Lirum Therapeutics Announces Positive LX-101 Data Selected for Presentation at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting

On April 20, 2026 Lirum Therapeutics, Inc. ("Lirum"), an innovative clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of debilitating diseases, reported that new LX-101 data in Ewing sarcoma has been selected for presentation at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, being held from April 17-22 in San Diego. LX-101 is a novel clinical-stage payload-bearing targeted therapy directed to the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R), currently being developed in oncology and autoimmune indications.

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These new data demonstrated LX-101’s potent antitumor activity as a single agent in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of Ewing sarcoma, with additional activity, including synergy, when used in combination with PI3K or mTOR inhibition. The presentation concluded that LX-101 demonstrated improved preclinical activity relative to previously reported IGF-1R-targeting approaches. The observed single-agent activity and synergy with PI3K and mTOR inhibitors support further clinical development of LX-101 and LX-101-based combination strategies. The results will be presented by Roberto Cardenas-Zuniga, a member of the research team in the lab of Joseph Ludwig, M.D., at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Lirum’s collaborator on this project.

Presentation Details

Abstract#: 7873
Title: In Vivo Preclinical Efficacy of a Novel "Payload-Bearing" Peptide LX-101 Targeting IGF-1R in Ewing Sarcoma
Date/Time: April 22, 2026 – 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM PT
Session Title: PO.CL06.03 – Targeted Therapies, Predispositions, and Survivorship in Pediatric Cancers
Lirum also recently announced a "Study May Proceed" letter from the FDA enabling the inclusion of LX-101 in the RAPID platform clinical trial. RAPID (Rapidly Assess Promising Innovative Drugs) is a patient-centric, multicenter, open-label platform trial led by Joseph Ludwig, M.D., professor at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. RAPID employs a master protocol that enables the study of both single-agent and novel drug combinations in patients with relapsed/refractory Ewing sarcoma and desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT).

About Ewing Sarcoma
Ewing sarcoma is an aggressive cancer that primarily develops in the bones or surrounding soft tissues, most commonly affecting children, adolescents and young adults. ES is the second most common bone cancer in children in the US. Notably, Ewing sarcoma has strong ties to IGF-1R signaling pathway, including DNA-level gene fusions (i.e., EWSR1-FLI1) that affect IGF-1R signaling, providing a strong scientific and clinical rationale for LX-101 in this indication. Current treatments are limited to a combination of chemotherapy, surgical removal of the tumors and sometimes radiation therapy.

(Press release, Lirum Therapeutics, APR 20, 2026, View Source [SID1234664581])

BBOT Granted U.S. FDA Fast Track Designation for BBO-11818 for the Treatment of Adult Patients with Advanced KRAS-Mutant Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

On April 20, 2026 BridgeBio Oncology Therapeutics, Inc. ("BBOT") (Nasdaq: BBOT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on RAS-pathway malignancies, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to BBO-11818 for the treatment of adult patients with advanced KRAS-mutant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

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"Receiving Fast Track designation from the FDA for BBO-11818 in KRAS-mutant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma reflects the importance and urgency of accelerating the development of our pan-KRAS inhibitor in this serious disease," said Yong Ben, MD, Chief Medical and Development Officer of BBOT. "Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most difficult-to-treat malignancies. KRAS mutations are present in the vast majority of cases, yet patients have had few targeted options. This designation will help us collaborate closely with the FDA to advance BBO-11818 as efficiently as possible for patients who need new options."

This designation follows preliminary data, first released in January 2026, in which BBO-11818 monotherapy demonstrated a confirmed partial response in pancreatic cancer. In addition, anti-tumor activity was observed across dose levels and tumor types with tumor reductions at higher dose levels with a generally favorable, differentiated safety profile in dose escalation.

While KRASG12C inhibitors have demonstrated promising clinical efficacy, there remains a clear unmet medical need for therapies targeting cancers that carry other KRAS mutations, such as KRASG12D and KRASG12V. BBO-11818 was developed to address this gap and is specifically designed as a potent pan-KRAS inhibitor with strong binding affinity for KRAS, high selectivity over HRAS and NRAS, and the ability to achieve high levels of KRAS inhibition in both the ON and OFF states. BBO-11818 is being evaluated as monotherapy, in combination with standard-of-care therapies, or alongside BBOT’s RAS:PI3Kα breaker, BBO-10203.

Fast Track designation is intended to help rapidly advance the development and review process for promising therapeutic candidates for serious conditions that may fill an unmet medical need.

About BBO-11818
BBO-11818 is a selective, orally bioavailable non-covalent inhibitor that targets KRAS in both the ON and OFF states, has high selectivity over HRAS and NRAS, and displays strong activity in KRAS-mutant preclinical models, including KRASG12D and KRASG12V. In addition, it potently suppresses MAPK signaling and inhibits cell proliferation in KRAS-mutant cell lines. BBO-11818 is currently being evaluated in the Phase 1 KONQUER-101 trial in subjects with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic KRAS-mutant solid tumors.

(Press release, BridgeBio Oncology Therapeutics, APR 20, 2026, View Source [SID1234664580])

Junshi Biosciences Presents Results from JS207 (PD-1/VEGF BsAb) Phase 2 Combo Studies and JS212 (EGFR/HER3 ADC) FIH Phase 1/2 Study at AACR 2026

On April 20, 2026 Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co., Ltd (Junshi Biosciences, HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180), a leading innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapies, reported that early clinical results from four studies across its innovative pipeline were presented at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, featuring: the recombinant humanized anti-EGFR/HER3 bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) JS212, the anti-PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody JS207, and the anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody JS007.

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Dr. Jianjun ZOU, General Manager and CEO of Junshi Biosciences, said, "At this year’s AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, we reported not only two combination therapy datasets for our bispecific antibody, JS207, but also first-in-human results for the bispecific ADC, JS212. Their results demonstrated highly encouraging clinical profiles. As cornerstone assets under our Immuno-Oncology 2.0 (IO 2.0) strategy, these novel therapies have exceptional development potential. Their enhanced efficacy, activity against treatment-resistant populations, and broad-spectrum antitumor coverage position them as our next-generation flagship products. We are accelerating proof-of-concept clinical studies to identify optimal indications and deliver superior treatment options to patients."

#CT159: Preliminary results from a phase 2 study evaluating JS207 in combination with JS007 as first-line treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

The Phase 2 study (NCT06954467) aiming to evaluate the safety and efficacy of JS207 in combination with JS007 included a safety run-in period and a randomized expansion phase, which enrolled patients with unresectable or metastatic HCC who had not previously received any systemic anticancer therapy.

As of March 20, 2026, a total of 26 patients had received JS207 plus JS007, including 7 patients in the safety run-in period and 19 patients in the randomized expansion phase.

Among the 22 evaluable patients, the objective response rate (ORR) reached 45.5% while the disease control rate (DCR) was 86.4%.
JS207 plus JS007 was well-tolerated, with no dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) observed during the safety run-in period.

Preliminary findings from the study demonstrate that JS207 combined with JS007 exhibits encouraging synergistic efficacy and favorable tolerability as first-line treatment for advanced HCC. Patient enrollment continues to progress smoothly, potentially offering a novel therapeutic approach for advanced HCC patients.

#CT152: Preliminary results from a phase 2 study evaluating JS207 in combination with chemotherapy as first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC)

This Phase 2 study (NCT06885385) evaluates the preliminary safety and efficacy of JS207 in combination with XELOX (capecitabine + oxaliplatin) as first-line therapy for mCRC. The study enrolled patients with mCRC who had not previously received systemic antitumor therapy for metastatic disease, or whose disease recurred/progressed at least 12 months after their last neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy.

Patients received JS207 at 10 mg/kg combined with the XELOX regimen (oxaliplatin 130 mg/m² IV, d1 + capecitabine 1000 mg/m², BID, d1-14) every 3 weeks until disease progression or intolerable toxicity.

As of January 13, 2026, 32 patients had been enrolled and received JS207 plus XELOX, including 9 in the safety run-in phase and 23 in the dose-expansion phase.

Among the 31 efficacy-evaluable patients, 22 achieved a partial response (PR) and 8 achieved stable disease (SD), resulting in an ORR of 71.0% and a DCR of 96.8%.
Due to the relatively short follow-up duration, median progression-free survival (PFS) and median duration of response (DoR) have not yet been reached, and the longest duration of response remained ongoing at 8 months.
JS207 was well-tolerated overall, with no DLTs observed during the safety run-in period.

The study demonstrates that JS207 combined with chemotherapy exhibits promising antitumor activity and a favorable safety profile as first-line treatment for mCRC. These findings suggest that dual-target immunotherapy (anti-PD-1/VEGF) plus chemotherapy holds significant potential in immunologically cold tumors, providing critical clinical evidence for immuno-combination therapy as first-line treatment of mCRC.

#1715: Preclinical evaluation of JS212

Preclinical studies of JS212 (EGFR/HER3 bsAb) demonstrate high binding affinity to tumor cells expressing EGFR and/or HER3, exhibiting superior broad-spectrum antitumor activity, favorable tolerability, and optimal pharmacokinetic profiles. In multiple cell-derived xenograft (CDX) models, JS212 showed enhanced antitumor efficacy compared to the benchmark agent. Notably, it demonstrated efficacy in osimertinib-resistant, patritumab deruxtecan-resistant, and BL-B01D1-resistant CDX models.

#CT128: Preliminary results from JS212’s first-in-human (FIH) phase 1/2 study in advanced solid tumors

This FIH phase 1/2 study (NCT06888830) was designed to assess the safety, tolerability, PK, and preliminary efficacy of JS212 in patients with advanced solid tumors. It comprised dose escalation and expansion and clinical expansion. As of March 26, 2026, a total of 63 patients have been enrolled.

JS212 was administered every three weeks. The treatment was well-tolerated, and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was not reached.
Responses were observed at the 1.8 mg/kg cohort and above.
In the 4.2 mg/kg and 4.6 mg/kg dose cohorts, ORR reached 44.4% and 50.0% respectively, with a DCR of 100.0% in both groups. The median DoR has not yet been reached.
An ORR of 50.0% was observed in HER2-negative breast cancer and 38.9% in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

JS212 monotherapy exhibits encouraging efficacy across a range of dose levels (as low as 1.8 mg/kg) with favorable tolerability in advanced solid tumors, indicating promising development potential. Further exploration of JS212 in multiple indications and combination strategies are ongoing.

About JS207

JS207, a recombinant humanized anti-PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody, was independently developed by Junshi Biosciences for the treatment of advanced malignant tumors. To date, JS207 has been approved for conducting phase 2/3 clinical study, and it has 11 ongoing phase 2 clinical studies, exploring its use in combination with chemotherapy, monoclonal antibodies, ADCs and other drugs in NSCLC, colorectal cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, liver cancer and other tumor types. Preclinical results of JS207 have been published in Frontiers in Immunology, while early-stage clinical data were first presented in a poster session at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) ASIA 2025.

JS207 can simultaneously bind to PD-1 and VEGFA with high affinity, effectively blocking the binding of PD-1 to PD-L1 and PD-L2 while also inhibiting the binding of VEGF to its receptor. JS207 has the efficacy of both immunotherapeutic drugs and anti-angiogenic drugs. Through the neutralization of VEGF, JS207 inhibits the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells, improves the tumor microenvironment, and increases the infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the tumor microenvironment, thereby achieving better anti-neoplasm activity.

JS207’s design is based on the high-affinity, clinically proven and differentiated anti-PD-1 drug, toripalimab as the backbone. The anti-PD-1 moiety of JS207 adopts a Fab structure to maintain binding affinity to PD-1, thereby attaining better enrichment in the tumor microenvironment. The anti-VEGF moiety has a binding affinity for human vascular endothelial growth factor that is comparable to that of bevacizumab. In non-clinical in vitro cytological tests, compared with the combination of an anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibody and a VEGF monoclonal antibody, a bispecific antibody simultaneously targeting PD-1/PD-L1 and VEGF demonstrated significantly enhanced PD-1 antigen binding and internalization, as well as synergistic enhancement of the NFAT signaling pathway, thereby better activating immune cells in the tumor microenvironment.

About JS007

JS007 is a recombinant humanized anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody developed independently by Junshi Biosciences that is mainly aimed at treating advanced cancer.

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is an important receptor on the T cell surface that modulates immune response. Studies show that JS007 is able to specifically bind to CTLA-4 and effectively block the interaction between CTLA-4 and its ligand B7 (CD80 or CD86), thereby activating the T-lymphocyte and inhibiting tumor growth.

About JS212

JS212 is a recombinant humanized EGFR and HER3 bispecific ADC that is mainly used for the treatment of advanced malignant solid tumors. EGFR and HER3 are highly expressed in a variety of cancers, such as lung cancer, breast cancer and head and neck cancer etc. There is interaction in the signaling pathways between EGFR and HER3, and they jointly facilitate the proliferation, survival, migration and angiogenesis of tumor cells. In addition, HER3 is involved in the drug-resistance mechanisms of various anti-tumor drugs (including EGFR-targeted drugs, chemotherapy, etc.). Compared to single-target ADC drugs, JS212 can suppress tumors by binding to both EGFR and HER3, and may be effective on a wider range of tumors and overcome drug resistance.

According to preclinical studies, JS212’s high affinity and specific binding to EGFR and HER3 resulted in a significant anti-tumor effect in various animal models. JS212 also maintained a favorable and acceptable safety profile.

To date, an open-label, dose-escalation and dose-expansion phase 1/2 clinical trial of JS212 is underway in Chinese Mainland. The study is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and preliminary efficacy of JS212 in patients with advanced solid tumors. In addition, the clinical trial application for JS212 as a multi-cohort combined drug was approved by the National Medical Products Administration of China (NMPA) in November 2025. The phase 2 clinical trial evaluating JS207 in combination with JS212 is underway. In December 2025, the investigational new drug (IND) application for JS212 for the treatment of advanced solid tumors was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

(Press release, Shanghai Junshi Bioscience, APR 20, 2026, View Source [SID1234664579])

Palleon Pharmaceuticals Presents First-in-Class B7-H3 Targeted Sialidase at the 2026 AACR Annual Meeting

On April 20, 2026 Palleon Pharmaceuticals reported preclinical data and announced the initiation of a human clinical trial for E-688/HLX316, a first-in-class B7-H3 targeted sialidase, in an oral presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting "New Drugs on the Horizon" session. The presentation, titled "E-688/HLX316: A First-in-Class B7-H3 Targeted Sialidase for Boosting Innate and Adaptive Anti-Tumor Immunity" introduces the first ever tumor-targeted enzymatic desialylation agent to enter the clinic.

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Tumor hypersialylation — the upregulation of sialic acid-containing glycans on the surface of cancer cells — activates several sialic acid-dependent immune regulatory pathways that suppress anti-tumor immunity. This axis of immune evasion is present across the majority of solid tumors and correlates with poor clinical outcomes in dozens of published studies. Conventional antibodies and small molecules cannot effectively disrupt this redundant glycan-mediated immunosuppression. Palleon’s engineered human sialidase overcomes this challenge by enzymatically removing sialic acid from the tumor surface, broadly neutralizing sialic acid-mediated immune suppression.

Palleon’s first-generation sialidase, E-602, established human proof-of-mechanism and a favorable tolerability profile in a previous clinical trial and is now in Phase 2 development in autoimmunity. This early clinical experience helped define the additional design requirements needed for the oncology clinical setting: durable tumor-localized desialylation and direct tumor cell killing. E-688/HLX316 was engineered to satisfy both conditions, and preclinical data confirm that it extends tumor surface desialylation to more than seven days in vivo and outperforms anti-PD-1 as a single agent in humanized tumor models, enhancing both innate and adaptive anti-tumor immunity.

"Tumor hypersialylation is now an addressable axis of immune evasion that is independent of PD-1/L1 biology," said Jim Broderick, M.D., CEO and Founder of Palleon Pharmaceuticals. "Our first-generation clinical experience identified the attributes of an effective oncology sialidase and informed the design of E-688/HLX316. The preclinical package confirms the approach works as intended."

E-688/HLX316 is being evaluated in a first-in-human monotherapy trial in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer in China led by Palleon’s strategic collaborator Henlius. Palleon’s clinical roadmap includes a systematic expansion into other large cancer populations characterized by high B7-H3 expression and hypersialylation, including lung and prostate cancer.

(Press release, Palleon Pharmaceuticals, APR 20, 2026, View Source [SID1234664578])

Samsung Bioepis Presents Nonclinical Data for its First Novel Antibody-Drug Conjugate Candidate SBE303 at AACR 2026

On April 20, 2026 Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. reported that the company has presented a nonclinical characterization of its first novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) candidate SBE303 in a poster presentation at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, taking place April 17-22, 2026, in San Diego.

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"The results we’ve shared reinforce the strong potential of SBE303 as a next-generation ADC and our commitment to innovation beyond biosimilars," said Donghoon Shin, Executive Vice President and Clinical Sciences Division Leader at Samsung Bioepis. "The nonclinical results show encouraging efficacy, safety, tolerability and a promising ability to work in combination with existing immuno-oncology therapies. Importantly, it demonstrates that our engineered antibody is designed to significantly improve target-mediated internalization. We look forward to continuing the clinical development of SBE303 and advancing our broader mission to bring innovative treatments to patients in need."

SBE303 is Samsung Bioepis’s first novel ADC engineered to bind to Nectin-4, an adhesion protein that is specifically expressed in tumor cells, including urothelial cancer, lung cancer, and breast cancer.1 Currently available Nectin-4 targeting ADCs are often limited by narrow therapeutic index (TI) and dose-limiting toxicities. SBE303 is engineered to improve the therapeutic window by combining a highly specific anti-Nectin-4 antibody conjugated with a potent novel topoisomerase I inhibitor via a proprietary linker. For nonclinical characterization of SBE303, a comprehensive set of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology studies was performed to evaluate the underlying mechanism, preclinical efficacy and safety, as well as its potential form combination therapy with anti-PD-1 blockade to support clinical development. SBE303 treatment resulted in robust anti-tumor activity with a differentiated tolerability profile, supporting an improved TI. Notably, the highest non severely toxic dose (HNSTD) was estimated to be 40 mg/kg and no intestinal lung disease (ILD) findings were observed at doses ≥40 mg/kg in repeat-dose toxicity studies. Based on the promising data, SBE303 is currently under Phase I clinical development (NCT07524348).

Poster presentation details:

– Title: Nonclinical characterization of SBE303: A Nectin-4 targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) with novel topoisomerase 1 inhibitor shows a favorable safety margin
– Authors: Ji Yeon Kim, Sungwoo Hyung, Hyun-Ji Choi, Songhyun Lim, Jae Hee Lee, Seokuee Kim, Donghyun Kim, So-Shin Ahn, Donghoon Shin
– Abstract number: 1815
– Presentation Date & Time: Monday, April 20, 2026, 09:00 a.m. CET

The abstract is available on the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2026 website.

(Press release, Samsung Bioepis, APR 20, 2026, View Source [SID1234664577])