OncoHost to Present New Research on Proteomic Aging Biomarkers Outcomes at AACR 2026

On April 15, 2026 OncoHost, a technology company transforming precision oncology through proteomics-based biomarker development, reported its acceptance to present a scientific poster at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026, taking place April 17–22, 2026, in San Diego, CA.

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The abstract, titled "Proteomic aging biomarkers predict survival in immunotherapy-treated tumors," explores the application of plasma proteomics to quantify biological aging and its clinical implications across multiple cancer types. By leveraging organismal and organ-specific proteomic aging models, the study evaluates how aging-related biological processes correlate with tumor characteristics, patient characteristics, and treatment outcomes.

"This research expands our understanding of how systemic and organ-specific aging processes influence cancer biology and response to immunotherapy," said Michal Harel, Ph.D., VP Translational Medicine at OncoHost and lead author of the study. "By capturing both systemic biological aging and organ-specific aging across multiple tissues, we are uncovering clinically relevant signals that go beyond traditional biomarkers and may help refine patient stratification."

The study analyzed deep plasma proteomic profiles from patients with metastatic solid tumors, including NSCLC, SCLC, renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and melanoma, alongside healthy controls. Results demonstrated that cancer patients exhibit significantly elevated biological age compared to healthy individuals, with lung age gap highest in NSCLC and SCLC, and kidney age gap most significant in RCC. In addition, organ-specific aging patterns were associated with relevant comorbidities, reinforcing the systemic nature of cancer-related aging.

Furthermore, the findings highlight the prognostic value of immune-specific aging for benefit from immunotherapy. Among patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors, those with a high immune age gap had significantly shorter overall survival compared to those with a low immune age gap (median OS: 16.4 vs. 31.8 months; HR=0.67, p<0.0001 The effect varied by indication, with the strongest signal observed in melanoma (HR = 0.27, p = 0.0007) and no effect in SCLC (HR = 0.87, p = 0.65), potentially reflecting differences in tumor immunogenicity.

"Being selected to present at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) highlights the power of moving beyond tumor-centric thinking," said Ofer Sharon, MD, CEO of OncoHost. "By quantifying biological aging across the body, and specifically the immune system, we are uncovering a new layer of insight into cancer progression and treatment response – one that has the potential to transform how we guide immunotherapy, ultimately enabling more informed treatment decisions and improved patient outcomes."

Poster Presentation Details
Title: Proteomic aging biomarkers predict survival in immunotherapy-treated tumors
Session Title: Biomarkers Predictive of Therapeutic Benefit 3
Poster Board #: 22
Presenters: Michal Harel, PhD, VP Translational Medicine, OncoHost & Adam Dicker, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer, OncoHost
Date & Time: Monday, April 20, 2026, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM PDT

The abstract is available on the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) website here.

(Press release, OncoHost, APR 15, 2026, View Source [SID1234664410])

ImmunoGenesis Announces Poster Presentation at AACR 2026 Annual Meeting

On April 15, 2026 ImmunoGenesis, a clinical-stage biotech company developing innovative, science-driven immunotherapies, reported that it will present a poster at the upcoming American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026, which is being held from April 17–22, 2026, in San Diego, CA.

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The poster presentation will include details around the IND-enabling activities for the company’s potent STING Agonist, IMGS-203, for the treatment of GBM. This therapy is designed for intratumoral delivery, enabling localized immune activation with minimal systemic exposure. In orthotopic GBM models, IMGS-203 demonstrated robust anti-tumor activity and significant survival benefit. The data support a clear translational path, with pharmacologic activity confirmed across multiple species and pilot toxicology studies informing dose and delivery parameters for the GLP toxicology study and eventual clinical trial.

"IMGS-203 combines potent STING activation with a localized delivery approach designed to overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in GBM," said Dr. Federica Pericle, Chief Scientific Officer of ImmunoGenesis. "These data support the advancement of IMGS-203 toward clinical development."

IMGS-203 Presentation Details:
GBM is a lethal malignancy with a highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) enriched in myeloid-derived suppressor cells, tumor-associated macrophages, and tumor-associated neutrophils. IMGS-203 is a potent STING agonist developed for intratumoral (IT) delivery, a route of administration (ROA) particularly suited for GBM, a tumor that rarely metastasizes and is readily accessible for local delivery during standard procedures such as biopsy. In vitro assays and preclinical murine studies, including a humanized model with epigenetically silenced STING, demonstrated the antitumor efficacy, specificity, and mechanism of action of IMGS-203. These studies also provided pharmacokinetic data and supported its translational potential for local delivery.

Title:

IND-enabling development of a novel STING agonist, IMGS-203, for the treatment of glioblastoma

Abstract Number:

4300

Date and Time:

Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM PT

Session:

Immunomodulatory Agents

Location:

Poster Section 8, Poster Board Number 4

For more information and to view the Company’s abstract, visit the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting website.

(Press release, ImmunoGenesis, APR 15, 2026, View Source [SID1234664409])

Kazia Therapeutics Strengthens Scientific Leadership with Appointment of Dr. Sudha Rao as Chief Scientific Officer to Lead Next-Generation Oncology Platform

On April 15, 2026 Kazia Therapeutics (NASDAQ: KZIA), a clinical-stage oncology company developing differentiated therapies for cancers with high unmet need, reported the appointment of Dr. Sudha Rao as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO).

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Dr. Rao is the scientific originator of the epigenetic framework underlying paxalisib and a pioneer in next-generation therapeutic platforms, including PD-L1 protein degradation and SETDB1-targeted chromatin modulation. Her appointment brings deep expertise in translational epigenetics, AI-guided epi-drug discovery capability, liquid and spatial epigenetic clinical biomarker precision medicine platforms, and early clinical development into Kazia’s executive leadership as the Company advances its integrated oncology platform strategy.

Dr. Rao is a highly accomplished translational scientist and biotech executive with more than 20 years of experience spanning pharmaceutical R&D, biotechnology, and early clinical development. She currently holds a professorial appointment and leads the Gene Regulation and Translational Medicine Laboratory at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and previously held senior scientific roles at Sanofi/Rhône-Poulenc in the UK, where she contributed to one of the earliest clinical genomics platforms.

She is the founder and former Chief Scientific Officer of EpiAxis Therapeutics and has advanced first-in-class epigenetic therapeutics from discovery through IND-enabling studies and into early clinical trials, including the first Phase 1b study of an LSD1 inhibitor in metastatic breast cancer. Dr. Rao is lead inventor on 39 international patents and has authored numerous high-impact publications in journals including Science, Nature, and Immunity.

At Kazia, Dr. Rao will lead all research and development activities, advancing the Company’s pipeline and expanding its next-generation platform capabilities, including:

Paxalisib, a brain-penetrant dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor being developed across oncology indications, including advanced breast cancer;
NDL2, a novel PD-L1 protein degrader platform designed to target intracellular and nuclear PD-L1 biology; and
MSETC, a first-in-class SETDB1-targeted epigenetic program aimed at reversing immune evasion at the chromatin level.
Her scientific work has been central to advancing the concept of PI3K/mTOR inhibition as a driver of epigenetic reprogramming, forming the foundation of Kazia’s strategy to move beyond pathway inhibition toward therapeutic control of cancer’s regulatory drivers.

Dr. John Friend, CEO of Kazia Therapeutics, commented: "Dr. Rao is a leading translational epigenetics scientist, a breast cancer researcher, and the lead inventor behind the intellectual property linking PI3K/mTOR inhibition to epigenetic regulation. As the architect of much of our platform, including paxalisib, NDL2, and MSETC, her appointment allows us to immediately strengthen execution while advancing a more integrated, platform-driven oncology strategy."

"I am excited by the opportunity to advance a next-generation oncology platform at Kazia. PI3K/mTOR is a key driver of tumour growth and a master regulator of epigenetic programs that shape tumour behaviour, the tumour microenvironment (TME), and immune evasion," stated Dr. Rao. "We are building a platform focused on precision targeting and precision medicine, integrating spatial and liquid epigenomics and AI-driven drug discovery to accelerate novel therapies. This includes paxalisib alongside emerging programs such as the PD-L1 degrader and SETDB1-targeting approaches. We aim to enable patient selection, real-time target engagement, and a scalable pipeline with clear clinical translation."

Dr. Rao will also play a key role in advancing Kazia’s biomarker strategy, external collaborations, scientific publications, and strategic partnerships, while continuing to expand the Company’s platform and pipeline.

For investor and media, please contact Mike Moyer, Managing Director LifeSci Advisors LLC, mmoyer@lifesciadvisors, +1-617-308-4306.

(Press release, Kazia Therapeutics, APR 15, 2026, View Source [SID1234664408])

Mabwell Announces Acceptance of Supplemental Biologics License Application by NMPA for MAIWEIJIAN (Denosumab)

On April 15, 2026 Mabwell (688062.SH), an innovative biopharmaceutical company with a full industry chain, reported that the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has accepted supplemental Biologics License Application for MAIWEIJIAN (denosumab injection, R&D code: 9MW0321), a product developed by its wholly-owned subsidiary T-mab, for the prevention of skeletal-related events in patients with multiple myeloma and in patients with bone metastases from solid tumors.

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MAIWEIJIAN is the first denosumab biosimilar (120mg) approved to market in China. It was initially approved in March 2024 for the treatment of adults and skeletally mature adolescents (defined as at least 1 mature long bone and weighing ≥ 45 kg) with giant cell tumor of bone that is unresectable or where surgical resection is likely to result in severe morbidity. In August 2025, the product received approval from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan as the country’s first denosumab biosimilar (120mg), and supply has now commenced. Mabwell has signed formal cooperation agreements for this product in 33 countries, including Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia, and has submitted registration applications in 8 countries.

Denosumab, due to its demonstrated good therapeutic effects, has been recommended by multiple expert consensuses or treatment guidelines. As the first denosumab biosimilar (120mg) launched in China, MAIWEIJIAN possesses early-mover advantages. Compared with bisphosphonates commonly used in clinical treatment, denosumab has the following advantages:

Targeted action – It specifically binds to RANKL, blocking the RANKL/RANK/OPG signaling pathway, thereby preventing and treating SREs caused by bone metastases.
Superior clinical efficacy – It demonstrates significantly better clinical efficacy than bisphosphonates and remains effective in patients who have failed bisphosphonate therapy.
Favorable safety profile – It is not cleared by the kidneys, and patients receiving denosumab experience fewer renal toxicity side effects.
Previously, Mabwell published the Phase I and Phase III clinical study results of this product in International Immunopharmacology and the top-tier international journal JAMA Oncology, respectively. Through head-to-head pharmacokinetic comparisons and clinical efficacy studies in patients with bone metastases from solid tumors, the product has been systematically and comprehensively demonstrated to be similar to the reference product in terms of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, clinical efficacy, and safety.

(Press release, Mabwell Biotech, APR 15, 2026, View Source [SID1234664407])

NMPA Accepts IND Application for Mabwell’s Innovative LILRB4/CD3 TCE Bispecific Antibody 6MW5311

On April 15, 2026 Mabwell (688062.SH), an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company with a fully integrated industry chain, reported that the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has accepted the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for its innovative LILRB4/CD3 TCE bispecific antibody (R&D code: 6MW5311). The drug candidate is being developed for hematologic malignancies, specifically Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML), and Multiple Myeloma (MM).

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6MW5311 is the world’s first innovative LILRB4/CD3 TCE bispecific antibody for which a clinical trial application has been submitted. It possesses broad prospects for clinical development and significant market potential. The U.S. IND application is currently in the pre-IND phase, with plans to formally submit it to the FDA in the second quarter of 2026.

6MW5311 is developed based on the T Cell Engager (TCE) technology platform and features a "2+1" asymmetric molecular structure. It simultaneously targets LILRB4 and CD3, forming an immunological synapse by bridging tumor cells and T cells, thereby activating T cells to efficiently kill tumors.

The molecule incorporates a unique steric hindrance design. This structure significantly reduces the binding activity of the CD3 antibody to T cells in the absence of tumor cells. T cells are specifically activated only when tumor cells are present, which substantially enhances safety while improving anti-tumor efficacy.

In vitro studies have demonstrated that 6MW5311 exhibits potent cytotoxic activity across multiple tumor cell lines and patient-derived samples. In vivo pharmacodynamic studies have shown that 6MW5311 achieves significant tumor inhibition in both LILRB4-high and LILRB4-low expressing AML tumor models. Notably, it achieved complete tumor clearance in high-expression models. Furthermore, 6MW5311 demonstrated a favorable safety profile in cynomolgus monkey safety evaluation models.

As a key technological approach for directly mobilizing T cells to kill tumors, TCE has shown significant clinical value in various lymphoma indications, with multiple products successfully launched. However, current treatments for AML and CMML primarily remain primarily limited to chemotherapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and targeted therapies for specific mutations; no TCE products have been approved for these indications to date.

About Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
AML is a group of clonal malignant disorders originating from myeloid stem cells, characterized by high heterogeneity and mortality. Globally, approximately 172.4 thousand new cases of AML were diagnosed in 2022, with the number projected to reach 221.4 thousand by 2035, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.94%. In China, approximately 30.8 thousand new AML cases were diagnosed in 2022, accounting for approximately 17.9% of the global total. The number is expected to reach 36.7 thousand by 2035, representing approximately 16.6% of the global total, with a CAGR of 1.36%.

About Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML)
CMML is a clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorder that shares overlapping features with both myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and Myeloproliferative Neoplasm (MPN). It is characterized by significant monocytosis in peripheral blood and carries an inherent risk of transformation to AML (approximately 15-20% within 3-5 years). CMML is a rare disease with an annual incidence of approximately 3-4 per 100,000, and currently lacks effective treatment options.

About Multiple Myeloma (MM)
MM is a clonal plasma cell malignancy characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of monoclonal plasma cells in the bone marrow. This leads to the overproduction of abnormal immunoglobulins and subsequent end-organ damage, manifested as hypercalcemia, renal impairment, anemia, and bone lesions (collectively known as CRAB features). Globally, MM accounts for approximately 1%-2% of all cancers and about 10% of hematologic malignancies. The median age at diagnosis is approximately 69 years, with higher incidence rates observed in males and individuals of African descent. Over the past two decades, patient survival rates have significantly improved thanks to the application of proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, and monoclonal antibodies. However, MM remains largely incurable, and most patients experience multiple relapses during the course of the disease.

(Press release, Mabwell Biotech, APR 15, 2026, View Source;nmpa-accepts-ind-application-for-mabwells-innovative-lilrb4cd3-tce-bispecific-antibody-6mw5311-302744036.html [SID1234664406])