On April 2, 2026 AstraZeneca reported that positive high-level results from the EMERALD-3 Phase III trial showed Imfinzi (durvalumab) in combination with Imjudo (tremelimumab), lenvatinib and transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in the primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS) versus TACE alone for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) eligible for embolisation.

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At this interim analysis for overall survival (OS), a key secondary endpoint, this combination also demonstrated a trend toward OS improvement versus TACE alone.

Patients in the investigational arms were treated with the STRIDE regimen (Single Tremelimumab Regular Interval Durvalumab), with or without lenvatinib, before TACE, and then alongside TACE.

Although not formally tested at this time, data for the treatment arm evaluating the STRIDE regimen plus TACE versus TACE alone showed strong trends toward improved PFS and OS. The trial will continue to follow OS and other key secondary endpoints in both investigational arms.

HCC is the most common type of liver cancer.1 In 2026, more than 200,000 patients with HCC will be eligible for embolisation, a standard-of-care procedure that blocks the blood supply to the tumour and can also deliver chemotherapy directly to the liver.2-4 However, most patients who receive embolisation experience disease progression or recurrence within six to ten months.5

Ghassan Abou-Alfa, MD, JD, MBA, PhD(hc), Attending Physician, Professor of Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and principal investigator in the trial said, "Dual immunotherapy with durvalumab and tremelimumab in the STRIDE regimen represents a meaningful advance for patients with embolisation-eligible liver cancer, who currently lack systemic treatment options to keep their cancer from progressing or recurring, with a trend of improving survival. EMERALD‑3 shows we can now significantly reduce the risk of disease progression with STRIDE as the immunotherapy backbone alongside lenvatinib and TACE."

Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President, Oncology Haematology R&D, AstraZeneca, said: "EMERALD‑3 now shows that bringing the dual immunotherapy STRIDE regimen earlier, alongside TACE and lenvatinib, can further improve outcomes in earlier‑stage liver cancer. This builds on the HIMALAYA Phase III trial data in patients with advanced, unresectable disease, where the STRIDE regimen has already demonstrated durable overall survival benefit. We are discussing these positive data with global regulatory authorities while awaiting the final results from the key secondary endpoints."

The safety profile for each combination was consistent with the known profiles of each medicine, and there were no new safety findings.

These data will be presented at a forthcoming medical meeting and shared with global regulatory authorities.

(Press release, AstraZeneca, APR 2, 2026, View Source [SID1234664130])

On April 1, 2026 INOVIO Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: INO), a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing DNA medicines to help treat and protect people from HPV-related diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases, reported that it intends to offer and sell shares of its common stock and accompanying Series A warrants and Series B warrants to purchase shares of its common stock (or pre-funded warrants to purchase its common stock in lieu thereof), in an underwritten public offering. All of the securities in the proposed offering will be sold by INOVIO. INOVIO intends to grant the underwriter a 30-day option to purchase additional shares of its common stock and/or accompanying Series A and Series B warrants to purchase shares of its common stock in an amount up to 15% of the securities offered in the public offering under the same terms and conditions. The proposed offering is subject to market conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or the actual size or terms of the offering.

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Piper Sandler is acting as sole manager for the offering.

A shelf registration statement relating to the shares of common stock and accompanying Series A and Series B warrants offered in the offering described above was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on November 9, 2023 and declared effective by the SEC on January 31, 2024. The offering will be made only by means of a written prospectus and prospectus supplement that form a part of the registration statement. A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to and describing the terms of the proposed offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, when available, may also be obtained by contacting: Piper Sandler & Co., 350 North 5th Street, Suite 1000, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401, Attention: Prospectus Department, by telephone at (800) 747-3924, or by e-mail at [email protected].

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities being offered, nor shall there be any sale of the securities being offered in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

(Press release, Inovio, APR 2, 2026, View Source [SID1234664124])

On April 1, 2026 A2 Biotherapeutics, Inc. (A2 Bio), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing first-in-class logic-gated therapies for solid tumors, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation for A2B543, an autologous CAR T-cell therapy designed for the treatment of germline heterozygous HLA-A*02 adults with recurrent unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic solid tumors that express MSLN and have lost HLA-A*02 expression.

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Fast Track is a process designed to facilitate the development, and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. The purpose is to get important new drugs to the patient earlier.1

"Receiving Fast Track designation for A2B543 from the U.S. FDA is a key milestone for A2 Bio in accelerating this promising precision CAR T-cell therapy for cancer patients," said Jim Robinson, chief executive officer of A2 Bio. "We are deeply committed to patients facing cancer and other devastating diseases, and we believe in the potential for A2B543 to address unmet needs in cancer therapy."

A2B543 is being investigated in the ongoing EVEREST-2 clinical study (NCT06051695) which is evaluating the safety and efficacy of A2B694 (Arm 1) and A2B543 (Arm 2) autologous logic-gated investigational cell therapies in patients with colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, and other solid tumors that express MSLN and have lost HLA-A*02 expression.

A2B543 is comprised of autologous Tmod cells expressing a MSLN-targeted CAR activator, an HLA-A*02-targeted blocker, and an inducible, membrane-tethered IL-12 (mem-IL-12) booster. The inducible mem-IL-12 booster, which activates only upon engagement with tumor antigens, is designed to enhance the long-term potency and persistence of Tmod while reducing toxicity associated with systemic IL-12.2

The A2 Bio proprietary Tmod technology platform provides selective killing of tumor cells and protection of normal cells via a dual-receptor design consisting of an activator that targets tumor cells and a blocker that protects normal cells. This novel blocker technology enables precise, personalized, and effective T-cell targeting specifically against tumors.

For more information about A2 Bio clinical studies and how to enroll, visit www.a2bioclinicaltrials.com.

(Press release, A2 Biotherapeutics, APR 1, 2026, View Source [SID1234664136])

On April 1, 2026 Anixa Biosciences, Inc. ("Anixa" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: ANIX), a biotechnology company focused on the treatment and prevention of cancer, reported that it has entered into a development and manufacturing agreement with Cytovance Biologics (www.cytovance.com), a leading full-service contract development and manufacturing organization ("CDMO") specializing in mammalian and microbially expressed biologics, to produce cGMP clinical materials for its planned Phase 2 clinical trial of its breast cancer vaccine.

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The agreement follows positive final Phase 1 results in which the investigational vaccine met all primary endpoints, was safe and well tolerated at the maximum tolerated dose, and generated protocol-defined immune responses in 74% of participants. Based on these results, Anixa is advancing preparations for a Phase 2 clinical trial.

Anixa’s breast cancer vaccine, developed in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic, targets α-lactalbumin—a lactation-associated protein that is typically expressed only in breast tissue during lactation, but which re-emerges in many forms of breast cancer. By generating an immune response against α-lactalbumin-expressing cells, the vaccine is designed to potentially provide both therapeutic and preventive benefits for patients with tumors expressing this protein. The vaccine is based on preclinical research led by the late Vincent Tuohy, Ph.D., who served as the Mort and Iris November Distinguished Chair in Innovative Breast Cancer Research at Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. Amit Kumar, Chairman and CEO of Anixa Biosciences, commented, "With final Phase 1 data demonstrating safety, tolerability, and strong immune responses in 74% of participants, we are focused on advancing this program toward Phase 2. Our agreement with Cytovance represents an important operational milestone as we work to secure cGMP clinical supply for the next stage of development." Dr. Kumar continued, "As we advance toward the Phase 2 trial, we expect to provide near-term updates on our progress."

"We are pleased to partner with Anixa to manufacture clinical materials for its Phase 2 breast cancer vaccine trial," said Ping Zhang, CEO of Cytovance Biologics. "Our team is committed to delivering high-quality cGMP manufacturing solutions that support innovative biotech programs. We look forward to leveraging our development and production capabilities to help advance this promising immunotherapy candidate."

(Press release, Anixa Biosciences, APR 1, 2026, View Source [SID1234664135])

On April 1, 2026 Nuvation Bio Inc. (NYSE: NUVB), a global oncology company focused on tackling some of the toughest challenges in cancer treatment, reported the company has amended its existing exclusive license agreement for safusidenib with Daiichi Sankyo (TSE :4568) to include Japan rights, effectively securing exclusive global development and commercialization rights of the investigational medicine. The agreement, as amended, enables Nuvation Bio to expand its ongoing pivotal SIGMA study of safusidenib into Japan, and provides rights to all previously generated and future data to support further publication of safusidenib results in IDH1-mutant glioma.

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Safusidenib is a novel, oral, potent, brain-penetrant, selective inhibitor of mutant IDH1 that is currently being evaluated in the ongoing Phase 3 SIGMA study for the maintenance treatment of patients with IDH1-mutant astrocytoma who have high-risk features following standard-of-care.

In Phase 1 and Phase 2 single arm studies, safusidenib has shown encouraging efficacy signals across all IDH1-mutant glioma grades and treatment lines, including durable responses and prolonged progression-free survival that show tumor shrinkage and disease control. In the Phase 1 study in Japan of 47 participants with recurrent or progressive IDH1-mutant glioma with enhancing (predominantly high-grade) and non-enhancing (predominantly low-grade) tumors, safusidenib showed clinical activity in both populations. Data from a Phase 2 study in Japan of safusidenib in 27 patients with chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-naïve grade 2 IDH1-mutant glioma was published online in the November 2025 issue of Neuro-Oncology. The data published reflected a March 10, 2023 data cut-off. As of February 2026, 12 patients in the study remain on treatment with safusidenib with a median follow-up of over 5 years. Nuvation Bio plans to present longer-term data from the Phase 2 study at a future medical meeting.

"We believe safusidenib has immense potential to address significant patient needs in IDH1-mutant glioma, and our current development plan focuses on patient groups with limited or no FDA-approved targeted treatment options. We are thrilled to now have the exclusive global development and commercialization rights to explore this investigational medicine’s potential across these devastating brain tumors," said David Hung, M.D., Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nuvation Bio. "With this agreement now final, we plan to expand the pivotal Phase 3 SIGMA study into Japan, continue to advance the robust global development of safusidenib, and pursue presentation and publication of longer-term data from the Phase 2 study to ensure the scientific community is up to date on these findings."

"The invention of new medicines is at the core of what we do at Daiichi Sankyo and safusidenib is a strong example of our expertise in science and technology," said Yuki Abe, Ph.D., Head of R&D Division in Japan and Head of Research, Daiichi Sankyo. "We continuously evaluate the best approach to accelerate the delivery of promising medicines to patients and we are confident that Nuvation Bio will carry this program forward, utilizing their strong expertise in clinical development and commercialization to explore the full potential of safusidenib for patients with IDH1-mutant glioma."

About IDH1-Mutant Glioma
Gliomas are the most common type of brain cancer in adults worldwide. In the U.S., nearly 2,500 people are diagnosed with IDH1-mutant gliomas each year, of which more than 95% harbor a mutation in the IDH1 gene. Most patients are diagnosed in their 30s and 40s. While patients with IDH1 mutations generally have longer survival times than those with wild-type IDH1, gliomas are not currently curable and prognosis worsens for those with high-risk features, including high grade tumors.

About Safusidenib
Safusidenib is a novel, oral, potent, brain-penetrant, selective inhibitor of mutant IDH1. In Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical studies, safusidenib delayed disease progression and provided durable responses across grades and risk groups with a favorable risk-benefit profile.

About the SIGMA (G203) Study
SIGMA is a pivotal Phase 3 study that will evaluate safusidenib compared to placebo as a maintenance therapy after standard-of-care in IDH1-mutant astrocytoma with high-risk features. The pivotal portion of the study will enroll approximately 300 patients. Data is anticipated to be available in 2029.

A separate, exploratory, non-pivotal cohort will evaluate safusidenib in participants with grade 3 IDH1-mutant oligodendroglioma who have not yet received chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The primary endpoint is objective response rate. This cohort is expected to enroll approximately 40 patients. Data is anticipated to be available in 2027.

(Press release, Nuvation Bio, APR 1, 2026, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nuvation-bio-announces-acquisition-of-japan-rights-to-safusidenib-from-daiichi-sankyo-302730492.html [SID1234664134])