1 in 4 metastatic breast cancer patients treated with Novartis Kisqali® remain progression-free beyond 4 years

On December 9, 2025 Novartis reported results showing that one in four patients with hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) advanced breast cancer (ABC) remained progression-free for four or more years following treatment with Kisqali (ribociclib) plus endocrine therapy (ET)1. Results were from a pooled, post-hoc exploratory analysis of first-line patients in the MONALEESA trials and will be presented at the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) on December 11, 2025.

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Metastatic breast cancer is cancer that has spread beyond the breasts to other parts of the body. Long-term progression-free survival benefit with Kisqali was observed in patients regardless of their menopausal status and was achieved even in a proportion of patients with unfavorable prognostic factors (liver involvement, ≥ 3 metastatic sites)1. Patients had a median progression-free survival of 6.8 years1. The median overall survival was not estimable.

Kisqali has demonstrated statistically significant overall survival (OS) across all three Phase III MONALEESA trials2-12.

"The latest MONALEESA analysis shows that 1 in 4 patients with metastatic disease remained progression-free for four years or more. Our biomarker analyses demonstrate clinical and genomic factors potentially associated with these outstanding responses, highlighting the importance of precision medicine in identifying which patients may derive the greatest benefit from CDK4/6 inhibitors," said Dr. Pedram Razavi, Breast Medical Oncologist and Director of Translational Oncology Partnership Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, who is the author and presenter of the analysis at SABCS.

"Kisqali continues to deliver on its promise of potentially offering more time for people living with advanced breast cancer," said Mark Rutstein, Global Head of Oncology Development at Novartis. "The results from the long-term analysis provide continued confidence in the clinical benefit of Kisqali for metastatic breast cancer patients."

Patient and Biomarker Characteristics Associated with Long-Term Response
The post-hoc exploratory analysis of the MONALEESA-2, -3 and -7 trials in first-line HR+/HER2- MBC aimed to identify clinical characteristics and biomarkers of patients who experienced long-term response with Kisqali1.

Characteristic Long-term
Responders (LTR)
(n=153) Non-LTR
(n=349) Directional insight
Median age (years) 59.3 58.0 Comparable across groups
Postmenopausal (%) 78 78 Balanced by menopausal status
De novo disease (%) 43 40 Similar baseline disease presentation
≥ 3 metastatic sites (%) 30 43 Fewer high-burden cases among LTRs
Liver involvement (%) 16 26 Less frequent among LTRs
Bone-only disease (%) 24 20 Slightly more common among LTRs
Mean ctDNA fraction 0.05 0.13 Lower circulating tumor DNA in LTRs
CCND1 alteration (%) 2 10 Less frequent among LTRs
TP53 alteration (%) 3 12 Less frequent among LTRs
Luminal A subtype (%) 38 25 Higher prevalence among LTRs

NATALEE 5-year Data Reinforce Sustained Benefit in Reducing Distant Recurrence

Additionally, Novartis is presenting a sub-analysis from the five-year NATALEE trial that showed Kisqali plus a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor (NSAI) continues to result in improved distant disease-free survival (DDFS) compared to NSAI alone13. This was consistent across key subgroups with node-positive and node-negative disease, reinforcing Kisqali plus NSAI as a treatment option to help reduce the risk of recurrence for the broadest population of HR+/HER2- early breast cancer (EBC) patients.

(Press release, Novartis, DEC 9, 2025, View Source [SID1234661316])

Moleculin Announces Completion of Treatment for the 45 Patients in Pivotal “MIRACLE” Phase 3 AML Trial on Pace for Q1 2026

On December 9, 2025 Moleculin Biotech, Inc., (Nasdaq: MBRX) ("Moleculin" or the "Company"), reported an update on enrollment from its November report with an increase to 78% of the target number of subjects for the first planned interim unblinding of data having consented to its pivotal Phase 2B/3 "MIRACLE" study of Annamycin in combination with cytarabine for the treatment of adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who are refractory to or relapsed (R/R) after induction therapy (R/R AML). This is up from 60% in its report in November. The targeted number for the first unblinding of data is 45 subjects. Additional subjects beyond the 78% mark continue to be identified by site investigators. This update is as of December 3, 2025, as identification and recruitment are ongoing. The Company expects to complete treatment of the first 45 subjects in the first quarter of 2026.

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Walter Klemp, Chairman and CEO of Moleculin, commented, "We continue to see blinded clinical activity tracking within our expected range, based on historical responses of the trial arm equivalents. With this update, we are quickly approaching the 45th subject, which we expect to be in the first quarter of 2026, to be treated and support the first unblinding in Part A of the MIRACLE trial shortly thereafter. This increase in subjects consented in one month is highly encouraging and demonstrates the enthusiasm of investigators around Europe and the US. Although we saw early enrollment at some sites in Europe being impacted by bed shortages, we are now seeing this situation improve in certain EU countries. Moving toward our first unblinding milestone, we are excited about Annamycin’s potential to fill a major gap in AML treatment. We believe we’re well on our way to determining if Annamycin has the potential to offer a much-needed, safer, and more effective option for patients facing this devastating disease."

Mr. Klemp continued, "While the 45 subject data is not designed to hold statistical significance, we expect to see that at least one of the two arms of Annamycin (at two different dosages) plus cytarabine outperforms cytarabine plus placebo, the control arm. That could be a strong indicator that the MIRACLE trial is on track to support approval of Annamycin. We will continue to recruit the remaining 45 subjects for the full 90 subjects of Part A while we are unblinding the first 45 subjects. The second unblinding should provide enough data to decide on which dose of Annamycin to proceed with into Part B of the MIRACLE trial."

MIRACLE Trial Progress and Next Steps

The MIRACLE study (derived from Moleculin R/R AML AnnAraC Clinical Evaluation) is a Phase 2B/3, global multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, adaptive designed clinical trial whereby data from the 2B (Part A) portion will be combined with the Phase 3 (Part B) portion for purposes of measuring its primary efficacy endpoint. The protocol for the MIRACLE trial allows for the unblinding of preliminary primary efficacy data (Complete Remission or CR) and safety/tolerability of the three arms at 45 subjects, in addition to the conclusion of Part A (90 subjects). The first early unblinding will yield 30 subjects treated with Annamycin (190mg/m2 and 230 mg/m2) in combination with HiDAC and 15 subjects treated with just HiDAC plus placebo. Before each unblinding, trial data will be subject to audit, database lock and review.

The currently consented subjects are from sites across seven countries, providing a diverse base of patient population. Subjects are identified, consented, screened, enrolled, treated and then evaluated in that order with subjects possibly withdrawing from the trial at any point of this process. The Company expects to reach the recruitment and treatment of the first 45 subjects in the first quarter of 2026 and to complete Part A of the MIRACLE trial with up to 90 patients within the first half of 2026.

For more information about the MIRACLE trial, visit clinicaltrials.gov and reference identifier NCT06788756. Additionally, the clinical trial in the EU is on euclinicaltrials.eu and the reference identifier there is 2024-518359-47-00.

Annamycin, also known by its non-proprietary name of naxtarubicin, currently has Fast Track Status and Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia, in addition to Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma. Annamycin also benefits from composition of matter patent protection through 2040 with the potential to extend that protection as far as 2045. Furthermore, Annamycin has Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia from the EMA.

(Press release, Moleculin, DEC 9, 2025, View Source [SID1234661315])

Immix Biopharma Announces Closing of Upsized $100 Million Underwritten Offering of Common Stock and Pre-Funded Warrants

On December 9, 2025 Immix Biopharma, Inc. ("ImmixBio", "Company", "We" or "Us" or "IMMX"), a global leader in relapsed/refractory AL Amyloidosis, reported the closing of its previously announced underwritten registered offering of 19,117,646 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $5.10 per share, and to certain investors in lieu of common stock, pre-funded warrants to purchase 490,196 shares of common stock at a price to the public of $5.09 per pre-funded warrant, which represents the per share public offering price for the common stock, less the $0.01 per share exercise price for each such pre-funded warrant. The net proceeds to Immix from the offering, after deducting the underwriting discounts, commissions and other offering expenses, were approximately $93.7 million.

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The financing includes leading U.S. biotechnology institutional investors and mutual funds.

Morgan Stanley acted as the sole book-running manager for the offering. Citizens Capital Markets and Mizuho acted as co-managers for the offering.

The securities in the registered offering were offered and sold pursuant to a "shelf" registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-269100), including a base prospectus, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on January 3, 2023, and declared effective on January 11, 2023. A prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus describing the terms of the registered offering was filed with the SEC and is available on its website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the offering may also be obtained from: Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014, by phone: 1-866-718-1649 or by email: [email protected].

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein, 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 any such state or jurisdiction.

(Press release, Immix Biopharma, DEC 9, 2025, View Source [SID1234661314])

FENNEC PHARMACEUTICALS ANNOUNCES Investigator-SPONSORED TRIAL to be Conducted by CITY OF HOPE IN Metastatic Testicular Germ Cell Tumors

On December 9, 2025 Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:FENC; TSX: FRX), a specialty pharmaceutical company, reported the planned initiation of an investigator-sponsored study (IST) by City of Hope, a U.S. cancer research and treatment organization, to evaluate PEDMARK (sodium thiosulfate injection) for the prevention of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity (CIO) in adult men with stage II-III metastatic testicular germ cell tumors.

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"Cisplatin has transformed outcomes for patients with germ cell tumors, turning what was once a highly fatal disease into one of oncology’s true success stories. However, as many as four out of five survivors are left with permanent hearing loss that impacts their quality of life long after treatment ends.i Through this investigator-initiated study, City of Hope aims to better understand how protecting hearing can become an integral part of comprehensive cancer care," said Alexander Chehrazi-Raffle, M.D., City of Hope assistant professor, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, and principal investigator of the study.

PEDMARK is currently approved for pediatric patients one month of age and older with localized, non-metastatic solid tumors, and is also recognized by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network with a 2A recommendation for use in adolescent and young adult patients.

"Initiation of this study by City of Hope reflects the growing clinical interest in addressing the burden of hearing loss among patients receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy, an indispensable treatment with high survival rates but significant long-term quality-of-life consequences," said Pierre S. Sayad, PhD, M.S., chief medical officer of Fennec Pharmaceuticals. "With cancer rates rising, especially among younger populations, the future of oncological care needs to focus on both survival and survivorship. Fennec is proud to see independent investigators driving important research that not only has the potential to change the standard of care for their patients today but also expand the evidence base for PEDMARK into metastatic disease, where cisplatin is widely used but hearing protection options remain limited."

Study Details:

City of Hope: Duarte, California:

Principal Investigator: Alexander Chehrazi-Raffle, M.D.

Title:

Testing the Addition of PEDMARK to Cisplatin Chemotherapy for Reducing Drug-Induced Ear Damage in Men With Stage II-III Metastatic Testicular Germ Cell Tumors.

Overview:

Phase I study (NCT07218913) to evaluate whether adding PEDMARK to standard of care cisplatin-based chemotherapy reduces drug-induced ear damage (ototoxicity) in men with stage II-III testicular germ cell tumors that have spread from where they first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic).

Multiple other investigator-initiated studies have already been submitted to Fennec and are currently under review, with several others in advanced contracting or evaluation stages. These collaborations are expected to further strengthen Fennec’s clinical and commercial foundation. Additional details will be shared as these programs progress.

About Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity

Cisplatin and other platinum-based chemotherapies are widely used to treat solid tumors and have been vital in improving survival rates. Unfortunately, these life-saving treatments often result in permanent, irreversible hearing loss, also known as ototoxicity.ii

Hearing loss from cisplatin treatment is not rare. Studies show that between 60-90% of patients treated with cisplatin may develop hearing loss, depending upon the dose and duration of chemotherapyiii. Many of those treated with cisplatin will require lifelong hearing aids or cochlear implants, which can be helpful for some, but do not reverse the hearing loss and can be costly over time.iv Treatment-induced hearing loss can reduce quality of survivorship as it impacts many aspects of life, such as speech and language skills, academic performance, social-emotional development, career potential and the ability to live independently.v,vi While audiologic monitoring is recommended to help manage ototoxicity, it is currently underutilized in certain cancer patient populations.

PEDMARK (sodium thiosulfate injection)

PEDMARK is the first and only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved therapy indicated to reduce the risk of ototoxicity associated with cisplatin treatment in pediatric patients 1 month of age and older with localized, non-metastatic, solid tumors. It is a unique formulation of sodium thiosulfate in single-dose, ready-to-use vials for intravenous use in pediatric patients. PEDMARK is also the first and only therapeutic agent with proven efficacy and safety data with an established dosing regimen, across two open-label, randomized Phase 3 clinical studies, the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) Protocol ACCL0431 and SIOPEL 6.

Additionally, PEDMARK is recommended for the adolescent and young adult (AYA) population by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, or NCCN, with a 2A endorsement.

Approximately 500,000 patients in the U.S. are diagnosed annually with cancers that could be treated with a platinum-based chemotherapy.vii,viii The incidence of ototoxicity depends upon the dose and duration of chemotherapy, and many of those treated will require lifelong hearing aids. Until the FDA approval of PEDMARK, there were no preventative agents for this hearing loss. Patients with hearing loss resulting from cancer treatment have a statistically significant worse quality of life compared with peers who have no hearing loss.ixx

PEDMARK has been studied by co-operative groups in two Phase 3 clinical studies of survival and reduction of ototoxicity, COG ACCL0431 and SIOPEL 6. Both studies have been completed. The COG ACCL0431 protocol enrolled childhood cancers typically treated with intensive cisplatin therapy for localized and disseminated disease, including newly diagnosed hepatoblastoma, germ cell tumor, osteosarcoma, neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma, and other solid tumors. SIOPEL 6 enrolled only hepatoblastoma patients with localized tumors.

Indications and Usage

PEDMARK (sodium thiosulfate injection) is indicated to reduce the risk of ototoxicity associated with cisplatin in pediatric patients 1 month of age and older with localized, non-metastatic solid tumors.

Limitations of Use

The safety and efficacy of PEDMARK have not been established when administered following cisplatin infusions longer than 6 hours. PEDMARK may not reduce the risk of ototoxicity when administered following longer cisplatin infusions, because irreversible ototoxicity may have already occurred.

Important Safety Information

PEDMARK is contraindicated in patients with history of a severe hypersensitivity to sodium thiosulfate or any of its components.

Hypersensitivity reactions occurred in 8% to 13% of patients in clinical trials. Monitor patients for hypersensitivity reactions. Immediately discontinue PEDMARK and institute appropriate care if a hypersensitivity reaction occurs. Administer antihistamines or glucocorticoids (if appropriate) before each subsequent administration of PEDMARK. PEDMARK may contain sodium sulfite; patients with sulfite sensitivity may have hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylactic symptoms and life-threatening or severe asthma episodes. Sulfite sensitivity is seen more frequently in people with asthma.

PEDMARK is not indicated for use in pediatric patients less than 1 month of age due to the increased risk of hypernatremia or in pediatric patients with metastatic cancers.

Hypernatremia occurred in 12% to 26% of patients in clinical trials, including a single Grade 3 case. Hypokalemia occurred in 15% to 27% of patients in clinical trials, with Grade 3 or 4 occurring in 9% to 27% of patients. Monitor serum sodium and potassium levels at baseline and as clinically indicated. Withhold PEDMARK in patients with baseline serum sodium greater than 145 mmol/L.

Monitor for signs and symptoms of hypernatremia and hypokalemia more closely if the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) falls below 60 mL/min/1.73m2.

Administer antiemetics prior to each PEDMARK administration. Provide additional antiemetics and supportive care as appropriate.

The most common adverse reactions (≥25% with difference between arms of >5% compared to cisplatin alone) in SIOPEL 6 were vomiting, nausea, decreased hemoglobin, and hypernatremia. The most common adverse reaction (≥25% with difference between arms of >5% compared to cisplatin alone) in COG ACCL0431 was hypokalemia.

Please see full Prescribing Information for PEDMARK at: www.PEDMARK.com.

(Press release, Fennec Pharmaceuticals, DEC 9, 2025, View Source [SID1234661313])

Enterome presents strengthened interim Phase 2 results for lead OncoMimics™ immunotherapy EO2463 to treat follicular lymphoma at ASH

On December 9, 2025 Enterome, a clinical-stage company pioneering OncoMimics, a new class of off-the-shelf, multi-targeted in vivo immune therapies that induce a fast and potent expansion of memory T-cells to fight cancer, reported highly encouraging updated interim data from two cohorts of patients with low tumor-burden follicular lymphoma in the ongoing SIDNEY Phase 2 trial of its lead OncoMimics immunotherapy EO2463. The data were presented at the 67th meeting of the American Society for Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) in Orlando, Florida.

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In Cohort 3, 100% (6/6) ORR was achieved with EO2463 plus rituximab as first-line treatment for previously untreated patients with low tumor-burden follicular lymphoma in need of treatment. In this feasibility assessment among the 6 patients, 5 had a complete response, and one a partial response. The median time to OR was 17 weeks, and to CR 18 weeks. These results marked an improvement over preliminary data submitted in the abstract for ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper).

"These new results are encouraging, despite the limited number of patients. The potent and rapid expansion of specific CD8 T-cells induced by EO2463 supports our understanding that OncoMimics trigger memory T-cells to generate sustained immune responses. The data suggest that the combination therapy given as a first-line treatment in patients with low-tumor burden follicular lymphoma should be evaluated in further studies," said Dr Stephen Smith, principal study investigator at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA, who presented the data.

Data from Cohort 2 continue to show that EO2463 monotherapy produces excellent response rates when offered to patients with newly diagnosed follicular lymphoma or marginal zone lymphoma as an alternative to the standard watch-and-wait regime. Previously undisclosed data from 19 evaluable patients with follicular lymphoma showed a 52.6% ORR as of October. The ORR in the total group of 21 patients with follicular lymphoma or marginal zone lymphoma was 47.6% (14.3% CR and 33.3% PR). Current standard of practice is that, while patients often have visibly swollen lymph nodes, no treatment other than watchful waiting is suggested, as long as they do not show troublesome symptoms. Nevertheless, these patients often are understandably anxious about their disease, which progresses in the majority of cases, and then leads to a decreased quality of life.

"These new data with EO2463 contribute more compelling evidence and further strengthen our belief in the potential of our OncoMimics multi-targeted in vivo immune therapies for blood cancers. I’m looking forward to initiating Phase 3 testing of EO2463 in patients in the watch-and-wait setting in 2026," said Pierre Belichard, CEO of Enterome.

Follicular Lymphoma, one of several types of indolent Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, is a difficult to treat chronic condition with relapses, characterized by slow progression and few symptoms, and reduced life expectancy. It is usually diagnosed by the appearance of swollen lymph nodes, and the early stages of the disease can be characterized by a lack of troublesome symptoms such as night sweats, fever or weight loss. There is a widespread consensus among leading investigators on the need for a well-tolerated and effective monotherapy to stop or slow progression for patients in the watch-and-wait setting.

EO2463 is an innovative, off-the-shelf OncoMimics active immunotherapy that combines four synthetic peptides. These non-self, microbial-derived peptides correspond to CD8 HLA-A2 epitopes that exhibit molecular mimicry with the B lymphocyte-specific lineage markers CD20, CD22, CD37, and CD268 (BAFF receptor). It also includes the helper peptide (CD4+ epitope) universal cancer peptide 2 (UCP2). The unique ability of EO2463 to selectively target multiple B cell markers enables the destruction of malignant B lymphocytes. By ensuring broad target coverage across malignant B cells, this novel approach aims to simultaneously improve safety and maximize efficacy, reducing the tumor cells’ capacity to develop immune-resistance mechanisms such as antigen escape.

OncoMimics consist of bacteria-derived peptide antigens that closely mimic tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) of solid tumors, or cell linage markers as for B cell lymphomas. These antigens induce a fast and potent in vivo expansion of cytotoxic memory CD8+ T cells that were primed by gut bacteria, and are cross-reactive with TAAs/B cell markers. Because the peptides are "non-self", OncoMimics avoid the self-tolerance that limits many cancer immunotherapies to enable rapid, potent, and durable responses to tumors. The synthetically produced peptides are designed in silico, mining Enterome’s proprietary database of 23 million commensal bacteria genes. Each product combines multiple high-affinity peptides to broaden target coverage and mitigate tumor heterogeneity.

OncoMimics are easy to manufacture, store, distribute and administer as an "off-the-shelf" subcutaneous injection. OncoMimics have achieved rapid and potent responses in clinical testing in over 230 patients to date, with a benign safety profile.

(Press release, Enterome, DEC 9, 2025, View Source [SID1234661312])