Formation Bio licenses CNS penetrant TYK2 inhibitor from Lynk Pharma

US AI-focused start-up Formation Bio has entered a deal with Lynk Pharmaceuticals for worldwide rights, excluding Greater China, to LNK01006, a next generation central nervous system (CNS)–penetrant highly selective TYK2 inhibitor. The asset will be developed within Formation's newly formed subsidiary Bleecker Bio.

LNK01006 recently received investigational new drug (IND) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate first-in-human studies in the USA. Formation Bio plans to initiate a Phase I study in the first half of 2026, reflecting the company's growing momentum in building a diverse portfolio of high-potential, clinical-stage assets.

LNK01006 is a next-generation, CNS-penetrant allosteric TYK2 inhibitor that combines potent, selective inhibition of TYK2-mediated cytokine signaling with a pharmacologic profile optimized for central immune modulation. Its potential best-in-class selectivity and CNS exposure are designed to regulate immune signaling within the central nervous system, potentially modulating the immune responses implicated in a range of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Its unique pharmacologic profile offers optionality to explore indications where central or compartmentalized immune pathways are believed to play a key role.