On July 20, 2026 Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE: CANF), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs targeting oncological and inflammatory diseases, reported that an abstract highlighting positive results from its Phase 2a study of Namodenoson in patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), has been accepted for poster presentation at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress 2026.

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The accepted abstract, entitled "Durable Disease Stabilization with Namodenoson in Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: Results from a Phase 2a Study," will be presented as a poster during the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress, one of the world’s premier scientific meetings in oncology.

The Phase 2a study evaluated oral Namodenoson in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who had progressed following prior standard therapies. As previously announced, the study successfully achieved its primary safety endpoint and demonstrated encouraging survival outcomes together with durable disease stabilization in this difficult-to-treat patient population.

"We are pleased that our abstract has been selected for presentation at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper), one of the most prestigious international oncology conferences," said Pnina Fishman, Ph.D., Chairperson and Chief Scientific Officer of Can-Fite BioPharma. "Acceptance by ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) provides important scientific recognition of our pancreatic cancer program and offers an opportunity to present our clinical findings to the global oncology community. We believe these data further support the continued development of Namodenoson for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer."

Namodenoson is a highly selective A3 adenosine receptor agonist with a unique mechanism of action that induces apoptosis of cancer cells while exhibiting an excellent safety profile. The drug has demonstrated anti-tumor activity across multiple preclinical models, including pancreatic cancer, and is also being developed for hepatocellular carcinoma and MASH.

Can-Fite is currently planning the next stage of clinical development for Namodenoson in pancreatic cancer, with a Phase 2b study designed to evaluate Namodenoson in combination with chemotherapy based on encouraging clinical findings and supportive preclinical evidence demonstrating synergistic anti-tumor activity.

Additional details regarding the poster presentation, including presentation date, session information, and poster number, will be announced when they become available.

About Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC)

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is among the most aggressive malignancies and remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Patients with advanced disease who progress following standard therapies have limited treatment options and continue to face poor clinical outcomes, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic approaches.

About Namodenoson

Namodenoson is a small orally bioavailable drug that binds with high affinity and selectivity to the A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR). Namodenoson is currently being evaluated in a pivotal Phase 3 trial for advanced liver cancer, concluded successfully a Phase 2a study in pancreatic cancer and is enrolling patients in a Phase 2b trial for the treatment of Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatohepatitis (MASH). A3AR is highly expressed in diseased cells whereas low expression is found in normal cells. This differential expression may be one of the important factors that accounts for the excellent safety profile of the drug.

(Press release, Can-Fite BioPharma, JUL 20, 2026, View Source [SID1234669312])

On July 20, 2026 Syntara Limited (ASX: SNT), a clinical-stage drug development company, reported completion of the first dose-escalation cohort in the Phase 1b component of the AZALOX clinical trial evaluating amsulostat, in combination with the hypomethylating agent 5-Azacitidine (5-AZA) in patients with high-risk Myelodysplastic Neoplasms (MDS) and Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukaemia (CMML).Following review of the safety data from the first cohort, the independent Drug Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) has approved escalation to the final Phase 1b dose cohort, in which patients will receive amsulostat at 200 mg twice daily in combination with 5-AZA.The initial cohort evaluated amsulostat at 150 mg twice daily in combination with 5-AZA. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed and no new adverse events attributable to amsulostat were reported.

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The Phase 1b component of AZALOX is intended to establish the safety profile and recommended Phase 2 dose of amsulostat in combination with 5-AZA. Subject to completion of the 200 mg cohort and review of the associated safety data, the study is expected to progress to a Phase 2 component designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the selected dose in approximately 30 patients.

Preliminary results from the completed Phase 1b dose-escalation component are expected during Q4 CY26.

All 10 participating clinical sites in Germany have now been initiated and are open for recruitment. Sites are actively pre-screened potential participants while awaiting the DSMB review, with patients already pre-registered for the 200 mg cohort.

Syntara Chief Executive Officer Gary Phillips said:

"Completion of the first AZALOX cohort without any dose-limiting toxicities and clearance to progress to the 200 mg dose represents an important step forward for the amsulostat program.

"With 10 German centres now open and patients already pre-registered for the final dose cohort, the study is well positioned to generate preliminary Phase 1b data during the fourth quarter of 2026.

"High-risk MDS represents a significant potential indication expansion and commercial opportunity for amsulostat beyond the FDA-supported development pathway in myelofibrosis. Together with the Australian MESSAGE study in lowerrisk disease, AZALOX provides the opportunity to evaluate amsulostat across distinct MDS populations and build a broader clinical data package around the asset."

AZALOX is being conducted through the German MDS Study Group under the sponsorship of Heidelberg University, in collaboration with the Coordination Centre for Clinical Studies Heidelberg. The study is financially supported by German Cancer Aid.

The study was initiated following encouraging preclinical research indicating that the combination of amsulostat and a hypomethylating agent may reactivate red blood cell and platelet production. The ongoing clinical study is assessing whether this approach may reduce patients’ dependence on blood transfusions and lower the risk of disease progression to acute myeloid leukaemia.

Progress in AZALOX represents an important potential indication expansion for amsulostat beyond myelofibrosis, providing Syntara with the opportunity to establish a broader clinical and commercial profile for the asset across haematological cancers characterised by dysfunction of extracellular matrix and blood cell production.

In parallel with AZALOX, the Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group (ALLG) is leading the Australian MDS05/D3 MESSAGE study evaluating amsulostat in combination with the oral hypomethylating agent ASTX727 in patients with transfusion-dependent low and intermediate-risk MDS. The MESSAGE study remains in recruitment for its initial dose-escalation cohort, with Syntara anticipating preliminary results during the first half of calendar 2027. The study is intended to complement AZALOX by evaluating amsulostat in a distinct MDS patient population and treatment setting.

(Press release, Syntara, JUL 20, 2026, View Source [SID1234669303])

On July 18, 2026 MediLink Therapeutics (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. reported that the New Drug Application (NDA) for its independently developed B7-H3-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) Tam-Peli (research code: YL201) has been accepted for review by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). The submission is for the treatment of adult patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) who have previously failed PD-(L)1 inhibitors and at least two lines of chemotherapy. The application is based on the prespecified interim analysis results from a randomized, controlled, multicenter Phase III study, YL201-CN-301-01 (TAISHAN-301), comparing YL201 versus investigator’s choice of chemotherapy in this patient population.

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Dr. Xue Tongtong, CEO of MediLink , commented: "The formal acceptance of YL201’s NDA by the CDE marks a significant milestone for MediLink as we transition from clinical development toward commercialization. It is also an important testament to our team’s innovation and execution capabilities. We fully recognize that patients in the later-line NPC setting have extremely limited treatment options and face a huge unmet medical need. We are fully committed to cooperating with the regulatory review process and striving to bring this internationally competitive innovative therapy to Chinese patients as soon as possible."

Current Status of Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treatment

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant tumor arising from the epithelial lining of the nasopharynx, primarily associated with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection, genetic predisposition, and environmental factors. NPC exhibits significant racial and geographic disparities. Among the three major racial groups worldwide, Asian populations have the highest incidence, followed by Black populations, while NPC is extremely rare in Caucasians. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data published in 2022, China bears a heavy disease burden of NPC: approximately half of global new cases (51,000 out of 120,000) and over one-third of global deaths (28,000 out of 73,000) occur in China, placing the country’s morbidity and mortality burden among the highest worldwide [1][2].

About Tam-Peli

Tam-Peli (YL201) is an ADC targeting B7-H3, developed using MediLink ‘s proprietary TMALIN (Tumor Microenvironment-Activable Linker-payload) platform, which features a tumor-cleavable camptothecin-based linker-payload technology. In January 2026, Yilong Biomedical entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Roche for the YL201 program, granting Roche exclusive global development, manufacturing, and commercialization rights outside mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, and Macau SAR. The two parties will jointly accelerate global R&D and regulatory filings, advancing development and commercialization across multiple solid tumor indications. Under the agreement, MediLink received an upfront payment and near-term milestones totaling $570 million, and is eligible for additional development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties on net overseas sales.

On May 23, 2026, MediLink announced that in the Phase III trial for recurrent/metastatic NPC (TAISHAN-301), an Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) confirmed that the prespecified interim analysis had met the co-primary endpoint of objective response rate (ORR) assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR). This is the first positive Phase III result globally for a B7-H3 ADC.

Currently, YL201 is being evaluated in global clinical studies across multiple advanced solid tumor types. In China, YL201 has initiated three separate Phase III registrational trials for NPC, small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Previously, YL201 has received five Breakthrough Therapy Designations from the NMPA’s Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) for indications including SCLC, NPC, ESCC, and pancreatic cancer, as well as a Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for SCLC. In addition, YL201 has been granted three Orphan Drug Designations by the FDA for SCLC, NPC, and ESCC.

(Press release, Suzhou Medilink Therapeutics, JUL 18, 2026, View Source [SID1234669368])

On July 17, 2026 SL Science Holding Limited (NASDAQ: SLBT) ("SL Science" or "we"), a biotechnology company developing next-generation immune cell therapies, reported our successful exhibition and participation at the 2026 World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (WCP 2026) held July 12–17, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. Together with our esteemed academic and industry partners, we presented highly promising preclinical research on a novel treatment for glioblastoma (GBM), one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of brain cancer.

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The research showcased at the WCP 2026 exhibition is the result of a robust joint effort led by investigators at Taipei Medical University, in collaboration with SL Science, JY Biomedical Co., Ltd. ("JY BioMed") and HeXun Biosciences Co., Ltd.

Simplifying Complex Science for Real-World Impact
Glioblastoma is notoriously challenging to treat, often resisting conventional therapies such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Because tumors frequently return and build resistance, there is an urgent global need for innovative solutions. Our exhibition focused on harnessing gamma delta (γδ) T cells—a specialized subset of immune cells capable of identifying and attacking cancer cells without relying on the standard immune-matching processes that other therapies require.

The exhibited data revealed significant progress in overcoming tumor immune evasion. By delivering these specially expanded γδ T cells directly to the tumor site in preclinical models, researchers observed potent and efficient destruction of the brain cancer cells.

Key Exhibition Highlights
Complete Tumor Elimination: Direct administration of γδ T cells achieved complete eradication of the tumor by day 26 post-treatment at the highest dose tested (an 8:1 ratio of immune cells to cancer cells).

Dose-Dependent Success: The research demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of repeated direct-to-brain dosing, showing that the tumor-suppressing benefits scaled positively with the dosage.

Clean Safety Profile: Comprehensive health screens and blood panels confirmed that the treatment was well-tolerated in the study, showing no major safety concerns or adverse health effects.

"Exhibiting our collaborative work at WCP 2026 was a monumental milestone for our entire team and our partners," said Mr. William Wang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SL Science. "We were thrilled to present these findings on a global stage. This research underscores the tremendous therapeutic potential of our γδ T-cell platform to combat challenging solid tumors like glioblastoma. By working closely with leading academic institutions, we are translating complex biology into tangible hope for patients facing high unmet medical needs."

(Press release, SL Science, JUL 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234669318])

On July 17, 2026 SL Science Holding Limited (NASDAQ: SLBT) ("SL Science" or the "Company"), a biotechnology company developing next-generation immune cell therapies, reported its successful exhibition and participation at the 2026 World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (WCP 2026) held at July 12-17, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. Together with its esteemed academic and industry partners, the Company presented highly promising preclinical research on a novel treatment for glioblastoma (GBM), one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of brain cancer.

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Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

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The research showcased at the WCP 2026 exhibition is the result of a robust joint effort led by investigators at Taipei Medical University, in collaboration with SL Science, JY Biomedical Co., Ltd. ("JY BioMed") and HeXun Biosciences Co., Ltd.

Simplifying Complex Science for Real-World Impact

Glioblastoma is notoriously challenging to treat, often resisting conventional therapies such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Because tumors frequently return and build resistance, there is an urgent global need for innovative solutions. SL Science’s exhibition focused on harnessing gamma delta (γδ) T cells—a specialized subset of immune cells capable of identifying and attacking cancer cells without relying on the standard immune-matching processes that other therapies require.

The exhibited data revealed significant progress in overcoming tumor immune evasion. By delivering these specially expanded γδ T cells directly to the tumor site in preclinical models, researchers observed potent and efficient destruction of the brain cancer cells.

Key Exhibition Highlights

Complete Tumor Elimination: Direct administration of γδ T cells achieved complete eradication of the tumor by day 26 post-treatment at the highest dose tested (an 8:1 ratio of immune cells to cancer cells).
Dose-Dependent Success: The research demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of repeated direct-to-brain dosing, showing that the tumor-suppressing benefits scaled positively with the dosage.
Clean Safety Profile: Comprehensive health screens and blood panels confirmed that the treatment was well-tolerated in the study, showing no major safety concerns or adverse health effects.

"Exhibiting our collaborative work at WCP 2026 was a monumental milestone for our entire team and our partners," said Mr. William Wang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SL Science. "We were thrilled to present these findings on a global stage. This research underscores the tremendous therapeutic potential of our γδ T-cell platform to combat challenging solid tumors like glioblastoma. By working closely with leading academic institutions, we are translating complex biology into tangible hope for patients facing high unmet medical needs."

(Press release, SL Science, JUL 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234669302])