the conclusion of 2025.

HB-700: Broad-Spectrum KRAS-Targeting Program

The HB-700 program tackles an oncologically significant challenge by targeting KRAS-mutated malignancies across multiple indications including lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers. This therapeutic candidate received Investigational New Drug (IND) application clearance from the FDA during spring 2024 and has achieved Phase 1-readiness status, with clinical trial manufacturing fully completed.

HOOKIPA’s Remaining Immunotherapy Portfolio

Despite divesting these two programs, HOOKIPA maintains a robust pipeline addressing significant disease burdens. The company continues advancing HB-300 for prostate cancer treatment, HB-400 targeting Hepatitis B, and HB-500 designed for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection—each leveraging the company’s differentiated arenavirus platform technology.

Market Perspective

HOOKIPA’s stock has demonstrated modest volatility, trading between $0.72 and $1.96 throughout the preceding twelve months. The company’s shares closed at $1.04 on the recent trading session, reflecting a 4.52% gain. The strategic repositioning through this divestiture allows HOOKIPA to concentrate resources on its remaining pipeline while enabling NeoTrail to pursue aggressive clinical development across these validated immunotherapy platforms.

The views expressed herein represent the author’s analysis and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.