Medpace Wins Phase I CRO Contract for Zelluna’s ZIMA-101 Solid Cancer Trial
Medpace has been appointed CRO for Zelluna's phase I trial of ZI-MA4-1 (ZIMA-101), providing trial design, site management and regulatory support for dose escalation in solid cancers. The agreement, effective February 2026, positions Medpace to gain multi-year payments tied to Zelluna’s first-in-human oncology program.
1. Medpace Appointed as CRO Partner
Medpace has been selected by Zelluna Therapeutics as the contract research organization for its ZI-MA4-1 (ZIMA-101) first-in-human study. Under the contract effective February 2026, Medpace will oversee trial design, site identification, investigator training and regulatory filings across multiple European and North American sites.
2. ZIMA-101 Trial Scope and Timeline
The phase I dose-escalation trial will enroll patients with advanced solid tumors, assessing safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of the allogeneic TCR-NK cell therapy. Dosing is scheduled to begin in mid-2026 with up to six dose cohorts and expansion cohorts targeting tumor types including ovarian and colorectal cancers.
3. Strategic and Financial Implications
The agreement strengthens Medpace's oncology CRO portfolio and is expected to generate multi-year clinical operations revenue, enhancing visibility into its 2026 guidance. This collaboration represents a key growth driver for Medpace as it expands specialized cell therapy services in an increasingly competitive market.