• First U.S. patient dosed at a mid-tier dose level where multiple responses have been observed
• Multi-regional trial to accelerate time to proof-of-concept data in 1H 2026

BELTSVILLE, Md. and SHANGHAI, Oct. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NextCure, Inc. (NASDAQ:NXTC), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to developing novel therapies to treat cancer, and Simcere Zaiming, an oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company and a subsidiary of Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Ltd (HKEX: 2096), today announced that the first patient in the U.S. has been dosed with SIM0505 in the ongoing Phase 1 trial (NCT06792552), which is evaluating safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and efficacy in patients with advanced solid tumors.

SIM0505 is a novel antibody drug conjugate directed to cadherin-6 (CDH6 ADC), featuring a proprietary topoisomerase 1 inhibitor (TOPOi) payload, designed for broad anti-tumor activity, high systemic clearance and an improved potential therapeutic window. NextCure has now expanded the ongoing Phase 1 dose escalation study, which was initiated in China, by enrolling patient(s) in the U.S. into a mid-tier dose level while dose escalation is currently advancing in China. NextCure acquired an exclusive global license, excluding Greater China, for SIM0505 from Simcere Zaiming.