Medicus Pharma Ltd. (NASDAQ: MDCX) issued a strategic update outlining a shift in its development priorities, with CD228V, a second-generation antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting melanotransferrin/CD228, now designated as the company's principal program.

The company said initial development of CD228V will focus on melanoma, particularly in patients with relapsed or refractory disease. The program is supported by an active U.S. Investigational New Drug (IND) application and a first-in-human Phase 1 clinical study (NCT06799533). CD228V uses Pfizer's vedotin linker-payload platform and targets solid tumors including melanoma, squamous non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and esophageal cancer.

For its SkinJect® program, Medicus said it will concentrate development on Gorlin syndrome, a rare autosomal dominant disease in which patients develop numerous basal cell carcinoma (BCC) lesions, rather than the broader sporadic BCC market. The FDA has authorized initiation of SKNJCT-005, a registrational Phase 2b study in Gorlin syndrome patients. The company is also pursuing Orphan Drug Designation and Rare Pediatric Disease designation from the FDA for this indication.

The Teverelix® program will prioritize an approximately 126-patient Phase 2 study in acute urinary retention and PRECISION-E2, a Phase 2a study in women with symptomatic endometriosis. Development of Teverelix® for advanced prostate cancer will be pursued through potential partnerships.

"We are concentrating our capital and organizational resources on programs where we believe focused clinical development and execution may create the greatest value and improve patient outcomes, while using strategic partnerships and other capital-efficient structures to preserve and unlock the potential value of other programs," said Dr. Raza Bokhari, Executive Chairman and CEO of Medicus, according to the company's statement.