On April 17, 2026 SAGA Diagnostics, a pioneer in blood-based cancer detection and precision medicine redefining the standard for early molecular residual disease (MRD) detection, reported that the company and its collaborators will present data from two abstracts at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, taking place April 17–22 in San Diego, California. These abstracts showcase the ultrasensitive structural variant (SV)-based detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in metastatic breast cancer (mBC) and high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC).

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SV-based ctDNA Monitoring in Metastatic Breast Cancer (mBC)

In collaboration with Drs. David Cescon and Mitchell Elliott at University Health Network (UHN) Canada, a retrospective analysis was conducted for patients with mBC (all subtypes) undergoing standard systemic therapy, utilizing the Pathlight SV-based MRD test. SAGA was able to successfully generate fingerprints in 66 patients using standard tissue-based Pathlight. Using ultradeep cfDNA-based whole-genome sequencing, SV-based tissue-free fingerprints were generated to rescue additional patients for which tissue was unavailable, enabling these patients to benefit from informed MRD testing.

The study’s SV-based approach achieved a high 77% detection rate (294/380) for ctDNA, with nearly a third of those cases identified in the ultrasensitive range. Additionally, Pathlight proved to be a powerful predictor of patient outcomes: where ctDNA was undetectable, patients showed exceptional responses to therapy, including prolonged disease stability and complete clinical response. Furthermore, Pathlight successfully tracked treatment responses across multiple lines of therapy, with rising ctDNA levels preceding radiologic signs of disease progression.

"Metastatic breast cancer remains a challenge to manage clinically, and the use of an accurate complementary biomarker may help improve the care for our patients," said Mitchell Elliott, MD, FRCPC. "By leveraging structural variants – highly conserved features of the tumor genome – we enable ultrasensitive ctDNA detection in the metastatic setting which closely aligns with standard of care radiographic assessment. This approach supports the potential for more reliable treatment monitoring and unlocks new opportunities for clinical utility in this setting."

Improved Prognostic Assessment in Ovarian Cancer

In collaboration with the Medical University of Vienna and LMU Munich, a retrospective analysis was performed on plasma samples collected prospectively from 84 patients with advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). High baseline detection was observed (94%), with MRD remaining in 85% of cases postoperatively. Within the subgroup of patients with pathological complete tumor resection, ctDNA clearance at the first cycle of chemotherapy (C1) (20%) and the sixth cycle (C6) (70%) was associated with significantly lower recurrence risk compared to those with persistent ctDNA. Most notably, ctDNA persistence at C6 was identified as a powerful independent prognostic marker, where ctDNA-positive patients faced a median time to clinical recurrence of just 10.7 months compared to 21.3 months for those who cleared ctDNA. While CA-125 levels failed to significantly predict recurrence at key treatment milestones, ctDNA dynamics offered precise risk stratification even after optimal primary surgery, providing a vital clinical window for personalized maintenance strategies and risk-adjusted treatment interventions.

"The consistent performance of SV-based MRD monitoring by Pathlight across these diverse, late-stage cancers underscores its broad clinical applicability," added Wendy Levin, MD, MS, Chief Clinical Officer of Saga Diagnostics. "This isn’t just about better data-it’s about the potential for clinical utility. By accurately informing on treatment monitoring where traditional tools fail, we are unlocking the ability to tailor therapies in real-time, ultimately improving outcomes through more informed, individualized patient management."

Key SAGA Diagnostics Presentations During AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2026:

Abstract Title

Presentation Details

Tumor-informed circulating tumor DNA identifies high-grade serous ovarian cancer patients at highest risk for recurrence despite optimal first-line treatment with primary macroscopic complete resection

Poster Presentation
Location: Section 42
Date: April 19, 2026
Time: 2:00-5:00 PM
Speaker: Magdalena Postl, MD

Serial ctDNA monitoring in metastatic breast cancer using an ultrasensitive tumor-informed structural variant-based assay

Poster Presentation: #3864
Location: Section 45
Date: April 20, 2026
Time: 2:00-5:00 PM
Speaker: Mitchell Elliott, MD, FRCPC

The full abstracts for SAGA Diagnostics at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2026 can be found here.

(Press release, SAGA Diagnostics, APR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234664503])

On April 17, 2026 Ensem Therapeutics, Inc. (ENSEM), a clinical-stage, oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company, reported presentations of preclinical data at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, being held April 17–22 in San Diego, CA. The data support the differentiated preclinical profiles of ETX-929, a pan-KRAS inhibitor for the treatment of KRAS-altered solid tumors, and ETX-880, a covalent WRN inhibitor for the treatment of microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) solid tumors.

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"These AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) presentations underscore the breadth and depth of ENSEM’s oncology pipeline, fueled by our proprietary Kinetic Ensemble platform," said Shengfang Jin, PhD, Co-Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of ENSEM. "With ETX-929 and ETX-880, we are advancing potential best-in-class small molecule inhibitors against two of the most compelling targets in oncology today—KRAS and WRN. These programs, alongside our clinical-stage PI3Kα program ETX-636, demonstrate the power of our platform to systematically tackle high-value, difficult-to-drug targets with differentiated molecules."

AACR Presentation Details

Details of the presentations are as follows:

ETX-929 (Pan-KRAS Inhibitor)

Title: ETX-929, a potential best-In-class, oral, highly potent and selective dual ON / OFF state Pan-KRAS small molecule inhibitor for the treatment of KRAS mutant and wild-type amplified cancers
Poster ID: 418
Session: Novel Antitumor Agents 1
Date/Time: 4/19/2026 2PM – 5PM PT
Location: Poster Section 17, Poster Board Number: 21
ETX-880 (Covalent WRN Inhibitor)

Title: ETX-880, a potential best-in-class, oral, highly potent and selective covalent inhibitor of Werner helicase for the treatment of microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) cancers
Poster ID: 423
Session: Novel Antitumor Agents 1
Date/Time: 4/19/2026 2PM – 5PM PT
Location: Poster Section 17, Poster Board Number: 26
About ETX-929

ETX-929 is a potent and selective oral pan-KRAS inhibitor designed leveraging ENSEM’s proprietary Kinetic Ensemble platform. ETX-929 inhibits multiple KRAS-mutant variants, including KRASG12D, KRASG12V, KRASG12C, and other clinically relevant mutations, in both the active (GTP-bound/ON) and inactive (GDP-bound/OFF) states. KRAS is the most frequently mutated oncogene in human cancers, driving approximately 25% of all solid tumors, including pancreatic, colorectal, and non-small cell lung cancers. Despite recent advances in allele-specific KRAS inhibitors, there remains a significant unmet need for pan-KRAS therapeutics that can address the full spectrum of KRAS-driven cancers. ETX-929 has demonstrated potent anti-tumor activity in preclinical models and has completed IND-enabling studies with anticipated IND clearance in Q2 2026.

About ETX-880

ETX-880 is a covalent, potent, oral inhibitor of Werner syndrome ATP-dependent helicase (WRN) designed leveraging ENSEM’s Kinetic Ensemble platform. WRN helicase has emerged as a compelling synthetic lethal target in microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) cancers. MSI-H tumors arise from defects in the DNA mismatch repair pathway and are found across multiple tumor types, including colorectal, endometrial, gastric, and ovarian cancers. While immune checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated clinical benefit in MSI-H cancers, 40–70% of patients either do not respond or eventually develop resistance, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic approaches. ETX-880’s covalent binding mechanism is designed to deliver deep and sustained WRN inhibition, and the compound has demonstrated selective anti-proliferative activity against MSI-H cancers in preclinical studies. ETX-880 is currently at the IND-enabling stage.

(Press release, ENSEM Therapeutics, APR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234664502])

On April 17, 2026 Bruker Corporation (Nasdaq: BRKR) reported new updates from Bruker Spatial Biology to be showcased at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting. At AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper), Bruker Spatial Biology will highlight how its high-fidelity spatial platforms—designed to work together—deliver deeper insights into oncology biology and accelerate translational research.

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At AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2026, Bruker Spatial Biology will launch new cross‑platform workflows linking GeoMx DSP to CellScape XR and CellScape XR to CosMx SMI, enabling researchers integrate insights across its spatial biology portfolio—revealing biological relationships that cannot be captured with a single modality alone. Bruker Spatial Biology will also debut new 208‑plex datasets from CellScape XR, highlighting flexible subcellular proteomics for rapid, quantitative spatial phenotyping in oncology applications.

These announcements build upon the major spatial biology milestones Bruker introduced earlier this year at the AGBT General Meeting, where the company demonstrated a portfolio engineered for high-fidelity performance within each omic layer. Together, these advances reflect Bruker Spatial Biology’s long‑standing approach: advancing each platform to be best‑in‑class individually, while consistently being first to demonstrate what is possible when spatial data is captured with unmatched depth, resolution, and fidelity—and connected across biological layers.

PaintScape Now Open for Pre‑Orders with Shipments Expected This Quarter

With the PaintScape platform, Bruker is the only company enabling high‑precision, multiplexed, direct visualization of the 3D genome in situ in single cells. PaintScape enables researchers to study chromosomal architecture, spatial genome organization, and structural variation directly within intact biological context, opening new avenues for understanding how genome structure influences gene regulation and disease.

Bruker will launch two new panels for the PaintScape platform, including the ChromoPaint HuCL PanChromo MPX panel, a 419-plex panel designed for genome wide in situ visualization of chromosomal organization in human cell lines. In addition, Bruker will announce the OncoPaint Oncogenic Pathways Panels that will be available later this year, a 1000+-plex modular panel designed to combine genome wide chromosome painting with painting of select cancer pathway associated gene regions in increased genomic resolution.

Commercial shipments of the PaintScape platform are expected to begin later this quarter.

Introducing CellScape XR, the Highest Performing Spatial Proteomics Ecosystem Delivering Best-in-Class Data Fidelity, Robustness and Flexibility

The CellScape XR launch at AGBT represents Bruker’s next-generation advancement in spatial proteomics and introduces what is now the highest fidelity spatial proteomics platform, designed to deliver best‑in‑class data quality, robustness, and assay flexibility.

At AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper), Bruker Spatial Biology will showcase new 208‑plex spatial proteomics datasets, in collaboration with Niclas Blessin at University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH). This assay was pathology reviewed across 12 distinct neoplastic and non-neoplastic human FFPE tissue samples demonstrating the robustness of the CellScape XR protocol. These capabilities enable deeper interrogation of tumor biology, immune contexture, and signaling heterogeneity, and form a critical bridge between discovery‑scale profiling and translational research, at a scale and rigor required for clinical applications.

Bruker is accepting pre-orders for the CellScape XR, with commercial shipments expected this summer.

CosMx SMI Showcases and Extends Complete Spatial Biology Approach

Bruker has consistently been first to define what is possible with the CosMx SMI platform setting multiple best-in-class benchmarks—including both AI multimodal and 3D segmentation, subcellular spatial imaging of the human whole transcriptome (WTX), and same-cell multiomics (WTX and 64+ proteins). At AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper), Bruker Spatial Biology will showcase how these high fidelity, high sensitivity capabilities are expanding further—extending subcellular spatial imaging of the mouse whole transcriptome and highlighting emerging applications for studying human disease, such as T‑cell receptor (TCR) and miRNA imaging.

The AtoMx SIP builds on the unparalleled data richness of CosMx SMI to accelerate study‑level insight generation and biological interpretation. At AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper), Bruker Spatial Biology will reinforce a new spatial discovery workflow with AtoMx SIP, enabling rapid, image‑based exploration of single‑cell and subcellular whole transcriptome datasets through pre‑calculated spatial insights and streamlined data exports designed for conversational large language model (LLM) workflows. Applying LLMs to the comprehensive, high fidelity spatial data generated by CosMx SMI enables richer, higher quality outputs than are possible with lower resolution or lower content approaches, delivering a more interactive and intuitive experience for biological discovery. In addition, Bruker Spatial Biology will showcase new 3D AI‑based cell segmentation models that extend its best‑in‑class definition of single‑cell boundaries, improving RNA transcript assignment in tissue and addressing long standing limitations of segmentation approaches that fail to account for overlapping cells.

Bruker is accepting pre-orders for the Mouse CosMx WTX.

GeoMx Discovery Multiomics Platform Showcases Unmatched Spatial Biomarker Discovery at Scale with Whole Transcriptome and 1200+ Protein Targets

With GeoMx DSP, Bruker was the first to establish spatial biology at discovery scale and has continued to lead by demonstrating what is possible from discovery through translational research and clinically oriented applications. GeoMx DSP was first to enable high‑plex, same‑slide whole transcriptome and protein multiomics, and later to demonstrate spatial proteomic profiling of more than 1,200 antibodies on tissue with the Discovery Proteome Atlas. At AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper), Bruker Spatial Biology will showcase how GeoMx DSP is the only spatial platform to now simultaneously connect RNA pathway, protein, and post-translational modification (PTMs) across different layers of biology. The breadth of this spatial multiomics data is now informing researchers of biological pathways that are both transcriptionally active and driving functional response. GeoMx DSP further anchors large cohort biomarker and signature discovery and now connects seamlessly to downstream validation and spatial phenotyping workflows with CellScape XR on the same tissue section.

In addition to its spatial biology portfolio, Bruker will present complementary solutions including the nCounter Analysis System for bulk multiomics and the Beacon Platform, including Beacon Discovery, supporting downstream translational workflows and functional live single‑cell biology.

(Press release, Bruker, APR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234664501])

On April 17, 2026 Salubris Biotherapeutics, Inc. (SalubrisBio), a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to discovering and developing novel complex biologic therapeutics, reported expansion cohort data from the Phase 1/2 study of JK06, a 5T4-targeted antibody drug conjugate (ADC), in patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and breast cancer, which is being presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026 on April 17-22, 2026 in San Diego, California.

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"JK06 continues to demonstrate encouraging and durable efficacy among heavily pre-treated metastatic solid tumors. Partial responses have now been observed across four different cancers, including NSCLC and breast cancer, at multiple dose levels. These data are complemented by a consistently favorable safety profile, underscoring our belief that JK06 has the potential to be an important new first-in-class ADC that can address the unmet needs of patients with 5T4-expressing cancers," said Sam Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of Salubris Biotherapeutics. "These results provide a robust foundation for further exploration of JK06 in NSCLC and breast cancer and will propel our efforts to interrogate the pan-tumor opportunity. We look forward to progressing this study into the next stages of expansion cohorts, including additional monotherapy cohorts and evaluation of JK06 in multiple combination therapy regimens."

Expansion cohort data presented at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) include 112 patients enrolled in Europe with advanced relapsed/refractory solid tumors who were treated with JK06 once every three weeks, including two randomized dose cohorts (3.7 mg/kg, 4.5 mg/kg) in NSCLC and breast cancer and a basket cohort consisting of multiple tumor types known to express 5T4. The data cutoff was March 29, 2026.

Key efficacy findings include:

Among 38 response-evaluable NSCLC patients, 10 attained confirmed PRs (ORR 26%), including three out of seven response-evaluable squamous cell NSCLC patients (ORR 43%), and two of three response-evaluable Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mutant patients.
Five out of 19 response-evaluable breast cancer patients attained PRs (ORR 26%), including four out of nine hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer patients (ORR 44%).
Among other tumor types, the first and only response-evaluable gastric cancer patient enrolled attained a partial response (PR, -55%), and one of four response-evaluable cervical cancer patients attained a partial response (PR, -49%).
Among 112 safety-evaluable patients enrolled in expansion cohorts, key safety findings include:

Treatment with JK06 at doses ≤ 5.2 mg/kg was generally well-tolerated with predominantly low grade (Grades 1 and 2) treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) and manageable toxicities.
All JK06-related AEs of any grade are below 10% frequency overall except for asthenia (11% overall).
Only three total Grade 3 events have been observed to date among the 112 patients (fatigue, gait disturbance, keratitis), and no Grade 4 or 5 events have been observed.
Of the total 153 patients enrolled across all dose levels in dose escalation and expansion, only seven patients have dose-reduced due to a TRAE resulting from JK06.

The Phase 1/2 open-label, dose-escalation and expansion study (NCT06667960) to assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of JK06 is ongoing.

Details of the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) presentation are as follows:

Title: A Phase 1/2 Study of JK06, a 5T4-Targeted Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC), In Patients with Unresectable Locally Advanced or Metastatic Cancer
Presenter: Omar Saavedra, M.D., Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
Abstract #: CT250
Session: Phase II Clinical Trials
Date/Time: April 21, 2026 | 2:00 – 5:00 PM PT

About JK06

JK06 is a first-in-class quadrivalent, biparatopic ADC that selectively targets 5T4 with a monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) payload. 5T4 is an oncofetal protein that is overexpressed in a wide range of solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), breast, gastric and genitourinary cancers, and is associated with more aggressive tumor progression and reduced survival. JK06 has demonstrated picomolar affinity for 5T4 and enhanced internalization resulting from the biparatopic design. Together with stable, site-specific payload conjugation, JK06 has demonstrated the potential for robust efficacy and a favorable safety profile.

(Press release, Salubris Biotherapeutics, APR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234664500])

On April 17, 2026 OncoNano Medicine, Inc. ("OncoNano"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing precision therapies using its proprietary nanotechnology platform, reported it will present new preclinical data at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026. The presentations highlight the breadth of its ON-BOARD platform and its ability to enable effective, tumor-targeted delivery of therapeutic payloads through clinically validated ultra pH-sensitive micelle technology designed to activate within the tumor microenvironment.

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"Our ON-BOARD platform is designed to overcome key limitations of existing delivery approaches, including reliance on tumor-associated antigens and off-tumor toxicities," said Kartik Krishnan, MD, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of OncoNano. "These data demonstrate the versatility of our platform across multiple payloads and reinforce its potential to deliver profound efficacy with an improved therapeutic index."

Poster Presentation Details

A Polymer-Drug Conjugate Platform for Tumor Specific Drug Delivery: Advancement of a Clinically Validated Ultra pH-Sensitive Micelle Technology
Presenter: Qingtai Su, PhD, Senior Scientist
Session Date/Time: April 20, 2026 | 2:00–5:00 PM PT
Location: Poster Section 14 | Board #17 | Poster #3026

This presentation highlights the breadth and tunability of the ON-BOARD platform, demonstrating tumor-specific delivery of multiple cytotoxic compounds through targeting the acidic tumor microenvironment. Preclinical data show strong in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor activity across a range of payload-linker combinations, including superior tumor growth inhibition and robust responses compared to standard-of-care agents. Findings further illustrate the ability to modulate payload release through linker design, supporting a differentiated, antigen-independent approach to drug delivery.

ONM-421, a pH-Responsive Polymer-Drug Conjugate Nanoparticle, Delivers MMAE to Solid Tumors and Shows Antigen-Independent Antitumor Efficacy in Mice
Presenter: Jason Miller, PhD, Associate Director
Session Date/Time: April 20, 2026 | 2:00–5:00 PM PT
Location: Poster Section 14 | Board #12 | Poster #3021

Building on the platform’s versatility, this presentation features ONM-421 as a lead example of ON-BOARD–enabled delivery. Preclinical findings demonstrate potent, antigen-independent anti-tumor efficacy across multiple xenograft models, including strong tumor growth inhibition and survival benefit. ONM-421 showed broader activity compared to an MMAE-based antibody-drug conjugate, including efficacy in tumors with low target expression where the ADC was less active. In these models, ONM-421 also demonstrated improved tolerability relative to a standard chemotherapy when given at an efficacious dose. These data highlight enhanced payload stability and protection during circulation, reinforcing the platform’s ability to enable targeted tumor delivery while reducing off-target toxicity.

(Press release, OncoNano Medicine, APR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234664499])