On April 16, 2026 Whitehawk Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: WHWK), a clinical-stage oncology therapeutics company applying advanced technologies to established tumor biology to efficiently deliver improved antibody drug conjugate (ADC) cancer treatments, reported Dave Lennon, PhD, President and CEO, will participate in a virtual fireside chat as part of the Jones Trading Post-AACR Fireside Chat Series on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 3 PM ET.

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Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

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A live webcast of the event can be accessed by visiting the Whitehawk Therapeutics IR website and will be available for replay for approximately 30 days following the event.

(Press release, Whitehawk Therapeutics, APR 16, 2026, View Source [SID1234664441])

On April 16, 2026 Sona Nanotech Inc. (CSE: SONA) (OTCQB: SNANF) (the "Company", "Sona") reported the appointment of two renowned oncologists to its scientific advisory board: Dr. Michael Smylie and Dr. Jonathan Trites.

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Dr. Michael Smylie is a leading medical oncologist at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton and a clinical professor at the University of Alberta, renowned for his transformative work in melanoma research. He played a key role as a contributing investigator and co-author in the landmark CheckMate clinical trials–specifically CheckMate 067. This study is hailed as a turning point in oncology, as it proved that combining immunotherapy drugs could lead to long-term survival for patients with advanced melanoma, a condition once considered a terminal diagnosis.

His work on the long-term outcomes and quality-of-life data from these trials has helped establish the current international standard of care, moving the needle from short-term treatment to the possibility of decade-long remission for many.

Dr. Jonathan Trites is a head and neck oncologic and reconstructive surgeon based at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax. As an Associate Professor at Dalhousie University, he has been a key figure in research advancing surgical techniques and outcomes for complex head and neck cancers.

Dr. Trites’s work primarily focuses on improving the precision and functional outcomes of cancer surgeries. He is a leader in using minimally invasive techniques for tumors of the upper aerodigestive tract. His research has demonstrated that Transoral Laser Microsurgery (TLM) is a viable option for advanced-stage glottic cancer, achieving high rates of laryngeal preservation and excellent functional outcomes. He has also published significant data on various squamous cell carcinomas, including early-stage laryngeal cancer and oropharyngeal cancer.

Sona’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Carman Giacomantonio, commented, "I am excited to have Dr. Smylie and Dr. Trites join our scientific advisory board. I have had the privilege of working closely with both gentlemen over the past many years and have a tremendous amount of respect for the experience and wisdom they bring to our table. The clinical course we are embarking upon is truly pioneering. Both Dr. Trites and Dr. Smylie have been pioneers throughout their careers in their respective fields, giving me and my team a tremendous amount confidence as we plan and begin to execute our clinical course going forward."

(Press release, Sona Nanotech, APR 16, 2026, View Source [SID1234664440])

On April 16, 2026 Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), a leading provider of diagnostic information services, reported that City of Hope, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, is implementing Haystack MRD, a highly accurate circulating-tumor DNA (ctDNA) minimal residual disease (MRD) test, for clinical trial participants with solid tumor cancers to help guide disease management for patients being treated for breast, colorectal, ovarian and prostate cancer. The multi-year research program is expected to serve approximately 500 patients with thousands of longitudinal measurements from fourteen City of Hope sites across the country, including in the Los Angeles, Orange County, Chicago, Phoenix, and Atlanta areas.

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Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

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"City of Hope brings together the scientific expertise, clinical infrastructure, and advanced technology needed to evaluate emerging approaches that can meaningfully improve cancer care and health outcomes for patients," said Cristian Tomasetti, Ph.D, Professor and Director, Center for Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Monitoring, City of Hope. "We see liquid biopsy as an important frontier in oncology and aim to leverage the most accurate and effective commercially available ctDNA assays while also working to develop effective early detection platforms. We are excited to study how Haystack MRD might inform treatment decisions across several solid tumor types."

The City of Hope clinical trials are investigating Haystack MRD across patient management settings, including neoadjuvant, adjuvant and post-treatment surveillance. The research is evaluating if the test can detect minimal residual disease, monitor treatment response, and identify recurrence earlier than standard imaging modalities.

"New blood test technologies can make a significant difference for a patient. For example, they may help determine that a surgery was able to fully remove the cancer, thereby sparing chemotherapy treatment," added Dr. Tomasetti, Professor in the Early Detection and Prevention Division at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of City of Hope.

"City of Hope is one of the nation’s foremost cancer centers, with a century-long commitment to advancing cancer care through both research and clinical excellence, and we have built a strong relationship with them over time," said Dan Edelstein, Vice President and General Manager of Haystack Oncology, a Quest Diagnostics company. "Haystack MRD is designed to help clinicians and their patients act earlier with greater confidence, based on the principle that cancer survivors and their care teams should be able to make proactive, not reactive, healthcare decisions. We believe the research collaboration will generate important evidence supporting the role of Haystack MRD in informing patient management across multiple solid tumor settings."

About ctDNA MRD
A growing body of research underscores the value of ctDNA-based MRD testing for identifying residual or recurring cancer in solid tumors. By detecting trace amounts of tumor-derived DNA in the bloodstream, ctDNA MRD testing can reveal molecular evidence of disease recurrence months before it becomes apparent through imaging or other conventional monitoring methods. This early insight can help clinicians tailor surveillance strategies, adjust treatment plans, and potentially intervene before disease progression becomes clinically evident. Nearly all oncologists (96%) in a survey by Harris Poll for Quest Diagnostics said MRD testing has the potential to identify cancer recurrence earlier than other current methods. In 2025, the FDA granted the Haystack MRD Dx test Breakthrough Device Designation for use in Stage II colorectal cancer.

(Press release, Quest Diagnostics, APR 16, 2026, View Source [SID1234664438])

On April 16, 2026 QIAGEN N.V. (NYSE: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) reported it will showcase its oncology workflow applications at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026 in San Diego, demonstrating how its portfolio connects sample preparation with multi-omics profiling and genomic data interpretation to support cancer research and molecular diagnostics.

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"Cancer research and molecular diagnostics are increasingly constrained by fragmented workflows, variability in sample processing and the growing complexity of multi-omics data," said Nitin Sood, Senior Vice President and Head of Product Portfolio & Innovation at QIAGEN. "At AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper), we are demonstrating how QIAGEN’s Sample to Insight portfolio helps standardize critical steps from sample preparation through data interpretation, enabling more consistent results, improved reproducibility and more confident insights from complex biological data."

At the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026, QIAGEN will showcase applications across key stages of the oncology workflow, from sample preparation to genomic profiling and data interpretation:

Sample technologies: New instruments and kits highlighting Parse single-cell solutions

QIAsymphony Connect: The upcoming IVD QIAsymphony Connect will support oncology workflows in laboratories around the world. This scalable automation platform for clinical molecular testing builds on over 3,300 placements of the established QIAsymphony system to automate IVD sample extraction, improve laboratory productivity, enhance sample traceability and process safety and deliver highly concentrated nucleic acid for sensitive assays. As molecular testing expands across oncology and other applications, QIAsymphony Connect will help laboratories standardize complex workflows while reducing hands-on time and supporting reproducible, high-quality results.
QIAsprint Connect: Following its launch at the SLAS 2026 meeting in February, QIAsprint Connect for research use only is now progressing through commercialization as QIAGEN’s new high-throughput automation platform for research laboratories. The compact benchtop system enables automated purification of up to 192 DNA or RNA samples per run, supports validated and customizable workflows, and helps laboratories scale sample processing while reducing plastic use and packaging volume.

Evercode single-cell analysis: Parse Biosciences, a QIAGEN company, will highlight at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) its Evercode Whole Transcriptome portfolio, including the recently launched v4 kit with higher cell recovery, higher sensitivity and shorter workflow with lower sequencing budget. Parse will also showcase the Evercode Whole Transcriptome FFPE kit, now shipping after the successful completion of an early access program with select partners. The Evercode WT FFPE enables unbiased whole transcriptome single cell RNA sequencing of millions of nuclei from FFPE-preserved tissues using Parse’s novel split-pool combinatorial barcoding method.

Genomic profiling:New QIAseq research panels for use on next-generation sequencers (NGS)
QIAseq xHYB HRD Panel: Developed with Myriad Genetics, the QIAseq xHYB HRD Panel is designed to support research into homologous recombination deficiency as an important cancer biomarker for research applications. The assay combines QIAGEN’s hybrid capture technology with Myriad analytics to support assessment of genomic instability, and has shown high concordance with the Myriad myChoice CDx HRD assay.
QIAseq xHYB Trinity DNA/RNA Kit: This new kit enables comprehensive genomic profiling from DNA, RNA or both in a single research workflow using the AVITI platform from Element Biosciences. Designed for use with Element’s Trinity sequencing workflow, it helps streamline target enrichment through a shorter hybridization step, fewer manual cleanup steps and no post-enrichment PCR, reducing hands-on time while supporting high on-target rates and confident variant detection for research applications.

Data interpretation: New AI-grounding platform for unified drug discovery support for research purposes
QIAGEN Discovery Platform: QIAGEN Digital Insights, the bioinformatics business of QIAGEN, will introduce the QIAGEN Discovery Platform at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) as an AI-grounding solution for drug discovery. The platform is designed to bring together biological knowledge, omics data and advanced analytics to support oncology research, with future implementation of AI functions and integration with downstream AI analysis. The platform will be presented through demonstrations and spotlight sessions at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) meeting.
To learn more about QIAGEN’s Sample to Insight portfolio, visit Booth #3547 at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026 in San Diego from April 17–22, or go to www.qiagen.com/oncology-meeting.

(Press release, Qiagen, APR 16, 2026, View Source [SID1234664437])

On April 16, 2026 PharmaMar (MSE: PHM), a global leader in the research, development, and commercialization of marine-derived cancer therapies, reported it will once again be participating in the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper), which is taking place in San Diego, United States, from April 17th to 22nd, 2026.

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Carmen Cuevas, VP of R&D at PharmaMar, comments that "we are making progress in the research of marine-derived drugs for the development of new therapies. Our participation in a leading international oncology conference reinforces our commitment to innovation and improving treatments for patients."

On this occasion, the Company is presenting four new studies with the results of its research.

PM54 suppresses WNT/β-Catenin signaling and synergizes with chemotherapy in gastric cancer models

Compound Author Poster
PM54 Marcelo Lima Ribeiro, PhD Session Title: Multi-Axis Antineoplastic Agents
Session Start Time: 4/21/2026 2:00PM – 5:00PM
PM54, an innovative transcription inhibitor, is emerging as a promising anticancer candidate for gastric cancer by inhibiting the WNT/β-catenin pathway and inducing molecular reprogramming linked to cell cycle arrest and DNA repair. In addition, PM54 exhibits clear in vitro synergy with 5-FU and cisplatin. In mouse

models, PM54 significantly reduced tumor growth, and combination with 5-FU or cisplatin induces greater tumor growth inhibition than that achieved with either 5-FU or cisplatin alone. These results support its development in rational combinations to enhance therapeutic efficacy.

PM54 reshapes the tumor microenvironment to potentiate checkpoint blockade

Compound Author Poster
PM54 Eugenio Bustos-Morán, PhD Session Title: Immune Mechanisms Invoked by Other Therapies and Exposures
Session Start Time: 4/20/2026 2:00 PM – 5:00PM
Our studies show that PM54, an innovative drug, not only directly fights cancer but also significantly boosts the immune system’s response; this dual action is key to treating hard-to-treat tumors. The research reveals that PM54 reprograms the tumor microenvironment, making it more vulnerable. Combining PM54 with immunotherapies such as PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors leads to a reduction in tumor size and robust activation of cancer-fighting immune cells. These results indicate that PM54 has the potential to transform previously resistant tumors into ones that are sensitive to immunotherapy, opening up new opportunities to develop more effective combination treatments.

PM54 targets oncogenic transcriptional networks across multiple cancer types

Compound Author Poster
PM54 Ismael Fernández-Miranda, PhD Session Title: Molecular Targets 1 Session Start Time: 4/20/2026 2:00 PM – 5:00PM
The study demonstrates that PM54 acts by rapidly suppressing the expression of key genes involved in tumor proliferation, leading to the arrest of growth and the death of tumor cells. It has been observed that tumors with a high growth rate and functional p53 protein respond better to treatment with PM54. These results may enable more appropriate patient selection to optimize clinical benefit.

PM534, a new tubulin inhibitor, exhibits antitumor activity in experimental models of soft tissue sarcoma

Compound Author Poster
PM534 Patrick Schöffski, MD PhD Agnieszka Wozniak, PhD Agathe Bouju Session Title: Multi-Axis Antineoplastic Agents Session Star Time: 4/21/2026 2:00 PM – 5:00PM
PM534 is a novel tubulin-binding agent that exhibits a very high affinity for the colchicine-binding domain and overcomes the common resistance mechanisms that limit the efficacy of other tubulin-binding agents. In this study, PM534 has demonstrated potent antitumor activity in leiomyosarcoma tumors derived from patients and implanted in animal models. Furthermore, consistent with its mechanism of action, it induced a marked increase in apoptosis in the treated tumors.

(Press release, PharmaMar, APR 16, 2026, View Source [SID1234664436])