Palisade Bio at stifel 2026 healthcare conference: cash and trials in focus

On November 11, 2026, Palisade Bio presented its clinical strategy at the Stifel Healthcare Conference 2026, centered around its oral, once-daily PDE4 prodrug, PALI-2108. The drug is designed to target inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by delivering the active drug specifically to the terminal ileum and colon, bypassing the upper gastrointestinal tract.

This targeted approach aims to reduce side effects and increase tolerability compared to earlier PDE4 inhibitors. Palisade Bio has secured strong cash reserves of $114.9 million without any debt, which will fund both the interim results and Phase III trial preparations.

The company has initiated two Phase II studies, one for ulcerative colitis and another for Crohn's disease. Early patient data from these studies has shown rapid signs of activity, including remission signals after one to two weeks. For ulcerative colitis, a five-patient study reported a 100% response rate and a 40% remission after just one week.

Similarly, in a five-patient fibrostenotic Crohn's cohort, the drug achieved a 40% response rate and 40% remission by SES-CD score, with a notable four-point reduction in CRP. The drug's formulation is intended to bypass the upper GI tract and activate in the terminal ileum and colon, where beta-glucuronidase levels are high, potentially leading to higher concentrations of the active drug in local tissues with more consistent systemic exposure.

Palisade Bio is also exploring combination strategies using an AI model trained on over 7,000 patient data points. Chief Executive JD explained that the core objective is for PALI-2108 to surpass earlier PDE4 drugs by altering its activation site within the body. The company views this as a means to achieve "fewer adverse events and much higher tolerability" when compared to competitors such as apremilast and mufemilast.

Palisade Bio's Ulcerative Colitis Study, ASCENTRA-UC, is a 204-patient randomized trial with a 1:1:1 design, using 15 mg, 30 mg, and placebo arms. The study is powered to detect a 20% difference in remission rates and a 17.5% difference with 80% power, assuming a 12.5-point placebo remission rate. The trial is already underway with patient enrollment, and the company plans to activate approximately 115 sites globally, with 29 of the 30 planned U.S. sites already in operation.

The Crohn's disease program, ASCENTRA-CD, has received IND clearance and is progressing toward site activation, beginning with the U.S. and Republic of Georgia, followed by European countries.