On April 17, 2026 Akamis Bio, a clinical-stage oncology company working to advance the standard of care in colorectal cancer, reported early data from the on-going Phase 1b FORTRESS study of NG-350A, an oncolytic immunotherapy for the treatment of mismatch repair-proficient (pMMR) locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). NG-350A combined with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) demonstrated a composite response rate of 50 percent across the first 10 patients who completed the 12-week active treatment period, with no serious adverse events or new safety signals identified related to NG-350A.

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The ongoing Phase 1b FORTRESS study (NCT06459869) is assessing the anti-tumor effects of NG-350A combined with CRT following a 12-week active treatment period to establish whether NG-350A can improve composite response rates in pMMR LARC patients relative to expected outcomes from CRT alone. The primary endpoint of the FORTRESS study is the composite response rate defined as the proportion of patients achieving a clinical complete response (cCR) or a near clinical complete response (ncCR) at 12 weeks. The benchmark composite response rate (cCR + ncCR) for CRT alone at 12 weeks is approximately 25 percent. The CEDAR study, an investigator-initiated trial of EnAd (a predecessor to NG-350A without a transgene) plus CRT in patients with LARC, demonstrated a composite response rate of 50 percent. The preliminary 50 percent composite response rate observed to date in the FORTRESS study provides confirmation of the CEDAR results and underscores the promise of NG-350A plus CRT to improve pMMR LARC outcomes relative to expectations for CRT alone.

"While still early data, observation of such a significant composite response rate with NG-350A plus CRT after only 12 weeks of treatment could be a significant development for locally advanced rectal cancer treatment," said Eric Miller, MD, PhD, associate professor of radiation oncology at Ohio State University and a FORTRESS study investigator. "A therapy that increases the proportion of patients who respond to treatment, as well as the speed with which that response is achieved, could enable responding patients to pursue a ‘watch-and-wait’ protocol, to both avoid surgery and preserve organ function."

LARC is defined by the spread of rectal cancer to nearby tissues or lymph nodes. Patients with pMMR tumors account for approximately 95 percent of all LARC cases (~30,000 newly diagnosed patients annually in the US). CRC is now the leading cause of cancer related death in patients under 50 years old in the US and the incidence of CRC continues to rise in this younger population. Consistent with this trend, the average age of pMMR LARC patients included in this initial FORTRESS data analysis is 52 years.

The composite response rate (cCR + ncCR) used as the primary endpoint in the FORTRESS study reflects the dynamic process of tumor regression. As a patient’s tumor begins to respond to therapy, the tumor moves through the ncCR phase (characterized by nearly complete disappearance of the tumor mass with some residual mucosal abnormality) before final achievement of a cCR (a return to fully healthy, normal mucosa). While the time to convert from ncCR to cCR can vary by patient and therapeutic intervention, across studies, achievement of a ncCR has been strongly predictive of subsequent achievement of a cCR, with up to 90 percent of ncCRs converting to cCRs following the initial assessment.

"We believe that these early FORTRESS data provide the first key evidence of clinical proof of concept for NG-350A plus CRT in pMMR LARC," said Howard Davis, PhD, CEO of Akamis Bio. "When treated with the current standard of care, patients need to undergo life-altering surgery to remove portions of the rectum. We believe that NG-350A plus CRT has the potential to advance the pMMR LARC standard of care, offering more patients access to a non-operative approach to management of their disease, as well as the opportunity for organ preservation – a critically important treatment goal as LARC continues to impact increasingly younger patient populations."

The data will be shared in a poster presentation on April 20th at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026 in San Diego.

AACR Poster Presentation Details

Title: Phase 1b trial of NG-350A, a CD40 agonist antibody expressing adenoviral vector, in combination with chemoradiotherapy (CRT), in patients with mismatch repair-proficient (pMMR) locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC): Initial results from the FORTRESS study
Session Title: Phase II and Phase III Clinical Trials
Date and Time: April 20, 2:00PM – 5:00PM PDT
Location: Poster Section 52
Poster Number: 19

About NG-350A
NG-350A is a clinical-stage, intravenously delivered Tumor-Specific Immuno-Gene (T-SIGn) therapeutic designed to drive intratumoral expression of a CD40 agonist monoclonal antibody triggering the activation of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) resident in solid tumors and their draining lymph nodes. Once activated, APCs recruit T cells into the vicinity of the tumor to deliver a potent anti-tumor immune response. Akamis Bio has evaluated NG-350A’s safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy as a monotherapy (FORTITUDE study) and in combination with pembrolizumab (FORTIFY study) in patients with metastatic or advanced epithelial tumors. Across these studies, NG-350A has demonstrated a consistent safety and tolerability profile, as well as strong evidence of tumor-selective delivery, replication and transgene expression.

About the FORTRESS Study
The Phase 1b FORTRESS study (NCT06459869) is an open-label, single-arm, and multicenter trial of NG-350A in combination with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in adult patients with mismatch repair-proficient (pMMR) locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) and at least one risk factor for local or distant recurrence or with oligometastatic disease. The FORTRESS study builds upon the Akamis Bio-supported CEDAR study which showed a significantly greater composite response rate in LARC patients treated with a combination of Akamis Bio’s first generation oncolytic immunotherapy (EnAd) and chemoradiotherapy (CRT), relative to expected outcomes using standard-of-care CRT alone. The FORTRESS study is planning to enroll approximately 30 patients aged eighteen and older with histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the rectum which is locally advanced (clinical stage II-III based on pelvic MRI). During the 12-week active treatment period, patients will receive NG-350A plus CRT (oral capecitabine plus long-course intensity-modulated radiotherapy). The primary endpoint of the FORTRESS study is the composite response rate defined as the proportion of patients achieving a clinical complete response (cCR) or a near clinical complete response (ncCR) at 12 weeks. Key secondary endpoints include the incidence and severity of adverse events, characterization of the anti-tumor effects of NG-350A in combination with CRT (including clinical response outcome and magnetic resonance tumor reduction grade [mrTRG]), and measurement of levels of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) clearance. The FORTRESS study continues to enroll pMMR LARC patients with recruitment expected to conclude in 2H 2026. Patients recently diagnosed with pMMR LARC interested in learning more about the FORTRESS trial can visit www.FortressStudy.org.

About Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer (LARC)
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, and it has recently emerged as the leading cause in patients under 50 years of age. There are 159,000 people newly diagnosed with CRC each year, with about 53,000 of those people diagnosed specifically with rectal cancer of which approximately 30,000 are diagnosed with LARC. LARC is defined by the spread of rectal cancer to nearby tissues or lymph nodes. In patients with LARC, tumors have either grown through muscle and into the outermost layers of the rectum, or in more severe cases, through the wall of the rectum where they may attach to other organs or structures and/or into the lymph nodes. Approximately 95 percent of LARC patients have mismatch repair-proficient (pMMR) tumors which have a functional DNA repair system.

(Press release, Akamis Bio, APR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234664494])

On April 17, 2026 Zai Lab Limited (NASDAQ: ZLAB; HKEX: 9688) reported clinical data indicating zocilurtatug pelitecan (zoci, formerly ZL-1310), a DLL3-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), provides rapid and robust intracranial responses in patients with previously treated extensive stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) and brain metastases as measured by independent assessment using modified Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology for Brain Metastases (mRANO-BM) criteria, as well as promising data in patients with other neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). These findings, as well as preclinical data evaluating ZL-6201 (LRRC15 ADC) and ZL-1222 (PD-1/IL-12), will be presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026 in San Diego.

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Results from an ongoing, global Phase 1 trial (NCT06179069) demonstrate that treatment with zoci results in significant intracranial lesion regression and reduced tumor size among patients with ES-SCLC whose cancer metastasized to the brain, a population with poor survival and limited effective treatment options.

"For patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer who develop brain metastases, a frequent and clinically significant driver of disease progression, the prognosis is poor and existing therapeutic options delays systemic therapy and offer limited efficacy," said Luis Paz-Ares, M.D. Ph.D., senior investigator and Chair of the Medical Oncology Department at the Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre and Head of the Lung Cancer Unit at the CNIO (Spanish National Cancer Research Center) in Madrid, Spain. "The data from these ongoing zoci clinical trials are encouraging, demonstrating not only rapid and robust responses across multiple dose cohorts, but also notable activity in patients regardless of prior intracranial radiotherapy. These findings suggest the potential for zoci to provide a novel treatment option for difficult-to-treat cancers with limited therapies, addressing significant unmet needs in this patient population."

Additionally, researchers will share preliminary data from a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of zoci (NCT06885281) in patients with extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinomas (epNECs) and other selected solid tumors. These data indicate that zoci has antitumor activity, with an objective response rate (ORR) of 38.2% in an additional patient population with aggressive malignancies, poor prognosis, and limited treatment options. Notably, there are no approved standard therapies in previously treated epNEC and no targeted therapies in this disease.

Abstract title: Intracranial activity of ZL-1310, a DLL3-targeted ADC, in patients with previously treated extensive-stage small cell lung cancer and baseline brain metastasis: Analysis of a Phase 1 trial

Patients with ES-SCLC and baseline brain metastasis were enrolled in a clinical trial with zoci monotherapy administered intravenously every three weeks at varying doses (0.8, 1.2, 1.6, 2, 2.4, or 2.8 mg/kg). The data presented had a median follow-up of 7.9 months. Systemic efficacy was measured with RECIST v1.1 by investigator assessment and intracranial efficacy was assessed with mRANO-BM by blinded independent radiologic committee review.

Among 136 treated patients, 36% had baseline brain metastases.
In all patients with brain metastases and the opportunity to finish at least two post-baseline scans, intracranial objective response rate (iORR) among patients who received zoci was 53.7% (22/41), including seven complete responses. At the 1.6 mg/kg dose, confirmed iORR was 62.5% (10/16), including four complete responses. Fourteen patients were censored after a median follow-up of 9.2 months.
Intracranial tumor reductions occurred across multiple dose levels and responses were observed in both patients with (50%, 13/26) and without (60%, 9/15) prior radiotherapy.
Zoci demonstrated a manageable safety profile, with most treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) reported as low grade with minimal discontinuation. Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 19.9% (27/136) of the overall population and in 16.4% (9/55) of patients who received 1.6mg/kg. The most common grade ≥3 TRAEs included: neutropenia (9.6%, 13/136), anemia (8.8%, 12/136), thrombocytopenia (3.7%, 5/136), lymphopenia (2.9%, 4/136), and leukopenia (2.9%, 4/136). No intracranial metastasis complications or treatment-related neurologic serious adverse events were reported.
Abstract title: Preliminary results from the Phase 1b/2, open-label, multi-center study of ZL-1310, a DLL3-targeted ADC, in patients with neuroendocrine carcinomas and other selected solid tumors

In another important analysis for patients with high unmet need due to aggressive malignancies with limited treatment options, preliminary results from the multicenter Phase 1b/2 study of zoci in patients with NECs demonstrated clinically meaningful responses. Researchers administered zoci intravenously at 1.6 mg/kg every three weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity, with a data cutoff date of February 18, 2026, representing a median follow up of 3.7 months in the Phase 1b portion of the study. Tumor response was evaluated by investigator-assessed RECIST v1.1 with additional assessments for some NECs.

Of the 46 patients who were pretreated with prior platinum-based chemotherapy and other prior systemic therapies, treatment with zoci decreased tumor sizes within multiple epNEC subtypes with confirmed responses in pretreated patients.
Among response evaluable patients, the overall response rate was 38.2% (13/34) across study cohorts and the overall disease control rate was 55.9% (19/34).
Zoci demonstrated a manageable safety profile; neutrophil count decrease (5.2%, 3/58) was the only Grade ≥3 TRAE occurring in more than one patient.
These findings highlight the potential for zoci across a broad range of DLL3-expressing NECs.

"The zoci data that we will present at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper), alongside our ZL-6201 and ZL-1222 preclinical data, highlight the breadth, diversity and potential of our global oncology pipeline," said Rafael G. Amado, M.D., President, Head of Global Research and Development at Zai Lab. "The rapid progression of zoci into pivotal development, with three registration-enabling studies planned by the end of this year, is a prime example of our strategy to deliver our first global oncology launch. This accelerated progress is made possible by our unique integrated U.S.-China infrastructure, which allows us to evolve drug discovery into life-changing medicines with a focus on speed and quality."

Data from two additional Zai Lab internally developed investigational oncology therapies will also be presented at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper). Researchers will share promising findings from preclinical studies of ZL-6201, a leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 15 (LRRC15) targeting ADC for the treatment of sarcoma and epithelial tumors with LRRC15 expressing cancer-associated fibroblasts; and, ZL-1222, a potential next generation anti-PD-1 and interleukin-12 (IL-12) signaling attenuated mutein agonist immunocytokine for cancer immunotherapy.

Details regarding the webcast and conference call are as follows:

Date/Time: Monday, April 20, 2026, at 5:30 a.m. PT / 8:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. HKT
Registration available at:
Webcast presentation (preferred): View Source
Dial-in: View Source
Presenters: Rafael G. Amado, M.D., President, Head of Global Research and Development, Zai Lab; Luis Paz-Ares, M.D. Ph.D., Chair of the Medical Oncology Department at the Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre and Head of the Lung Cancer Unit at the CNIO (Spanish National Cancer Research Center), Madrid, Spain; Rohit Thummalapalli, M.D., gastrointestinal medical oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

About Zocilurtatug Pelitecan (Zoci, ZL-1310)

Zoci targets DLL3, a validated therapeutic target for small cell lung cancer that is overexpressed in many neuroendocrine tumors and is generally associated with poor clinical outcomes. Zoci is on track to potentially become Zai Lab’s first global oncology launch, with plans for three registration-enabling studies across 2L+ SCLC, 1L SCLC and extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinomas by the end of 2026. Its potential best-in-class safety profile, coupled with compelling systemic and intracranial efficacy, supports its potential role as a new standard of care in previously treated extensive stage small cell lung cancer, as well as a backbone DLL3-targeting antibody drug conjugate in first line combination regimens, including those that reduce the burdens of chemotherapy, such as check point inhibitors and T-cell engagers.

About ZL-6201

Zai Lab is evaluating ZL-6201 as a potential first-in-class LRRC15-targeting antibody drug conjugate for the treatment of multiple solid tumors. LRRC15 is a type I transmembrane protein and an attractive target for cancer therapy because it is overexpressed in various mesenchymal tumors, such as sarcoma, glioblastoma and melanoma, as well as in cancer associated fibroblasts across many other tumor types.

About ZL-1222

Zai Lab is evaluating ZL-1222 as a potential next-generation bispecific immunocytokine comprising anti-PD-1 and attenuated IL-12 for cancer immunotherapy across multiple indications, with potential to combine potent antitumor activity with improved systemic safety. Previously, interleukin-12 therapies have shown potential benefit across a range of cancer types; however, narrow therapeutic windows and toxicity concerns have limited the utility of this therapeutic class.

(Press release, Zai Laboratory, APR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234664493])

On April 17, 2026 Agenus Inc. (Nasdaq: AGEN), a leader in immuno-oncology innovation, reported data from an investigator-initiated Phase II trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, investigating botensilimab (BOT) and balstilimab (BAL) in combination with agenT-797, MiNK’s allo-iNKT cell therapy, ramucirumab and paclitaxel in patients with advanced PD-1 refractory gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. The data are being presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, taking place April 17-22, 2026, in San Diego, CA.

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This Phase II trial, which is the first to combine BOT and BAL with agenT-797 in patients with gastroesophageal cancer who progressed after frontline therapy, was designed to explore the role of immune priming and treatment sequencing. Patients received induction with agenT-797 (alone or plus BOT/BAL) followed by the full combination regimen, or initiated the combination without induction, with longitudinal biomarker sampling throughout. In this study (n=17), the regimen delivered a 77% DCR with long-term survival beyond 20 months in a subset, and the induction arm showed meaningful gains in PFS (6.9 vs. 3.5 months; HR 0.19; p=0.015) and OS (9.5 vs. 5.2 months), with 43% of induction-treated patients alive at both 12 and 18 months—underscoring that durability and survival may be the most clinically relevant endpoints in this PD-1 refractory population.

"These findings illustrate the mechanistic synergy of agenT-797 with botensilimab and balstilimab in this PD-1 refractory setting," said Dhan Chand, Ph.D., Vice President of Research at Agenus. "The induction approach promoted significant intratumoral infiltration of T cells and dendritic cells, the formation of organized tertiary lymphoid structures in on-treatment biopsy tissue from a patient with durable benefit, and activation of peripheral CD4 and CD8 T-cell populations. These changes are consistent with immune priming and tumor immune reprogramming, providing a biological rationale for the improved progression-free survival observed with the induction strategy."

Efficacy findings from the Phase II (n=17) study included:

DCR was observed in 77% of all treated patients, and long-term survival beyond 20 months was seen in a subset
Patients who received induction cycle had longer progression-free survival (PFS) than those treated without induction, with median PFS of 6.9 months versus 3.5 months (HR 0.19; p=0.015), supporting the potential importance of immune priming and treatment sequencing.
Median overall survival (OS) was 9.5 months in the induction cohort versus 5.2 months without induction, with 43% of induction-treated patients alive at both 12 and 18 months, compared with 20% and 0%, respectively, in the non-induction cohort.
The study did not meet its primary endpoint of ORR; however, disease control and longer-term survival observed in a subset of patients support further study of this approach.
Correlative analyses showed that treatment with BOT, BAL, and agenT-797 was associated with significant intratumoral T cell and dendritic cell infiltration, the formation of organized tertiary lymphoid structures in on-treatment biopsies from a patient with prolonged benefit, and activation of peripheral CD4 and CD8 T cells.

The safety profile was consistent with the component agents. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events among all patients included fatigue, fever, diarrhea, anorexia, nausea and mucositis. Immune-related adverse events included dermatitis, colitis, gastritis, enteritis, hepatitis and hypothyroidism.

Additional analysis of the full biospecimen dataset is ongoing and is expected to provide further insight into immune mechanisms, optimal sequencing, and potential biomarkers that could help identify patients most likely to benefit.

Presentation Details:

Abstract Title: A phase II study of agenT-797, botensilimab (BOT) and balstilimab (BAL) in PD-1 refractory gastroesophageal cancer (GEC)
Presenter: Samuel L. Cytryn M.D.; Gastrointestinal Medical Oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Session Name: Phase II and Phase III Clinical Trials
Date/Time: April 20, 2026 | 2:00–5:00 PM PT; 5:00-8:00 PM EDT
Poster Section: 52
Abstract No.: CT166

(Press release, Agenus, APR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234664492])

On April 17, 2026 The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI), reported that research and expertise from across its network will be showcased at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, taking place April 17- 22 in San Diego, California. PICI leaders, investigators, and collaborators are contributing to nearly 100 posters, presentations, and discussions throughout the program – demonstrating the depth and breadth of the network’s contributions to the field of cancer immunotherapy.

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Notably, PICI’s newly appointed Chief of External Affairs Kristen Dahlgren is a co-chair of this year’s Annual Meeting Program Committee. She will also chair an educational session on communicating beyond academic audiences and a forum designed to help attendees gain actionable insights to improve trial efficiency, broaden representation, and enhance the relevance and impact of their research. PICI is also unveiling the latest results from the RADIOHEAD cohort, with the largest plasma proteomics study of its kind for checkpoint inhibitor therapy, alongside new methylation-based tools for monitoring tumor dynamics.

Additionally, Antoni Ribas, Director of the PICI Center at UCLA, will be honored with the 2026 AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper)-Margaret Foti Award for Leadership and Extraordinary Achievements in Cancer Research. This award is presented annually to an individual whose leadership and extraordinary achievements in cancer research have made a major impact in the field.

"Cancer doesn’t wait, and neither do the researchers of the PICI Network. The work our investigators are presenting at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2026 – across cell therapies, resistance mechanisms, precision platforms and beyond – represents years of collaboration designed to move faster than any single institution could alone," said Dr. Knudsen. "Through our investigators and portfolio companies, we are developing and accelerating access to breakthrough cancer therapies and curating innovation from discovery to commercialization, with the vision of converting all cancers to curable diseases."

Presentation Highlights from the Network

Select highlights from across the network include:

Kristen Dahlgren (PICI): Anatomy lesson: Finding the heart in your science (Saturday, April 18) and How survivor driven priorities can accelerate research innovation (Tuesday, April 21)

Karen Knudsen, MBA, PhD (PICI): Co-author of CBP/p300 and PARP inhibitor combination treatment synergistically enhances anti-tumor efficacy in models of advanced prostate cancer (Abstract 4047)
Oral Presentation, Monday, April 20 (O.I. Richter)
Translational Platforms & Liquid Biopsy

John Connolly, PhD (PICI): High-throughput protein profiling applied to the RADIOHEAD cohort—the largest plasma proteomics study of patients receiving checkpoint inhibitor therapy (Abstract 6332)

Samantha Liang (PICI): Methylation-based tumor fraction monitoring to identify patients who may benefit from comprehensive genomic profiling (Abstract 1122)

Christopher Cabanski (PICI): Hierarchical modeling of methylation-based tumor fraction dynamics for pan-cancer immunotherapy response assessment (Abstract 690)
CAR T & Engineered Cell Therapies

Crystal Mackall, MD (Stanford Medicine): Multiple presentations including IL-18 secreting CAR-T cells for antigen-heterogeneous solid tumors (Abstract 1351); targeting the oncofetal antigen GPC2 in medulloblastoma (Abstract 4009); and a longitudinal single-cell atlas of GD2-CAR T cell therapy in diffuse midline glioma (Abstract 6463)

Carl June, MD (UPenn): Spatial profiling of recurrent glioblastoma in a Phase I CAR T trial (Abstract 3444) and spatial remodeling of the tumor microenvironment by IL-18-armored CD19 CAR T cells (Abstract 6470)

Roddy O’Connor, PhD (UPenn): Metabolic fitness enhancement for CAR-T cells (Abstract 4272) and a novel nanoparticle platform for scalable adoptive immunotherapy manufacturing (Abstract 4291)

Michael Milone, MD, PhD (UPenn): Novel SynKIR-310 platform outperforming CD3-based CAR T in lymphoma models (Abstract 5193)
In Vivo Gene Editing & CRISPR

Alexander Marson, MD, PhD (Gladstone/UCSF): In vivo genome-wide CRISPR screens in human T cells for solid tumor therapy (Abstract 1532); virus-like particle-enabled gene engineering in primary human myeloid cells (Abstract 1580)
Tumor Microenvironment & Resistance

David Barbie, MD (DFCI): Multiple presentations including next-generation immune engagers derived from reprogrammed E. coli (Abstract 4904); co-targeting EZH2 and TEAD in Hippo pathway-mutated cancers (Abstract 1850); and B7-H3 targeting in the SCLC tumor-immune microenvironment (Abstract 5603)

Eli Van Allen, MD (DFCI): Six posters spanning bladder cancer resistance (Abstract 3458), myeloid-driven immunotherapy resistance in prostate cancer bone metastases (Abstract 4084), and tumor mass dormancy in melanoma (Abstract 3450)

Jedd Wolchok, MD, PhD (Weill Cornell Medicine): Tumor IDO1-driven resistance to adoptive cell transfer (Abstract 6537) and clinical strategies to enhance TIL therapy efficacy (Abstract 5624)
Neoantigens & TCR-Based Therapies

Hideho Okada, MD, PhD (UCSF): Splicing-landscape-derived shared neoantigens in IDH-mutant gliomas (Abstract 462) and viral vector vaccination driving brain-resident memory T cells (Abstract 4363)

Christopher Klebanoff, MD (MSK): Immunopeptidomic discovery of fetal WNT-associated antigen NKD1 for HLA-A2-restricted TCR-T therapy in microsatellite-stable metastatic colorectal cancer (Abstract 3714)
Pediatric & CNS Cancers

Robbie Majzner, MD (DFCI): Ganglioside targeting for neuroblastoma (Abstract 7814)

Kai Wucherpfennig, MD, PhD (DFCI): Pre-existing T cells driving durable anti-tumor immunity after oncolytic virus therapy in glioblastoma (Abstract 7743)
Breast Cancer & Solid Tumors

Elizabeth Mittendorf, MD, PhD (DFCI): Age-stratified therapeutic strategies targeting chemoresistance and immunosuppression in triple-negative breast cancer (Abstract 6825)

Lili Yang, PhD (UCLA): Three presentations advancing NKT cell therapy and nanoparticle-mediated disruption of tumor-nerve crosstalk in pancreatic cancer (Abstracts 4316, 153, 6384)

Padmanee Sharma, MD, PhD (MD Anderson): Peripheral immune profiling from the DIET trial in melanoma patients receiving immunotherapy (Abstract 6743)

(Press release, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, APR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234664491])

On April 17, 2026 Precision Biologics, Inc. reported a new target in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) for CAR-NK therapy. Recent data for several human AML subtypes expressing truncated core 1 O-glycans will be presented in a poster at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting on April 19th, 2026, in San Diego, CA, USA.

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Poster title: NEO-201-recognized truncated Core 1 O-glycans represent a new target for CAR-NK therapy in AML

Presentation of the poster will be made in person on the following date and location:

Sunday, April 19th, 2:00pm – 5:00pm PT

San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA, USA

Exhibit Hall

Session Category: Immunology

Session Title: Alternative Cell Type and in Situ Cell Therapies

Location: Poster Section 7

Poster Board Number: 7

Poster Number: 133

Abstract Number: 7933 (published in Cancer Research: View Source)

BACKGROUND:

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) continues to have poor long-term outcomes, particularly in high-risk and relapsed/refractory disease. Progress in AML immunotherapy has been hindered by the scarcity of antigens selectively expressed on leukemic cells while sparing hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs).

Recent data to be presented for the first time at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper), clearly identifies truncated Core 1 O-glycans recognized by NEO-201 as a novel AML-associated antigen present across multiple subtypes and largely absent from early hematopoietic progenitors. The potent antileukemic activity of NEO-201CAR NK cells in preclinical systems highlights the promise of this approach and sets the stage for advancing truncated Core 1 O-glycan-directed Cellular therapies into translational and clinical development.

"What was surprising to us was this novel target originally was discovered in solid tumors not healthy tissue, but its expression is also found in hematologic cancers. This provides the basis of targeting this specific glycan when developing cellular therapies for the treatment of refractory leukemias" said Dr. Philip M. Arlen, of Precision Biologics, Inc.

With a 5-year relative survival of only 32.9% from 2015 – 2021, it’s estimated that in the US in 2025 AML claimed about 22,000 new cases, with over 11,000 deaths. (seer.cancer.gov)

(Press release, Precision Biologics, APR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234664490])