Inhibrx Provides Clinical Update on Ozekibart (INBRX-109) in Late Line Colorectal Cancer

On April 21, 2026 Inhibrx Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: INBX) ("Inhibrx" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel biologic therapeutic candidates, reported updated interim data from its Phase 1/2 study evaluating ozekibart (INBRX-109) in combination with FOLFIRI in patients with locally advanced or metastatic, unresectable colorectal cancer (CRC).

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As of April 10, 2026, the cutoff date, the CRC cohort continued to demonstrate a compelling signal of activity in a heavily pretreated patient population. Of the 45 evaluable patients, approximately 70% received ozekibart as a fourth-line therapy, and 80% had previously progressed on irinotecan-based regimens. The following data were observed as of the cutoff date:

Objective Response Rate (ORR): Efficacy was assessed in 45 evaluable patients, resulting in an ORR of 20% per RECIST v1.1 criteria. Historically, the current standard of care has yielded limited response rates (ORR of 1-6% per RECIST v1.1 criteria). Nearly half of responses were durable with a duration of response exceeding 6 months. Responses were observed irrespective of RAS/RAF mutation status.

Progression-Free Survival (PFS): The median PFS for the evaluable population was 5.5 months. Notably, 42% of patients remained progression-free at the 6-month landmark, with 9 patients remaining on therapy, suggesting that a significant portion of patients achieve durable disease control that extends well beyond the median PFS.

Disease Control Rate (DCR): The overall disease control rate (partial responses and stable disease as best response) remained robust at 87%, further supporting the potential of ozekibart to control tumor growth in a heavily pre-treated population.

Safety and tolerability: Ozekibart in combination with FOLFIRI continues to maintain a manageable safety profile. The most common treatment-related adverse events (TEAEs) were diarrhea, fatigue, and nausea, which were largely Grade 1 or 2 and consistent with the known side effects of FOLFIRI. Despite the majority of the patients (68%) presenting with liver metastases at baseline, no significant liver toxicity was observed.
"The meaningful response rate and PFS, together with a manageable safety profile in this heavily pre-treated population, are highly encouraging and support our plans to advance into first line, where the potential for deeper and more durable responses may be even greater," said Mark Lappe, Chief Executive Officer of Inhibrx Biosciences. "It also highlights the opportunity for broader expansion of ozekibart into other indications, which we continue to explore."

Inhibrx plans to meet with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the second half of 2026 to discuss plans to initiate a first-line registrational trial in CRC. The Company also plans to discuss with the FDA the potential for accelerated regulatory pathways for ozekibart in fourth-line colorectal cancer and in refractory Ewing sarcoma. Additionally, the Company submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the FDA for ozekibart in conventional chondrosarcoma in April 2026.

The Company will host a live webcast presentation today, April 21, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time to further discuss the results.

About the Conference Call

Investors may join via the web: View Source or may listen to the call by dialing (1-888-880-3330). Please refer to Inhibrx Biosciences, Inc. or the conference ID 9536529 when calling in. Following the webcast, the presentation may be accessed through a link on the "Events and Presentations" section of Inhibrx’s website. The webcast will be available for 60 days following the event. Following the presentation, Inhibrx will also update its corporate presentation within the "Investors" section of its website at www.inhibrx.com.

About ozekibart (INBRX-109)

Ozekibart is a precision-engineered, tetravalent death receptor 5 (DR5) agonist antibody designed to exploit the tumor-biased cell death induced by DR5 activation. In January 2021, the FDA granted Fast Track designation to ozekibart for the treatment of patients with metastatic or unresectable conventional chondrosarcoma, and, in November 2021, the FDA granted orphan drug designation to ozekibart for chondrosarcoma.

In June 2021, Inhibrx initiated a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, registrational trial of ozekibart in metastatic, unresectable conventional chondrosarcoma. The trial enrolled a total of 206 patients across 67 different sites worldwide. In October 2025, Inhibrx announced the ChonDRAgon study met its primary endpoint of a statistically significant and clinically meaningful median progression-free survival (PFS) for patients with advanced or metastatic chondrosarcoma treated with ozekibart compared to placebo. Ozekibart achieved a 52% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death compared to placebo (stratified Hazard Ratio [HR] 0.479; 95% CI: 0.33, 0.68); P<0.0001), more than doubling median PFS to 5.52 months versus 2.66 months for placebo. Importantly, ozekibart is the first investigational therapy to demonstrate a significant PFS benefit in a randomized trial for chondrosarcoma, a disease with no approved systemic options.

The benefit of ozekibart was consistent across all pre-specified subgroups, including patients with IDH-wild-type and IDH-mutant tumors. Other key secondary endpoints, including disease control rate (54% vs 27.5%), and delay to deterioration in pain and physical function, further supported the clinical benefit observed with ozekibart.

(Press release, Inhibrx, APR 21, 2026, View Source [SID1234664640])

Nektar Therapeutics Announces Pricing of Upsized $325 Million Public Offering

On April 21, 2026 Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative medicines in the field of immunotherapy, reported the pricing of its upsized underwritten public offering of $325 million of shares of its common stock. Nektar is selling 3,532,609 shares of common stock at a public offering price of $92.00 per share. The gross proceeds to Nektar from the offering are expected to be approximately $325 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. In addition, Nektar has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 529,891 shares of its common stock at the public offering price per share, less underwriting discounts and commissions. All of the securities being sold in this offering are being offered by Nektar. The offering is expected to close on April 23, 2026, subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions.

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Nektar intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include research and development, clinical development (including Phase 3 trials for rezpegaldesleukin in atopic dermatitis and alopecia areata) and manufacturing costs to support the advancement of its drug candidates, as well as other general corporate purposes.

Jefferies, TD Cowen, and Piper Sandler are acting as joint bookrunning managers for the offering. Citigroup is also acting as a bookrunner for the offering.

The securities described above are being offered pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR (No. 333-291466) that was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on November 12, 2025 and automatically became effective upon filing. This offering is being made only by means of a prospectus supplement and an accompanying prospectus that form a part of the registration statement.

A final prospectus supplement related to and describing the terms of the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website located at www.sec.gov. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and an accompanying prospectus related to the offering may also be obtained, when available, from Jefferies LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate Prospectus Department, 520 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022, by telephone at (877) 821-7388, or by email at [email protected]; TD Securities (USA) LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717 or by email at [email protected]; Piper Sandler & Co., 350 North 5th Street, Suite 1000, Minneapolis, MN 55401, Attention: Prospectus Department, by telephone at (800) 747-3924, or by email at [email protected]; or Citigroup, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717 (Tel: 800-831-9146).

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

(Press release, Nektar Therapeutics, APR 21, 2026, View Source [SID1234664639])

Verismo Therapeutics Presents Preclinical Data at AACR 2026 for SynKIR™-310 KIR-CAR Indicating Superior Preclinical Activity in B Cell Malignancies and Early Clinical Efficacy

On April 21, 2026 Verismo Therapeutics, a clinical-stage CAR T cell therapy company pioneering a novel multi-chain KIR-CAR platform technology, reported new preclinical in vivo data for SynKIR-310 KIR-CAR living medicine, highlighting KIR-CAR’s superior anti-tumor activity and improved cytokine profile compared to conventional single-chain CAR T in B cell malignancies. Early clinical data for SynKIR-310 KIR-CAR were also announced from a multi-site Phase 1 clinical trial, CELESTIAL-301 (NCT06544265) for patients with B cell lymphomas, highlighting a patient’s ongoing complete response after 6 months. These data were presented on April 21 at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026 in San Diego, CA (Poster Number: 5193).

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"While single-chain CAR T therapies have revolutionized blood cancer treatment, nearly half of blood cancer patients who initially respond relapse as early as six months after treatment,[1]" said Laura A. Johnson, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Verismo Therapeutics. "This urgent patient need is precisely why we designed multi-chain SynKIR-310 KIR-CAR with a natural ‘on-off’ switch to potentially address chronic T cell exhaustion and increase durability.

"We are excited to report new preclinical data showing SynKIR-310 KIR-CAR improved anti-tumor activity with reduced cytokine production compared to a conventional single-chain CAR T approach. We’re also encouraged that early clinical observation of one patient in our CELESTIAL-301 trial achieved a complete tumor response that remains ongoing beyond six months. Together, these data support continued clinical evaluation of the KIR-CAR platform and SynKIR-310, specifically in patients with relapsed or refractory B cell malignancies, including follicular lymphoma."

These preclinical data were shared during poster session "Adoptive Cell Therapy 2" by Megan Blair, Ph.D., In Vivo Lead at Verismo Therapeutics, on April 21, showing multi-chain SynKIR-310 KIR-CAR had enhanced anti-tumor activity in vivo compared to tisagenlecleucel and axicabtagene ciloleucel analogs, in B-NHL xenograft mouse models, with reduced cytokine production, while maintaining comparable T cell persistence. These findings suggest a potential favorable benefit-risk profile of multi-chain KIR-CAR compared to traditional single-chain CAR T.

Early clinical data from CELESTIAL-301 were also shared, highlighting treatment of a 70-year-old male patient with follicular lymphoma who received SynKIR-310 KIR-CAR at the lowest dose level (DL1) and achieved complete tumor response 28 days later, which remains ongoing as of their most recent 6-month follow-up appointment.

The CELESTIAL-301 trial is supported in part by the Institute for Follicular Lymphoma Innovation (IFLI), a global non-profit private foundation dedicated to accelerating the development of innovative treatment options for patients with follicular lymphoma, which has committed up to $4.05 million to advance SynKIR-310 KIR-CAR development in follicular lymphoma (FL) and expand patient enrollment in the trial.

"IFLI invested in SynKIR-310 because we believe its novel KIR-CAR architecture has the potential to meaningfully change the treatment trajectory for patients with follicular lymphoma who have exhausted standard options, including prior CAR T therapy," said David McCullagh, IFLI Managing Director. "Today’s data provide an important early signal supporting the potential of this platform. We look forward to continuing to support Verismo as they advance SynKIR-310 KIR-CAR toward broader clinical development in FL, along with other B cell malignancies."

About SynKIR-310 KIR-CAR and the CELESTIAL-301 Clinical Trial

SynKIR-310 is an investigational autologous engineered cell therapy developed using Verismo’s KIR-CAR platform. This approach utilizes a multi-chain, split-signaling architecture derived from natural killer cells, designed to drive long-term anti-tumor T cell function without T cell exhaustion. By keeping antigen recognition separate from T cell activation, the multi-chain architecture is intended to sustain T cell activity to provide a more durable response compared to single-chain CAR T approaches.

CELESTIAL-301 is a Phase 1 first-in-human, multi-center, open-label, basket clinical trial, evaluating SynKIR-310 KIR-CAR in patients with relapsed/refractory B-NHL, such as FL, and including those who have or have not previously received CD19 CAR T therapies. See clinicaltrials.gov (NCT06544265) for more information.

(Press release, Verismo Therapeutics, APR 21, 2026, View Source [SID1234664638])

IDEAYA Biosciences Announces Late-Breaking Abstract Oral Presentation at ASCO 2026 to Provide Complete Data from Phase 2/3 Registrational Trial (OptimUM-02) of Darovasertib in Combination with Crizotinib in 1L HLA*A2-Negative Metastatic Uveal Melanoma

On April 21, 2026 IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDYA), a leading precision medicine oncology company, reported they have been selected for a late-breaking abstract (LBA) oral presentation to provide the complete data from the Phase 2/3 registrational trial (OptimUM-02) of darovasertib in combination with crizotinib in first-line (1L) HLA*A2-negative metastatic uveal melanoma at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, taking place on May 29-June 2 in Chicago, Illinois. The presentation will include detail and additional data from OptimUM-02 that were not disclosed with the company’s topline release.

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Presentation details

Late-Breaking Abstract Number: LBA9503

Date and Time: June 1, 2026, 8-11AM CDT, Oral Abstract Session, Melanoma/Skin Cancers

Title: Darovasertib Plus Crizotinib vs Investigator’s Choice as First-Line Treatment for Patients with HLA-A2 Negative Metastatic Uveal Melanoma: Primary Results from the OptimUM-02 trial

Presenter: Dr. Marlana Orloff, M.D., Associate Professor of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

(Press release, Ideaya Biosciences, APR 21, 2026, View Source [SID1234664637])

Dizal to Report Key Progress in its NSCLC Portfolio with Two Oral Presentations and a Poster During ASCO 2026

On April 21, 2026 Dizal (SSE:688192), a biopharmaceutical company committed to developing novel medicines for cancer and immunological diseases, reported that new clinical data from its non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) pipeline will be presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, taking place May 29–June 2 in Chicago. The presentations will feature the company’s investigational assets ZEGFROVY (sunvozertinib), golidocitinib, and DZD6008, highlighted by two oral presentations, including one selected as a Late-Breaking Abstract (LBA).

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Results from the multinational Phase 3 WU-KONG28 study of ZEGFROVY have been selected for oral presentation as an LBA. ZEGFROVY is an oral, irreversible, and highly selective EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), approved in China and the U.S. for the treatment of relapsed or refractory NSCLC harboring EGFR exon20ins. WU-KONG28 is a phase 3 randomized pivotal study comparing sunvozertinib vs. chemo doublet in previously untreated NSCLC patients with EGFR exon20ins mutation. Earlier, Dizal announced that the study had met its primary endpoint with statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS).

Updated clinical data of DZD6008 in pretreated NSCLC patients with EGFR C797X mutations have also been selected for oral presentation. DZD6008 is a novel, highly selective fourth-generation EGFR TKI with full blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration, designed to address clinical challenges after treatment failure from third-generation EGFR TKIs. In preclinical models, DZD6008 exhibits potent and consistent inhibitory activity across a broad range of EGFR mutations, including EGFR driver mutations (L858R and exon 19 deletions), resistant double mutations (including T790M/C797S in the context of L858R or exon 19 deletion), and the challenging triple mutations (C797X plus T790M plus L858R or exon 19 deletion).

In addition, Dizal will present the latest findings from a study evaluating golidocitinib in combination with anti–PD-1 antibody in NSCLC without known driver mutations. Golidocitinib is the world’s first and only approved JAK1 inhibitor for relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma. Preclinical data indicate that JAK inhibition can rescue exhausted T-cell function and modulate the tumor microenvironment, providing a mechanistic basis for the combination of golidocitinib with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies in NSCLC patients who have progressed on prior anti-PD-1 containing regimens.

Dr. Xiaolin Zhang, CEO of Dizal, said: "The new data to be reported at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2026 show significant progress we have made with our non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) pipeline. We are especially happy to report that WU-KONG28 met its primary endpoint. EGFR exon20ins is a tough target, and several compounds have failed in clinical studies. With this positive study, Zegfrovy further demonstrates its potential as the treatment of choice for newly diagnosed lung cancer patients with EGFR exon20ins mutation."

Dizal presentation details during 2026 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper):

Lead Author

Abstract Title

Presentation Details

Prof. John Heymach

Sunvozertinib monotherapy versus platinum-
based chemotherapy as first-line treatment for
advanced NSCLC with EGFR exon20ins:
Primary analysis of a multinational phase 3
randomized study (WU-KONG28)

Publication Number: LBA8500

Oral Abstract Session

May 29, 2026, 1:00 PM-4:00 PM
CDT

Prof. Mengzhao
Wang

DZD6008, a 4th Generation EGFR TKI, in
Pretreated NSCLC Patients with EGFR C797X
Mutations: Results from Phase 1/2 Studies

Publication Number: 8520

Rapid Oral Abstract Session

May 30, 2026, 1:15 PM-2:45 PM
CDT

Prof. Jie Wang

Combination of golidocitinib (a JAK1 inhibitor)
with anti–PD-1 antibody to improve tumor
response and patient quality of life: Preliminary
results from an ongoing JACKPOT 33 study

Publication Number: 8555

Poster Session

May 31, 2026, 9:00 AM-12:00
PM CDT

About ZEGFROVY(sunvozertinib)

ZEGFROVY is an irreversible EGFR inhibitor discovered by Dizal scientists targeting a wide spectrum of EGFR mutations with wild-type EGFR selectivity. ZEGFROVY is approved in the U.S. and China for the treatment the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 20 insertion mutations (exon20ins), whose disease has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. The approval in China is based on the results of the pivotal WU-KONG6 study in platinum-based chemotherapy pretreated NSCLC with EGFR exon20ins. The U.S. approval is supported by WU-KONG1 Part B, a multinational pivotal study investigating the efficacy and safety of ZEGFROVY in the same indication.

In addition, ZEGFROVY also demonstrated encouraging anti-tumor activity in NSCLC patients with EGFR sensitizing, T790M, and uncommon mutations, as well as HER2 exon20ins.

ZEGFROVY showed a well-tolerated and manageable safety profile in the clinic. The most common drug-related TEAEs (treatment-emergent adverse event) were Grade 1/2 in nature and clinically manageable.

WU-KONG28, a multinational, randomized Phase 3 study conducted across 16 countries and regions evaluating ZEGFROVY as first-line treatment for patients with EGFR exon20ins NSCLC, met its primary endpoint.

Pre-clinical and clinical results of ZEGFROVY were published in peer-reviewed journals Cancer Discovery, The Lancet Respiratory Medicine and Journal of Clinical Oncology.

About Golidocitinib (DZD4205)

Golidocitinib is currently the first and only Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) inhibitor being evaluated for the treatment of r/r PTCL. In June 2024, golidocitinib was approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (r/r PTCL).

At the date of August 31, 2023, golidocitinib demonstrated robust and durable anti-tumor efficacy, with an ORR of 44.3%. All subtypes benefited well, and the ORR of common subtypes exceeded 40%. More than 50% of the patients with tumor remission achieved a complete response with a CRR of 23.9%. Per IRC assessment, the median duration of response (mDoR) reached 20.7 months. As of February 2024, golidocitinib showed a median overall survival (mOS) of 24.3 months.

Golidocitinib was granted Fast Track Designation by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of r/r PTCL in February 2022. In September 2023, the CDE accepted its NDA and granted Priority Review for the treatment of r/r PTCL. The Phase I clinical data of golidocitinib (JACKPOT8 PART A) were published in Annals of Oncology (Impact Factor: 51.8), and global pivotal trial data of golidocitinib for the treatment of r/r PTCL (JACKPOT PART B) were published in The Lancet Oncology (Impact Factor: 54.4).

About DZD6008

DZD6008 is a novel, highly selective, full-BBB penetrant EGFR TKI, designed as a potential treatment option for advanced EGFR mutation positive (EGFRm) NSCLC.

Non-small cell lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the world. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene is one of the most common driver genes for NSCLC. Multiple agents can be used to treat patients with EGFR mutated NSCLC who develop resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), but the clinical outcome was not satisfactory. Brain metastases (BM) are a leading cause of death and disease progression for NSCLC. Approximately 23%-30% of NSCLC patients are synchronous BM at their initial diagnosis. Previous studies reported that the 3-year cumulative rate of BMs ranges from 29.4% to 60.3% in patients with mutated EGFR.

Currently, the clinical benefits of existing treatments for third-generation EGFR TKI-resistant NSCLC are limited and DZD6008 is expected to fill the unmet medical needs. DZD6008 effectively inhibits EGFR-mutated tumor growth in cell lines and in animal models. Previous clinical studies have validated the design concept of the molecule and suggest that DZD6008 demonstrates good safety and efficacy in NSCLC patients with brain metastases who had failed third-generation EGFR TKI therapy or multiple lines of pre-treatments.

(Press release, Dizal Pharma, APR 21, 2026, View Source [SID1234664636])