Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Tyra Biosciences and BCAN establish UTUC Awareness Day

Tyra Biosciences and the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) have designated May 21 as Upper Tract Urothelial Cancer (UTUC) Awareness Day. The collaboration is intended to increase visibility for the rare disease and to underline the need for continued research and innovation.

A rare cancer with significant treatment burden

UTUC affects the lining of the kidneys and ureters. According to the partners, the disease often shows activating FGFR3 alterations. Care frequently involves endoscopic tumor ablation, while more advanced cases may require surgical removal of the kidney and ureter (nephroureterectomy), which can have long-term health consequences.

Tyra and BCAN point to an ongoing unmet need for an effective kidney-sparing option. They also state that there is currently no well-established systemic standard of care for patients with UTUC.

Phase 2 study in low-grade UTUC

Tyra Biosciences is currently dosing patients with dabogratinib, an investigational oral FGFR3-selective inhibitor, in the Phase 2 SURF303 study (NCT07265947) for low-grade UTUC (LG-UTUC). The company describes dabogratinib as the only oral therapeutic candidate currently in clinical development for LG-UTUC.

Focus on awareness and patient experience

With the awareness day, Tyra and BCAN aim to elevate the patient experience, support education and advocacy efforts, and keep attention on the need for innovation in UTUC.