Adagene Names Peter Lebowitz to Scientific and Strategic Advisory Board

(SeaPRwire) –   SAN DIEGO and SUZHOU, China, April 14, 2026 — Adagene Inc. (“Adagene”) (Nasdaq: ADAG), a platform-driven, clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing innovative antibody-based therapies, today announced the appointment of Peter Lebowitz, MD, Ph.D. to its Scientific and Strategic Advisory Board (SAB).

Commenting on his joining Adagene’s SAB, Lebowitz stated, “Adagene’s unique SAFEbody masking technology offers a novel approach to overcoming the long-standing challenges associated with CTLA-4 targeted therapies. This technology allows for the tumor-selective activation of ADG126 and the targeted depletion of regulatory T cells within the tumor microenvironment. The promising clinical activity observed in patients with late-line MSS CRC is particularly noteworthy, especially considering the limited efficacy seen with previous immunotherapies in this patient population. I am eager to collaborate with the Adagene team to guide the ongoing clinical development of ADG126, including strategies for advancing the program into registration-enabling studies and further exploring its Treg-depleting mechanism as a basis for future combination therapies.”

“The addition of Peter to our SAB is a significant achievement, given his extensive experience in accelerating breakthrough therapies and implementing global regulatory strategies for novel compounds. Peter has a proven ability to identify the early potential of therapeutic modalities and select promising candidates. He is among a select group of industry veterans with a consistent record of bringing new medicines, including advanced biologics, from discovery through to commercialization. On behalf of the entire company, we anticipate Peter’s valuable insights and extend a warm welcome to him as part of the Adagene team,” said Peter Luo, Ph.D., Chairman, CEO and President of R&D at Adagene.

Peter F. Lebowitz, MD, Ph.D. currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Third Arc Bio, a clinical-stage biotech company developing innovative multifunctional antibodies for various oncology, immunology, and inflammation indications. Before joining Third Arc, Peter spent 13 years as the Global Head of Oncology R&D for Johnson & Johnson (J&J), where he built and led an end-to-end research and development organization responsible for bringing 13 new drugs to market with over 60 approvals. His innovative drug development approach led to 12 FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designations and 38 publications in the New England Journal of Medicine for J&J oncology medicines.

About Adagene
Adagene Inc. (Nasdaq: ADAG) is a platform-driven, clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to revolutionizing the discovery and development of novel antibody-based cancer immunotherapies. Adagene leverages computational biology and artificial intelligence to design novel antibodies that address significant unmet patient needs globally. The company has established strategic collaborations with leading global partners, utilizing its SAFEbody precision masking technology in cutting-edge scientific approaches.

Adagene’s highly differentiated pipeline features novel immunotherapy programs powered by its proprietary Dynamic Precision Library (DPL) platform, which includes NEObody™, SAFEbody, and POWERbody™ technologies. The company’s SAFEbody technology is designed to mitigate safety and tolerability issues common with many antibody therapeutics by employing precision masking technology to shield the binding domain of the biologic therapy. This approach enables tumor-specific antibody activation within the tumor microenvironment, thereby minimizing on-target off-tumor toxicity in healthy tissues.

Adagene’s lead clinical program, muzastotug (ADG126), is a masked, anti-CTLA-4 SAFEbody with FDA Fast Track designation. It targets a distinct epitope of CTLA-4 on regulatory T cells (Tregs) within the tumor microenvironment. Muzastotug is currently undergoing Phase 1b/2 and Phase 2 clinical studies, administered in combination with an anti-PD-1 therapy, with a particular focus on microsatellite stable (MSS) metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). The SAFEbody platform’s applicability is validated by ongoing clinical research and can be extended to a wide range of antibody-based therapeutic modalities, including Fc-empowered antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and bi-specific/multi-specific T-cell engagers.

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SAFEbody^® is a registered trademark in the United States, China, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and the European Union.

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Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning certain clinical results of ADG126, the potential implications of clinical data for patients, and Adagene’s advancement of, and anticipated preclinical activities, clinical development, regulatory milestones, and commercialization of its product candidates. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements due to various important factors, including but not limited to Adagene’s ability to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of its drug candidates; the clinical results for its drug candidates, which may not support further development or regulatory approval; the content and timing of decisions made by the relevant regulatory authorities regarding regulatory approval of Adagene’s drug candidates; Adagene’s ability to achieve commercial success for its drug candidates, if approved; Adagene’s ability to obtain and maintain protection of intellectual property for its technology and drugs; Adagene’s reliance on third parties to conduct drug development, manufacturing and other services; Adagene’s limited operating history and Adagene’s ability to obtain additional funding for operations and to complete the development and commercialization of its drug candidates; Adagene’s ability to enter into additional collaboration agreements beyond its existing strategic partnerships or collaborations, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Adagene’s clinical development, commercial and other operations, as well as those risks more fully discussed in the “Risk Factors” section in Adagene’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to Adagene, and Adagene undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Investor Contacts:

Raymond Tam
Raymond_tam@adagene.com

Corey Davis
LifeSci Advisors
cdavis@lifesciadvisors.com