On March 25, 2025 Agenus Inc. (Nasdaq: AGEN), a leader in immuno-oncology, reported two upcoming presentations at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, taking place April 25–30, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois (Press release, Agenus, MAR 25, 2025, View Source [SID1234651418]). The presentations continue to build momentum for Agenus’ neoadjuvant immunotherapy program with botensilimab and balstilimab (BOT/BAL), including an oral presentation of the initial results from the NEOASIS trial in solid tumors and a poster featuring new data from the advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cohort of a Phase 1 study evaluating BOT/BAL in patients with advanced solid tumors. Data from two separate, independent studies of neoadjuvant treatment with BOT/BAL in colorectal cancer–UNICORN and NEST– were presented earlier this year at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)-GI.

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Oral Presentation Details:

Presentation Title: Neoadjuvant botensilimab plus balstilimab in MMR proficient and deficient early-stage cancers: First results of the pan-cancer NEOASIS study (NCT06279130)
Presenting Author: Myriam Chalabi, MD, Netherlands Cancer Institute
Session Title: Aiming for Cure: Adjuvant and Neoadjuvant Approaches
Session Date and Time: 4/28/2025; 2:30:00 – 4:30:00 PM CT
Abstract Presentation Number: CT130

Poster Presentation Details:

Presentation Title: Results from a phase 1 study of botensilimab and balstilimab in treatment refractory hepatocellular carcinoma (NCT03860272)
Presenting Author: Anthony El-Khoueiry, MD, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
Session Title: Late-Breaking Research: Clinical Research 3
Session Date and Time: 4/29/2025; 2:00 – 5:00 PM CT
Location : Poster Section 53
Poster Board Number: 9
Abstract Presentation Number: LB365

About Botensilimab (BOT)

Botensilimab is a human Fc enhanced CTLA-4 blocking antibody designed to boost both innate and adaptive anti-tumor immune responses. Its novel design leverages mechanisms of action to extend immunotherapy benefits to "cold" tumors which generally respond poorly to standard of care or are refractory to conventional PD-1/CTLA-4 therapies and investigational therapies. Botensilimab augments immune responses across a wide range of tumor types by priming and activating T cells, downregulating intratumoral regulatory T cells, activating myeloid cells and inducing long-term memory responses.

Approximately 1,100 patients have been treated with botensilimab in phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials. Botensilimab alone, or in combination with Agenus’ investigational PD-1 antibody, balstilimab, has shown clinical responses across nine metastatic, late-line cancers. For more information about botensilimab trials, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov with the identifiers NCT03860272, NCT05608044, NCT05630183, and NCT05529316.

About Balstilimab (BAL)

Balstilimab is a novel, fully human monoclonal immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) designed to block PD-1 (programmed cell death protein 1) from interacting with its ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2. It has been evaluated in >900 patients to date and has demonstrated clinical activity and a favorable tolerability profile in several tumor types.

On March 25, 2025 iTeos Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ITOS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the discovery and development of a new generation of immuno-oncology therapeutics for patients, reported the poster presentations of preclinical data on EOS-215, a potential best-in-class antibody targeting TREM2, and a novel small molecule inhibiting PTPN1/2 at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, being held April 25-30, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois (Press release, iTeos Therapeutics, MAR 25, 2025, View Source [SID1234651417]).

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Poster Presentation Details

Abstract 3136, "EOS-215, a first-in-class TREM2 antagonist, designed to reprogram the tumor microenvironment and overcome resistance"

Session: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics – Therapeutic Approaches to Attack the Tumor Microenvironment
Date and Time: Monday, April 28, 2025, 2:30 PM – 5:00 P.M. CDT
Location: Poster Section 24
Abstract 5609, "A novel PTPN1/2 inhibitor with high oral bioavailability enhances the antitumoral response"

Session: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics – Kinase and Phosphatase Inhibitors 3
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 2:30 PM – 5:00 P.M. CDT
Location: Poster Section 20
iTeos’ exhibit booth at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting is booth #3240.

On March 25, 2025 Cogent Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: COGT), a biotechnology company focused on developing precision therapies for genetically defined diseases, reported four preclinical poster presentations at the upcoming 2025 AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting being held in Chicago, IL April 25-30, 2025 (Press release, Cogent Biosciences, MAR 25, 2025, View Source [SID1234651416]).

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Poster Details

Title: Identification of a potent KRAS (ON) inhibitor with selectivity for mutant KRAS over HRAS and NRAS
Session Category: Chemistry
Session Title: Lead Identification and Optimization
Session Date and Time: April 30, 2025 – 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM CT (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM ET)
Location: Poster Section 25
Poster Board Number: 3
Published Abstract Number: 6974

Title: Preclinical characterization of CGT6297, a novel PI3Kα H1047R mutant-selective inhibitor
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Session Title: Kinase and Phosphatase Inhibitors 2
Session Date and Time: April 28, 2025 – 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM CT (3:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET)
Location: Poster Section 20
Poster Board Number: 5
Published Abstract Number: 3004

Title: The Reversible and Selective FGFR2/3 inhibitor CGT4859 has superior target coverage of resistance mutations missed by leading FGFR inhibitors
Session Category: Clinical Research
Session Title: Targeted Therapies and Combinations 2
Session Start: April 29, 2025 – 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM CT (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM ET)
Location: Poster Section 34
Poster Board Number: 27
Published Abstract Number: 4729

Title: Identification of CGT4255 an EGFR sparing, pan-mutant HER2 clinical development candidate with potential best-in-class brain penetration
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Session Title: Novel Antitumor Agents 3
Session Start: April 29, 2025 – 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM CT (3:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET)
Location: Poster Section 21
Poster Board Number: 1
Published Abstract Number: 5623

Inducement Grant Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)
Cogent also announced today that the Compensation Committee of Cogent’s Board of Directors, made up entirely of independent directors, approved the grant of an "inducement" equity award on March 21, 2025 to one new employee under the company’s 2020 Inducement Plan. The award was approved in accordance with Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) of the corporate governance rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market. The employee received a nonqualified option to purchase 9,700 shares of Cogent common stock. The option has a 10-year term, an exercise price equal to the closing price of Cogent’s common stock on the grant date, and a 4-year vesting schedule with 25% vesting on the 1-year anniversary of the grant date and the remainder vesting in equal monthly installments over the subsequent 36 months, provided such employee remains employed through each such vesting date.

On March 25, 2025 Affimed N.V. (Nasdaq: AFMD), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company committed to giving patients back their innate ability to fight cancer, reported an abstract on AFM24 dose optimization using exposure response analysis has been accepted for presentation as a poster at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) taking place April 25-30, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois (Press release, Affimed, MAR 25, 2025, View Source [SID1234651415]).

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Details of the poster presentation are as follows:

Title: Dose-Optimization Using Exposure Response Analysis in AFM24 (in Monotherapy and with Atezolizumab) in Patients with Advanced/Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Authors: Anthony El-Khoueiry, Omar Saavedra, Juanita Lopez, Hye Ryun Kim, Daniela Morales-Espinosa, Daniel Schütz, Andre Overesch, Andreas Harstrick, Kerstin Pietzko

Session Category and Title: Phase II Clinical Trials 1

Session Date and Time: Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM CDT

Location: Poster Section 49

Poster Board Number: 1

Published Abstract Number: CT161

The full abstract will be published online on April 25, 2025.

More details about the programs for the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2025 are available online at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2025 | Meetings | AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper).

About AFM24
AFM24 is a tetravalent, bispecific ICE that activates the innate immune system by binding to CD16A on innate immune cells and epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR), a protein widely expressed on solid tumors, to kill cancer cells. Generated by Affimed’s fit-for-purpose ROCK platform, AFM24 represents a distinctive mechanism of action that uses EGFR as a docking site to engage innate immune cells for tumor cell killing through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis.

On March 26, 2025 Rakovina Therapeutics Inc. (TSX-V: RKV) (FSE: 7JO), a biopharmaceutical company advancing innovative cancer therapies through artificial intelligence (AI)-powered drug discovery, reported that two of its abstracts have been accepted for presentation at the upcoming 2025 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, taking place April 25–30 in Chicago, Illinois (Press release, Rakovina Therapeutics, MAR 25, 2025, View Source [SID1234651414]).

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The AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting is widely considered the most prestigious global forum for cancer research. It is where the world’s leading scientists, clinicians, and biotech innovators gather to unveil next-generation oncology breakthroughs. Rakovina’s acceptance to present, highlights growing recognition for its pioneering work at the intersection of AI technology and precision cancer therapy.

AI-Designed Therapies Poised to Transform Cancer Treatment

Rakovina will present two abstracts at the meeting, the first: Discovery of novel PARP1-selective inhibitors for treatment of brain tumors using artificial intelligence, explores the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to develop a novel, brain-penetrant, PARP1-selective inhibitor for treating brain tumors. Current PARP inhibitors face challenges such as poor blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and off-target effects due to PARP2 inhibition. By leveraging Deep Docking, a deep learning-based virtual screening method, alongside generative AI algorithms, researchers rapidly identified potential compounds with strong PARP1 selectivity and BBB penetration. The study presents findings from in silico screening of billions of compounds, followed by in vitro and in vivo validation of their efficacy, selectivity, and pharmacokinetic properties. This AI-driven approach enhances the efficiency of drug discovery, offering a promising new treatment option for brain tumors.

The second abstract: Utilizing artificial intelligence for the discovery of a novel CNS-penetrating ATR inhibitor, highlights the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to develop a novel CNS-penetrating ATR inhibitor for treating brain tumors. ATR plays a key role in DNA damage repair, and while ATR inhibitors show therapeutic potential, current options have poor blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, limiting their effectiveness against brain tumors and metastases. The Enki platform, an AI-driven approach utilizing generative models and deep learning, was employed to design de novo molecules with optimized potency, selectivity, and BBB penetration. Preliminary results include AI-generated ATR inhibitors validated for target specificity, metabolic stability, and permeability.

"This is an exceptional accomplishment for Rakovina," said Jeffrey Bacha, Executive Chairman of Rakovina Therapeutics. "Being selected by AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) for two projects highlights the significance of our innovations in drug discovery and their potential to impact patients battling aggressive, treatment-resistant cancers."

The company’s proprietary integration of Deep Docking and Enki AI platforms allows its scientists to evaluate billions of potential compounds at 100x the speed of traditional methods, with 6,000x greater enrichment of viable candidates. These innovations are further supported by Rakovina’s access to the University of British Columbia’s state-of-the-art wet lab infrastructure, enabling rapid in-house testing and optimization.

"What we’re seeing with Rakovina’s AI-enabled pipeline is the future of oncology—faster, smarter, and more precise," said Dr. Mads Daugaard, President and CSO of Rakovina "This integration of generative AI and biological insight is transforming how—and how quickly—we can identify and advance new therapies."

With a world-class team, including the creator of Deep Docking and a former AstraZeneca DDR program director, Rakovina is driving innovation in a space projected to reach $18 billion annually by 2030. The company’s preclinical pipeline is focused on therapies that target DNA-repair vulnerabilities present in up to 75% of solid tumors, with an emphasis on hard-to-treat cancers such as breast, ovarian, prostate, and brain.