On June 1, 2026 MEDSIR, a leading international oncology research company, reported the final results of the ZZ‑FIRST study during an oral session at the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2026 scientific congress, held in Chicago. This study evaluates a therapeutic intensification strategy in patients with advanced prostate cancer. Previously, the study demonstrated relevant treatment response results in more than 70% of cases, reflected by a decrease in PSA (prostate‑specific antigen) levels, a biomarker used in the blood monitoring of prostate cancer.

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ZZ-FIRST: a new therapeutic strategy

In the ZZ‑FIRST study, a phase II, multicenter, randomized trial, 54 patients from eight centers across Spain were enrolled. Specifically, the trial included patients with high‑volume metastatic hormone‑sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), meaning a high tumor burden at diagnosis and typically a poorer prognosis.

For these patients, current treatment is based on androgen deprivation therapy, usually in combination with next‑generation hormonal treatments such as enzalutamide. Since many prostate cancer cells depend on male hormones for growth (androgens such as testosterone), these therapies aim to block these hormonal signals by reducing testosterone levels and inhibiting their downstream effectors. However, over time, some tumors develop resistance and continue to grow despite hormonal blockade, becoming hormone‑resistant.

In this context, the ZZ‑FIRST study evaluates the feasibility of intensifying initial treatment with enzalutamide by combining it with talazoparib (a PARP inhibitor, a protein involved in DNA repair) from earlier stages of the disease. By administering both drugs together while the disease is still hormone‑sensitive, the goal is to increase the accumulated DNA damage in tumor cells and promote their destruction before mechanisms of resistance to hormonal therapy emerge.

The results presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) show that patients treated with the experimental combination achieved a radiographic progression‑free survival of 45.3 months, compared with 31.1 months in those treated with enzalutamide alone. This endpoint measures the time from treatment initiation until tumor progression is detected by imaging tests. In addition, patients receiving the combination also showed a longer time to PSA progression and to the development of resistance to hormonal therapy.

In addition, adaptive tumor mechanisms were investigated before initiating therapy and during the first weeks of treatment with enzalutamide, providing key information to better understand how resistance develops. The ZZ‑FIRST results indicate that the combination of hormonal therapy with PARP inhibitors may particularly benefit patients whose tumors present certain mutation profiles in DNA repair genes. "Although patients with metastatic disease initially respond to hormonal therapy, the tumor eventually adapts and grows again. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the biological mechanisms that allow the tumor to develop resistance to hormonal treatment and to identify new therapeutic strategies capable of delaying or preventing this process," explained Dr. Joaquín Mateo, principal investigator of the study, oncologist at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and Head of the Prostate Cancer Group at the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), who presented the results at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper).

ZZ‑FIRST has received external funding from Pfizer S.L., the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC), and the United States Department of Defense (DoD). The drugs used in the study were provided by Pfizer S.L. (talazoparib) and Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd. (enzalutamide).

ADELA and CADILLAC: MEDSIR presence at the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) congress

In addition to the presentation of the ZZ‑FIRST study, MEDSIR also presented the design of other studies during the congress.

On the one hand, the company presented, in collaboration with the Menarini Group, the design of the ADELA study, an international phase III trial evaluating the selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) elacestrant combined with everolimus versus elacestrant monotherapy. The study includes patients with ER+/HER2‑ tumors who developed an ESR1 gene mutation after progression on prior endocrine therapy and CDK4/6 inhibitors. The trial is being implemented in more than 100 hospitals across nine countries, including Spain, Austria, the Czech Republic, Greece, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, and Brazil.

On the other hand, the CADILLAC study is also noteworthy. This is an international phase II trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of combining the SERD camizestrant with the CDK4/6 inhibitor ribociclib in patients with advanced HR+/HER2‑ breast cancer who have stopped responding to standard treatments. The study, currently ongoing at centers in Spain, Germany, and China, includes 150 patients whose data will be compared with historical records from more than 150 patients receiving conventional therapy.

(Press release, MedSIR, JUN 1, 2026, View Source [SID1234666339])

On June 1, 2026 Anixa Biosciences, Inc. ("Anixa" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: ANIX), a biotechnology company focused on the treatment and prevention of cancer, reported that the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) has issued a Notice of Allowance for a patent covering key aspects of Anixa’s ovarian cancer vaccine technology.

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The allowed patent, exclusively licensed from Cleveland Clinic, includes methods of administering an immunogenic composition comprising a nucleic acid encoding the anti-Müllerian hormone receptor 2 (AMHR2) polypeptide to elicit an AMHR2-specific immune response to prevent or treat ovarian cancer.

Anixa’s ovarian cancer vaccine, being developed in a collaboration between Cleveland Clinic and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), represents a novel approach to preventing and treating ovarian cancer, particularly among high-risk populations such as those carrying BRCA mutations or with a family history of the disease.

The Canadian Notice of Allowance expands the international scope of Anixa’s intellectual property portfolio around its ovarian cancer vaccine technology and complements the Company’s existing patent protection in the United States. In July 2025, Anixa announced the issuance of U.S. Patent Number 12,357,593 covering key aspects of its ovarian cancer vaccine technology, including broad claims related to methods of eliciting an immune response targeting AMHR2.

"This Canadian Notice of Allowance further strengthens the international patent protection around our ovarian cancer vaccine program and supports the novelty of our AMHR2-targeted immunoprevention approach," stated Dr. Amit Kumar, Chairman and CEO of Anixa Biosciences. "Together with our U.S. patent protection for ovarian cancer vaccine technology and our separate intellectual property portfolio for breast cancer vaccine technology, this allowance supports our strategy of building a broad cancer vaccine platform based on retired-protein targets. Our breast cancer vaccine recently completed a Phase 1 clinical trial, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense and conducted in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic, in which all primary endpoints were met."

Anixa’s ovarian cancer vaccine is based on immunizing against AMHR2, a protein expressed in normal ovaries prior to menopause and also aberrantly expressed in certain types of ovarian cancer. This "retired" protein strategy, developed at Cleveland Clinic and licensed exclusively to Anixa, is designed to train the immune system to recognize and target cells associated with ovarian cancer while seeking to avoid harm to normal tissue.

By expanding its patent protection in Canada, Anixa is continuing to build a broader international intellectual property position around its cancer vaccine technologies. The Company believes this intellectual property foundation is important as it evaluates future clinical, regulatory and strategic development opportunities for its vaccine programs.

(Press release, Anixa Biosciences, JUN 1, 2026, View Source [SID1234666338])

On June 1, 2026 Minghui Pharmaceutical ("Minghui"), a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for oncology and autoimmune diseases, reported updated clinical data from its Phase I/II study evaluating MHB088C (QLC5508) in heavily treated patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The results were presented in a poster session at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting.

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Poster title:

Safety and efficacy of QLC5508 (MHB088C) in heavily-treated patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: Updated data from a phase 1/2 trial

Poster session:

Genitourinary Cancer—Prostate, Testicular, and Penile

The updated findings demonstrated encouraging anti-tumor activity and durable disease control in heavily pretreated mCRPC patients, including patients previously treated with androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) and taxane-based chemotherapy.

As of the data cutoff date of November 30, 2025, 59 patients had been enrolled in the study. The patient population represented a heavily pretreated setting:

74.6% received three or more prior lines of therapy
84.7% had prior taxanes exposure
28.8% received three or more prior lines of second-generation ARPIs
16.9% had received two or more prior lines of taxanes
Clinical Activity

MHB088C demonstrated durable anti-tumor activity.
The median rPFS was not reached (95% confidence interval [CI], 13.1-not evaluable [NE]), with a 12-month rPFS rate of 71.7% (95% CI, 52.6%-84.3%).
Among 40 patients treated at the 2.0 mg/kg Q2W dose, median rPFS was also not reached (95% CI, 13.1-NE), with a 12-month rPFS rate of 78.6% (95% CI, 50.7%-91.8%).
Safety Profile

MHB088C demonstrated a manageable safety profile, consistent with prior clinical data
Most common Grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs):
Neutrophil count decreased (25.4%)
Anemia (23.7%)
White blood cell count decreased (20.3%)
"These updated data presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) further reinforce the potential of MHB088C as a differentiated therapeutic option for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, particularly those with limited treatment alternatives after multiple prior therapies," said Guoqing Cao, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Minghui Pharmaceutical. "We are encouraged by the durable clinical benefit observed with MHB088C, including prolonged disease control in this heavily pretreated patient population, together with its manageable safety profile. These findings further strengthen our confidence in the potential of MHB088C to address significant unmet needs for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, and we look forward to advancing the program through its next stage of development."

About MHB088C

MHB088C is an investigational B7-H3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) developed using Minghui’s proprietary SuperTopoi platform.

Under an exclusive licensing and collaboration agreement, Qilu Pharmaceutical holds rights for the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of MHB088C in Greater China. Minghui retains China-based combination study rights with MHB039A and global rights outside Greater China.

In Greater China, Qilu is advancing the clinical development of MHB088C across multiple indications. The program has received three Breakthrough Therapy Designations and is currently being evaluated in two Phase 3 studies in second-line small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and second-line esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Minghui is advancing additional clinical development strategies for MHB088C. Ongoing studies in China include a Phase I/II trial evaluating MHB088C in combination with MHB039A, Minghui’s investigational PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody, in patients with advanced solid tumors, including first-line SCLC expansion cohorts.

(Press release, Minghui Pharmaceutical, JUN 1, 2026, View Source [SID1234666337])

On June 1, 2026 Hengrui Pharma reported more than 90 studies spanning multiple tumor types and therapeutic modalities at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting was held in Chicago from May 29 to June 2 (local time).

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According to statistics, 94 Chinese research projects were selected for oral presentations at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) this year, including 12 late-breaking abstracts, marking the third consecutive year of growth. At 2026 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, Hengrui Pharma presented 91 accepted studies and 11 oral presentations featuring innovative therapies, underscoring the breadth of the company’s oncology pipeline and ongoing investment in innovative drug development.

As a leading innovative pharmaceutical company in China, Hengrui continues to focus on oncology research and drug development. For 16 consecutive years, Hengrui has shared data from its oncology portfolio at the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting. This year, the company’s research program encompasses multiple key areas, including gastrointestinal cancers, breast cancer, lung cancer, urological cancers, gynecological cancers, and supportive cancer care, covering 11 approved medicines, 10 pipeline candidates, and one Class 2 new drug (NMPA classification). These programs are supported by more than 10 technology platforms covering small molecules, ADCs, bispecific and multispecific antibodies, and degraders. Together, these platform-based R&D capabilities support a broad oncology pipeline encompassing multiple therapeutic approaches across different tumor types.

Breast Cancer: New Data Support Multiple Emerging Treatment Strategies

For triple-negative breast cancer, the HELEN-Trio 011 study led by Professor Zhenzhen Liu of Henan Cancer Hospital showed that the pathological complete response (pCR) rate for neoadjuvant therapy with camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy reached 57.5%, significantly outperforming the pCR of 45.4% observed with chemotherapy alone. In the field of neoadjuvant therapy for HER2-positive early breast cancer, the HELEN HER-013 study was the first to demonstrate that the chemotherapy-de-escalated regimen of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel, trastuzumab, and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor pyrotinib (nab-PHPy) is noninferior to standard TCHP, offering a new treatment option for patients who cannot tolerate severe hematologic toxicity.

Gastrointestinal Cancers: ADC and Immunotherapy Combination Treatments Show Promise

In the field of colorectal cancer, the HORIZON-CRC01 study led by Professor Jin Li of Shanghai GoBroad Cancer Hospital Affiliated to China Pharmaceutical University and Professor Ying Yuan of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine demonstrated that the new-generation anti-HER2 ADC, trastuzumab rezetecan, when used to treat patients with HER2-positive, RAS and RAF wild-type advanced colorectal cancer who have progressed after standard second-line therapy, achieved a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 5.5 months, compared to 2.8 months with conventional chemotherapy, suggesting a potential new treatment option for patients whose disease has progressed following standard therapies. In the field of liver cancer, the CARES-336 study, co-led by Academician Jia Fan from Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University and Professor Shukui Qin from Tsientang Institute for Advanced Study, has for the first time demonstrated that the "Camrelizumab + Apatinib" regimen combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) significantly prolongs median PFS compared to TACE alone (by BIRC per mRECIST, 11.1 months vs. 8.3 months), supporting the potential use of this combination approach in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC).

Urological Cancers: Dual Breakthroughs in Prostate and Bladder Cancers

The FUZUPRO study, led by Professor Dingwei Ye of Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, demonstrated that first-line treatment with fluzoparib combined with abiraterone acetate and prednisone for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) resulted in a median radiographic PFS of 24.8 months, compared to 19.9 months with the standard regimen. Another study demonstrated that the anti-Nectin-4 ADC SHR-A2102 combined with adebrelimab achieved a pCR of 48.1% and a pathological downstaging rate of 59.3% in the perioperative treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer, including those with renal dysfunction.

Supportive Cancer Care: Additional Evidence for New Antiemetic Drug

The Phase III PROTECT study, led by Professor Li Zhang and Professor Yuhong Li of the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, demonstrated that Fosrolapitant and Palonosetron Hydrochloride for Injection—a novel, ultra-long-acting antiemetic developed in-house by Hengrui—achieved significantly higher complete response rates than the standard regimen during the acute, delayed, and overall phases for the prevention of nausea and vomiting induced by moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. These findings add to the growing body of clinical evidence supporting its use in supportive cancer care.

Hengrui Pharma currently markets 16 approved oncology medicines in China and is advancing nearly 60 oncology candidates across its research portfolio. The company is conducting more than 150 clinical trials worldwide across its key oncology development programs.

Hengrui’s expanding presence at the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting reflects continued progress across its oncology pipeline and broader clinical development efforts. The company’s research presentations this year span multiple tumor types and therapeutic modalities, highlighting both approved medicines and investigational candidates across its oncology portfolio.

As oncology research continues to evolve globally, Hengrui remains focused on translating scientific innovation into potential clinical benefit for patients through sustained investment in research and development.

(Press release, Hengrui Pharmaceuticals, JUN 1, 2026, View Source [SID1234666336])

On June 1, 2026 Haisco Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. ("Haisco") (Ticker Code: 002653) reported a licensing and research collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company ("Lilly") to develop innovative medicines across multiple therapeutic areas.

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Under the agreement, Haisco will be responsible for the discovery and identification of up to five innovative target programs, while Lilly will lead IND-enabling studies, clinical development, and commercialization. Lilly will obtain exclusive worldwide rights to certain programs, and exclusive rights outside mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan (the "Haisco Territory") for certain other programs, while Haisco will retain rights within the Haisco Territory for those programs.

"This collaboration is highly aligned with our international development strategy and is expected to generate sustainable value and long-term returns," said Dr. Pangke Yan, chief executive officer of Haisco, "By partnering with a global biopharmaceutical leader such as Lilly, Haisco aims to accelerate the global development of innovative therapies and deliver high-quality treatment options to patients worldwide."

This collaboration reflects the first license and research collaboration between Haisco and Lilly. By leveraging each party’s strengths in innovative drug development, the two companies will work together to accelerate the global advancement of innovative therapeutics.

Haisco will be eligible to receive up to $87M in upfront and near-term payments, up to $2,967M in all remaining downstream milestones, as well as single-digit tiered royalties on future product sales.

(Press release, Haisco Pharmaceutical, JUN 1, 2026, View Source [SID1234666335])