On March 17, 2026 Zai Lab Limited (NASDAQ: ZLAB; HKEX: 9688) reported three of the Company’s internally-developed investigational oncology therapies will be presented across four poster sessions at the upcoming American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026 taking place April 17-22 in San Diego, California. These next-generation candidates include: zocilurtatug pelitecan (zoci, formerly ZL-1310), a DLL3-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) for small cell lung cancer (SCLC); ZL-6201, a leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 15 (LRRC15) ADC for the treatment of sarcoma and epithelial tumors with LRRC15 expressing cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs); and, ZL-1222, a PD-1 and interleukin-12 (IL-12) signaling attenuated mutein agonist immunocytokine for cancer immunotherapy.

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"The breadth and profile of our global oncology pipeline, highlighted by zoci, ZL-6201, and ZL-1222, underscore our commitment to developing innovative therapies for cancers that remain difficult to treat with current standards of care," said Rafael G. Amado, M.D., President, Head of Global Research and Development at Zai Lab. "Leveraging our integrated U.S.-China development model, we are advancing these programs with speed and quality, and the data we will present at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) reinforces our confidence in these compounds."

Zoci targets DLL3, a validated therapeutic target for SCLC that is overexpressed in many neuroendocrine tumors and is generally associated with poor clinical outcomes. Zoci is on track to become Zai Lab’s first global oncology launch, with plans for three registration-enabling studies across 2L+ SCLC, 1L SCLC, and extrapulmonary NECs 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 ES-SCLC, as well as a backbone ADC in first line combination regimens, including those that reduce the burdens of chemotherapy. Studies with other combinations and lines of therapies are planned.

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

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

Details regarding the Zai Lab poster presentations at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2026 are as follows:

Title: Discovery of ZL-6201, a novel LRRC15-targeting antibody drug conjugate (ADC) for the treatment of sarcomas and epithelial solid tumors
Session Title: Antibodies, Antibody-Drug Conjugates, and Nucleic Acids
Date/Time: Monday, April 20, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT
Location: San Diego Convention Center, Poster Section 38
Poster Board Number: 7
Publish Abstract Number: 2399

Title: ZL-1222, a PD-1-targeted potency-reduced IL-12 immunocytokine, overcomes PD-1 resistance and enhances antitumor immunity with an accepted safety profile
Session Title: Monoclonal Antibodies and Antibody-Cytokine Platforms
Date/Time: Tuesday, April 21, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT
Location: San Diego Convention Center, Poster Section 9
Poster Board Number: 2
Publish Abstract Number: 4331

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
Session Title: Phase 1 Clinical Trials
Date/Time: Tuesday, April 21, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT
Location: San Diego Convention Center, Poster Section 50
Poster Board Number: 15
Publish Abstract Number: CT193

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
Session Title: Phase 1 Clinical Trials
Date/Time: Tuesday, April 21, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT
Location: San Diego Convention Center, Poster Section 50
Poster Board Number: 11
Publish Abstract Number: CT189

(Press release, Zai Laboratory, MAR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234663645])

On March 17, 2026 Agenus Inc. (Nasdaq: AGEN), a leader in immuno-oncology, reported that preliminary results from an investigator-sponsored study evaluating botensilimab (BOT) in combination with balstilimab (BAL) in first-line microsatellite stable colorectal cancer (MSS CRC) will be presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026, taking place April 18–23 in San Diego, CA.

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The BBoPCO study (Botensilimab and Balstilimab Optimization in Colorectal Cancer; NCT06268015) is the first trial of its kind to advance a combination immunotherapy approach in the first-line setting for MSS mCRC, evaluating BOT+BAL in patients without liver, bone, or brain metastases—a population historically resistant to immunotherapy. This investigator-sponsored study was expanded to a Phase 2 and reflects a growing shift toward introducing immunotherapy earlier in the disease course, with the goal of harnessing the immune system to reduce reliance on chemotherapy and improve durability of response.

Colorectal cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with rising incidence in younger populations, and treatment continues to rely heavily on intensive, toxic chemotherapy regimens that can significantly impact quality of life, with neuropathy, organ toxicity, decrease fertility, among others. Despite advances, patients with MSS mCRC, which accounts for approximately 95% of metastatic cases, have seen limited benefit from conventional immunotherapy, underscoring a critical unmet need.

Botensilimab, an Fc-enhanced multifunctional anti-CTLA-4 antibody, is designed to activate both innate and adaptive immune responses, while balstilimab (anti–PD-1) is designed to sustain immune activity. Together, the combination is intended to target complementary immune pathways and expand the potential of immunotherapy in traditionally "cold" tumors.

The BBOpCo study adds to a growing body of research evaluating BOT+BAL across earlier lines of therapy and in settings where immune activation may have greater impact.

Presentation Details:

Poster Presentation Title: Preliminary results of first-line botensilimab (BOT) and balstilimab (BAL) optimization in microsatellite stable colorectal cancer (MSS CRC) without liver, bone, or brain metastasis (BBOpCo)

Presenting Author: Nicholas C. DeVito MD, Duke University, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Duke University, Division of Medical Oncology
Abstract No.: CT184
Session Title: Phase I Clinical Trials
Session Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Session Time: 9:00AM – 12:00 PM PT / 12:00-3:00 PM ET
Location: Poster Section 50
Board No: 6

(Press release, Agenus, MAR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234663644])

On March 17, 2026 Aarvik Therapeutics, an innovative, ADC-focused biotechnology company dedicated to engineering precision medicines for cancer therapy, reported that it will present two posters and a minisymposium talk at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026. These presentations display the breadth of Aarvik’s capabilities in the ADC space. The AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting will take place from April 17-22, 2026, in San Diego, California.

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Aarvik, along with collaborator ArriVent BioPharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVBP), will present a poster titled "AV-P138-ADC (ARR-002), a novel MUC16/NaPi2b dual-target tetravalent ADC, for the treatment of ovarian and endometrial cancers" (Poster Number 2660). AV-P138-ADC, also known as ARR-002, was discovered by Aarvik as part of a research collaboration with ArriVent, who subsequently exclusively licensed the molecule and plans global development. AV-P138-ADC (ARR-002) is a novel, site-specifically-conjugated, dual-target tetravalent ADC that may overcome the limitations of conventional single-target or bivalent bispecific ADCs to potentially provide a safer and more effective treatment option for a broad spectrum of ovarian and endometrial cancer patients.

Poster Details

Date and Time: Monday April 20, 2026 from 9 AM – 12 PM PT
Session Category, Title: Clinical Research, Targeted Antigen Therapies and Immunity
Location: Section 49, Board 12, Number 2660

Further illustrating the power of Aarvik’s proprietary MUTTA platform, the oral presentation titled "MUlti-epitope Targeting Tetravalent Antibody (MUTTA) platform for Developing NextGen ADCs with an Improved Therapeutic Window" (Abstract Presentation Number 6758) will demonstrate in vitro and in vivo validation of multi-target MUTTA ADCs and their improved therapeutic window compared to single-target ADCs, as well as the broad applicability of the MUTTA platform across several tumor antigens.

Minisymposium Details

Date and Time: Tuesday April 21, 2026 from 2:30 – 4:30 PM PT
Session Category, Title: Clinical Research, Targeted Therapy: Data Driven Approaches and Novel Drugs

Aarvik will also present a poster titled "Exatecan Payload-Based Antibody-Drug Conjugates with a Short Hydrophilic beta-Glucuronidase Cleavable Linker" (Poster Number 5757). This poster will demonstrate data on one of the novel linker-payloads engineered utilizing Aarvik’s proprietary AQUALINK platform that is designed to develop next generation ADCs with superior hydrophilic properties.

Poster Details

Date and Time: Tuesday April 21, 2026 from 2 – 5 PM PT
Session Category, Title: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics, Multi-Axis Antineoplastic Agents
Location: Section 14, Board 15, Number 5757

"We are pleased to present data at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2026 resulting from Aarvik’s deep expertise in engineering proprietary multispecific antibodies, linkers and payloads through Aarvik’s MUTTA and AQUALINK platforms," said Jagath Reddy Junutula, PhD, Co-founder, President and CEO of Aarvik Therapeutics. "These presentations showcase the success that Aarvik continues to demonstrate as it relentlessly pursues novel therapies for hard-to-treat cancer indications through research and innovation."

"Aarvik continues to generate exciting data from the MUTTA and AQUALINK platforms," said Paul Polakis, PhD, Aarvik Fellow and Scientific Advisory Board member. "Aarvik’s approach, along with the other new approaches in the ADC field overall, can result in novel therapies for patients with cancer."

(Press release, Aarvik Therapeutics, MAR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234663643])

On March 17, 2026 Dalriada Drug Discovery ("Dalriada"), a partnered discovery organization supporting small-molecule programs from hit identification through lead optimization, and Topos Bio ("Topos"), an AI-native biotechnology company developing therapeutics for intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), reported a research collaboration to accelerate experimental validation for IDP drug discovery using advanced protein mass spectrometry and proteomics.

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Under the collaboration, Topos will leverage Dalriada’s expertise and infrastructure in protein mass spectrometry and chemoproteomics to support discovery efforts against intrinsically disordered and conformationally dynamic targets, protein classes that often lack stable structure and are difficult to interrogate with conventional structure-based approaches.

Dalriada will apply a set of complementary MS- and proteomics-based methods to generate high-resolution data on protein–small molecule interactions in biologically relevant systems, including target engagement profiling, intact mass and peptide mapping analyses, covalent binding kinetics characterization, and mechanism-of-action proteomics. These approaches are designed to inform site-level engagement, selectivity, and pathway-level modulation to help guide iterative design and prioritization.

"IDP programs demand tight feedback loops between computational hypotheses and rigorous experimental measurement," said Dr. Diana Kraskouskaya, CEO of Dalriada Drug Discovery. "By combining advanced mass spectrometry and proteomics with our live-cell iCLASS platform, we can help provide decision-ready engagement and selectivity data earlier in discovery, especially for targets where traditional structural readouts are limited."

Ryan Zarcone, Co-Founder and CEO of Topos Bio, said: "High-quality experimental data are essential for contextualizing and refining AI-generated hypotheses in the challenging biology of intrinsically disordered proteins. Dalriada’s depth in protein mass spectrometry and chemoproteomics, together with the iCLASS platform, provides the molecular resolution and scale needed to support our programs."

Intrinsically disordered proteins are estimated to comprise approximately 30–40% of the human proteome and are implicated in numerous diseases, including neurodegeneration and cancer. Their structural flexibility and dynamic conformational ensembles make them difficult to interrogate using conventional structural biology alone, reinforcing the need for complementary MS- and proteomics-based approaches.

This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to integrating advanced computational modeling with high-resolution experimental biology to expand the druggable proteome and advance therapies for historically challenging targets.

(Press release, Dalriada Therapeutics, MAR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234663642])

On March 17, 2026 Cellipont Bioservices, a leading cell therapy Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), reported a strategic collaboration with BobcatBio, a clinical-stage biotechnology company that is pioneering the development of RB-1355, a first of its kind cellular therapy that leverages the versatility and power of a patient’s macrophages to elicit a robust, targeted tumoricidal immune response while substantially reducing or eliminating the reliance on traditional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, high-dose radiation and surgery, thereby improving patient outcomes and quality of life. This breakthrough approach holds transformative potential to redefine cancer treatment, offering the prospect of becoming a preferred therapy across a wide spectrum of solid tumors and lymphomas. Early clinical findings in relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma indicate that RB-1355 is well tolerated with encouraging early signs of activity. Recent clinical data also demonstrated that the therapy can be effectively administered without lymphodepleting chemotherapy and in multiple doses from a single apheresis through cryopreservation.

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Under the agreement, Cellipont Bioservices will perform Phase I cell product manufacturing of RB-1355 in support of BobcatBio’s ongoing solid tumor and lymphoma clinical trials.

"At Cellipont, we are committed to supporting innovators who are pushing the boundaries of what cell therapy can do for patients," said Darren Head, CEO, Cellipont Bioservices. "BobcatBio’s work reflects the kind of bold science this field needs, and we are proud to support the advancement of a program with the potential to open new possibilities in solid tumors. Collaborations like this are about more than manufacturing. They are about helping bring promising therapies closer to patients and families who are waiting for better options."

"BobcatBio is advancing a highly differentiated approach to cell therapy, and we are pleased to partner with Cellipont as we continue to move this program forward," said Stephen Rocamboli, CEO, BobcatBio "As we work to bring our macrophage-based therapy closer to patients, it is critical to have a manufacturing partner that understands both the complexity of cell therapy development and the urgency of delivering new treatment options. Cellipont brings the technical expertise, quality focus, operational rigor, and scalable infrastructure needed to advance BobcatBio’s innovative cellular therapy."

(Press release, BobcatBio, MAR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234663641])