Fate Therapeutics to Participate in Leerink Partners 2026 Global Healthcare Conference

On March 3, 2026 Fate Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: FATE), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing a first-in-class pipeline of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cellular immunotherapies to patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases, reported that management will participate in a fireside chat and host investor meetings at the Leerink Partners 2026 Global Healthcare Conference on Monday, March 9, 2026 in Miami, Florida.

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Management will participate in a fireside chat at 9:20 AM ET on Monday, March 9. A live webcast of the fireside chat can be accessed under "Events & Presentations" in the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.fatetherapeutics.com. An archived replay of the webcast will be available for 90 days on the Company’s website following the event.

(Press release, Fate Therapeutics, MAR 3, 2026, View Source [SID1234663223])

GSK completes acquisition of RAPT Therapeutics

On March 3, 2026 GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) reported the completion of its previously announced acquisition of RAPT Therapeutics, a California-based, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing novel therapies for patients living with inflammatory and immunologic diseases.

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The acquisition includes ozureprubart, a long-acting anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) monoclonal antibody, currently in phase IIb clinical development for prophylactic protection against food allergens. IgE is a clinically validated target and is the only approved systemic therapy shown to protect patients from a harmful allergic and inflammatory immune response. Around 94% of severe food allergies are caused by IgE-mediated reactions.1

Current anti-IgE treatment for food allergy involves injections every 2 to 4 weeks, which can be a significant burden, particularly since most patients are children. Ozureprubart’s clinical profile offers the potential for less frequent dosing of every 12 weeks, supporting improved compliance and patient outcomes, as well as providing a new option to approximately 25% of patients currently ineligible for existing therapy. Ozureprubart complements GSK’s extensive commercial footprint and prescriber base in allergy.

Data from the phase IIb trial (prestIgE) assessing use of ozureprubart as monotherapy is expected in 2027, with phase III trials to be focused on both at-risk adult and paediatric populations.

Kaivan Khavandi, SVP, R&D Head Respiratory, Immunology & Inflammation, and Head of GSK Translational & Development Sciences, GSK said: "Ozureprubart is a promising asset that complements our expanding RI&I pipeline. Food allergies continue to place a heavy burden on patients and their families, and we are committed to progressing this potential best-in-class monoclonal antibody to deliver longer‑lasting protection."

Financial considerations
The total cash consideration for this acquisition amounts to an approximate aggregate equity value of $2.2 billion. Net of cash acquired, GSK’s upfront investment is approximately $1.9 billion.

The transaction gives GSK the global rights to the ozureprubart programme, excluding mainland China, Macau, Taiwan and Hong Kong. GSK will also be responsible for success-based milestone and royalty payments for ozureprubart owed to RAPT’s partner, Shanghai Jeyou Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

About food allergies
In the US, over 17 million people are diagnosed with food allergies, with more than 1.3 million people suffering severe reactions.2,3,4 Notably, 65% of severe food allergy patients are children and adolescents.1 This results in more than 3 million patient visits each year to hospital and emergency care.5 Disease burden is amplified by the frequency and complexity of allergic reactions, which can escalate to anaphylaxis, emergency care and impact a patient’s wellbeing and participation in social activities. Collectively, food allergies cost US families an estimated $33 billion in 2024, underscoring the need for more effective and durable therapies.

(Press release, GlaxoSmithKline, MAR 3, 2026, View Source [SID1234663224])

Greenwich LifeSciences Provides Update on Increased Patient Screen Rate in FLAMINGO-01

On March 3, 2026 Greenwich LifeSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GLSI) (the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on its Phase III clinical trial, FLAMINGO-01, which is evaluating Fast Track designated GLSI-100, an immunotherapy to prevent breast cancer recurrences, reported an update on the increased patient screen rate in FLAMINGO-01.

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FLAMINGO-01 Annual Patient Screen Rate Increases to Over 800 Patients per Year

Over the past 6 months, the Company achieved its highest screening rate of approximately 200 patients per quarter or the equivalent of over 800 patients per year in the US and EU sites, which is an approximately 33% increase over the prior reported annual screen rate of 600 patients per year. This increase is attributable to the new sites activated in 2025 and the increased patient driven momentum at existing sites.

CEO Snehal Patel commented, "While the approximately 33% increase to over 800 patients screened per year is impressive, marking our success in optimizing and expanding our clinical operations in 2025, we may have yet to see the peak screen rate for the study."

About FLAMINGO-01 Open Label Phase III Data

More than 1,000 patients have been screened with a current screen rate of approximately 800 patients per year. The 250 patient non-HLA-A*02 arm is now fully enrolled, where all patients received GLSI-100, which is 5 times more treated patients and recurrence rate data than the approximately 50 patients treated in the Phase IIb trial. The Primary Immunization Series (PIS), which includes the first 6 GLSI-100 injections over the first 6 months and is required to reach peak protection, is followed by 5 booster injections given every 6 months to prolong the immune response, thereby providing longer-term protection.

In the non-HLA-A*02 arm, a preliminary analysis of recurrence rates after the PIS is completed shows an approximately 80% reduction in recurrence rate.
This observation is trending similarly to the Phase IIb trial results and hazard ratio where HLA-A*02 patients were treated and where breast cancer recurrences were reduced up to 80% compared to a 20-50% reduction in recurrence rate by other approved products.
The immune response at baseline prior to any GLSI-100 treatment, the increasing immune response during the PIS, and the safety profile of non-HLA-A*02 patients is trending similarly to the HLA-A*02 arms of FLAMINGO-01 and to the Phase IIb study.
Analysis of the open label data from FLAMINGO-01 has been conducted in a manner that maintains the study blind. The open label recurrence rate, immune response, and safety data is based on the patients enrolled to date in FLAMINGO-01 and the data provided by the clinical sites so far, which is not completed or fully reviewed, and is thus preliminary. While comparing any preliminary FLAMINGO-01 data to the Phase IIb clinical trial data may be possible, these preliminary results are not a prediction of future results, and the results at the end of the study may differ.

About GLSI-100 Phase IIb Study

In the prospective, randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-center (16 sites led by MD Anderson Cancer Center) Phase IIb clinical trial of HLA-A*02 breast cancer patients, 46 HER2/neu 3+ over-expressor patients were treated with GLSI-100, and 50 placebo patients were treated with GM-CSF alone. After 5 years of follow-up, there was an 80% or greater reduction in cancer recurrences in the HER2/neu 3+ patients who were treated with GLSI-100, followed, and remained disease free over the first 6 months, which we believe is the time required to reach peak immunity and thus maximum efficacy and protection. The Phase IIb results can be summarized as follows:

80% or greater reduction in metastatic breast cancer recurrence rate over 5 years of follow-up with a peak immune response at 6 months and well-tolerated safety profile.
The PIS elicited a potent immune response as measured by local skin tests and immunological assays.
About FLAMINGO-01 and GLSI-100

FLAMINGO-01 (NCT05232916) is a Phase III clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Fast Track designated GLSI-100 (GP2 + GM-CSF) in HER2 positive breast cancer patients who had residual disease or high-risk pathologic complete response at surgery and who have completed both neoadjuvant and postoperative adjuvant trastuzumab based treatment. The trial is led by Baylor College of Medicine and currently includes US and European clinical sites from university-based hospitals and academic and cooperative networks with plans to open up to 150 sites globally. In the double-blinded arms of the Phase III trial, approximately 500 HLA-A*02 patients are planned to be randomized to GLSI-100 or placebo, and up to 250 patients of other HLA types are planned to be treated with GLSI-100 in a third arm. The trial has been designed to detect a hazard ratio of 0.3 in invasive breast cancer-free survival, where 28 events will be required. An interim analysis for superiority and futility will be conducted when at least half of those events, 14, have occurred. This sample size provides 80% power if the annual rate of events in placebo-treated subjects is 2.4% or greater.

For more information on FLAMINGO-01, please visit the Company’s website here and clinicaltrials.gov here. Contact information and an interactive map of the majority of participating clinical sites can be viewed under the "Contacts and Locations" section. Please note that the interactive map is not viewable on mobile screens. Related questions and participation interest can be emailed to: [email protected]

About Breast Cancer and HER2/neu Positivity

One in eight U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over her lifetime, with approximately 300,000 new breast cancer patients and 4 million breast cancer survivors. HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) protein is a cell surface receptor protein that is expressed in a variety of common cancers, including in 75% of breast cancers at low (1+), intermediate (2+), and high (3+ or over-expressor) levels.

(Press release, Greenwich LifeSciences, MAR 3, 2026, View Source [SID1234663225])

TransCode Secures Exclusive, Worldwide, Fully Paid-Up Royalty-Free License to Develop and Commercialize a Next-Generation Oncolytic Immunotherapy Platform in an All-Stock Transaction Underscoring the Company’s Dedication to Improving the Lives of Cancer Patients

On March 3, 2026 TransCode Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNAZ), a clinical stage company pioneering immuno-oncology and RNA for the treatment of high risk and advanced cancer, reported that it has entered into an exclusive, worldwide, fully paid-up royalty-free license agreement with Unleash Immuno Oncolytics, Inc. ("Unleash"). TransCode obtained the rights to develop three Unleash drug candidates, UIO-524, UIO-525 and UIO-526, which includes a license of all in-licensed rights held by Unleash to the Unleash drug candidates together with the acquisition of all rights to the drug candidates owned by Unleash. Under the terms of the exclusive license agreement, Unleash will receive a one-time payment of 1,136,364 shares of a new series of non-voting convertible preferred stock of TransCode, convertible into an equal number of shares of common stock of TransCode (the "Preferred Stock"). The Preferred Stock represents 6.8% of TransCode’s common stock on a fully diluted basis assuming conversion of all TransCode preferred stock outstanding.

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The lead candidate UIO-524 complements and expands TransCode’s oncology pipeline by introducing a next-generation, biology-driven oncolytic immunotherapy platform designed to address solid tumor indications with high-unmet medical need, beginning with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).

MIBC is a significant unmet medical need indication with poor outcomes, limited durable treatment options, and a highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Bladder cancer represents a multi-billion-dollar global market, with muscle-invasive disease accounting for a disproportionate share of treatment intensity and healthcare costs, creating what TransCode believes is a compelling opportunity for differentiated therapeutic approaches.

Dr. Philippe P. Calais, Pharm.D., Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of TransCode, stated that "As we are advancing our lead asset, TTX-MC138, into a clinical Phase 2a trial, expanding our pipeline with an innovative preclinical technology such as UIO-524 provides us with an additional shot on goal using a next generation oncolytic immunotherapy candidate intended to address a large and attractive market in more aggressive settings such as MIBC."

Tungsten Advisors acted as the exclusive financial advisor.

About Unleash and the Licensing Transaction

UIO-524 is a rationally designed oncolytic adenovirus engineered to selectively replicate within both malignant cells and cancer-associated stroma. The virus delivers a multi-cytokine immune-activating payload comprising CD40-L, 4-1BBL, and IL-21, intended to activate dendritic cells, T cells, and NK cells, and to drive a robust, systemic anti-tumor immune response. UIO-524 is regulated by a proprietary SPARC promoter that is highly active in malignant cells and cancer-associated stromal compartments and which enables biology-driven differentiation. This design enables selective viral replication and localized expression of immune-activating cytokines within the tumor microenvironment.

UIO-524 builds on CG Oncology’s CG0070, the most clinically advanced and successful oncolytic adenovirus to date, demonstrating meaningful activity in non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). UIO-524 contains a structurally related oncolytic adenovirus backbone, incorporates tumor- and stroma-targeted replication and contains a more comprehensive, multi-cytokine immune payload. This design positions UIO-524 as a next-generation oncolytic immunotherapy candidate intended to address more aggressive disease settings such as MIBC.

A more detailed description of the financing and licensing agreements can be found in TransCode’s Form 8-K filed with the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission.

About TTX-MC138

TTX-MC138 is a first-in-class therapeutic candidate designed to inhibit microRNA-10b, or miR-10b, a microRNA widely believed to be critical to the emergence and progression of many metastatic cancers. TransCode’s Phase 0 clinical trial produced evidence of delivery of a radiolabeled version of TTX-MC138 to metastatic lesions and pharmacodynamic activity, even at a microdose of the drug candidate, suggesting a broad therapeutic window for TTX-MC138.

(Press release, TransCode Therapeutics, MAR 3, 2026, View Source [SID1234663265])

Hepion Pharmaceuticals In-Licenses ctRNA Biomarker Assay to Facilitate Early Diagnosis and Surveillance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

On March 3, 2026 Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCQB:HEPA), a precision diagnostics company, reported that it has in-licensed from Cirna Diagnostics LLC, a novel biomarker assay that detects mutant circulating tumor RNA (ctRNA) to facilitate early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients (cirrhosis). Most cases of liver cancer (75-90%) are HCC, and HCC is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, with a high mortality-to incidence ratio that makes it the third deadliest cancer globally.

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Driven by the leadership of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kaouthar Lbiati, MD, the in-licensing agreement advances Hepion’s strategic evolution and complements its recently acquired methylated DNA test for early detection of liver cancer, the mSEPT9 PCR-based assay. Hepion’s new strategic focus is advancing clinically proven liquid biopsy tests to aid in the early diagnosis and surveillance of HCC and potentially other solid tumor types in the near future, and to this end Hepion has also secured rights to potentially extend Cirna’s ctRNA platform for other indications as the technology matures. The ctRNA license for HCC, and extension rights, augment Hepion’s growing pipeline as the company prepares its mSEPT9 PCR-based assay for commercialization. The Company believes both assays will fulfill a major unmet need, as current HCC surveillance methods miss up to 75% of early-stage cancers.

"Our diagnostic tests are designed to catch tumors early in high-risk patients and minimize later-stage diagnoses where prognosis is grim, thereby significantly improving the probability of survival in high-risk patients," said Dr. Lbiati, Hepion CEO. "Our pathway toward regulatory submission and commercialization of the ctRNA platform will present numerous opportunities for CLIA lab partnerships initially, pharma companion diagnostics collaborations in the midterm, and co-development/co-commercialization agreements through the platform’s lifecycle. We believe these opportunities will enhance the value of our ctRNA asset and the broader portfolio of biomarkers, benefiting both patients and shareholders."

"As with many cancers, early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma is key to improving patient outcomes, and there is a clear need for non-invasive biomarkers that detect HCC," commented Louis P. Kassa III, MPA, Chief Executive Officer of the Hepatitis B Foundation, the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center (PABC), the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute (BSBI) – which created the assay – and Cirna Diagnostics. "We view Hepion Pharmaceuticals, under the leadership of Dr. Kaouthar Lbiati, as the ideal licensing partner to advance our innovative ctRNA liquid biopsy test."

The ctRNA biomarker assay is a blood-based test that reads the RNA signals shed by tumors into circulation. It detects cancer-specific mutant RNA variants in blood, offering a next-generation approach to liquid biopsy. Unlike DNA-based approaches, ctRNA captures actively expressed tumor signatures, providing earlier detection and improved specificity across both surveillance and early detection use cases. The platform has been validated for HCC across several independent cohorts, with standardized RNA extraction and a repertoire of HCC-specific variants being integrated into a single multiparametric blood test.

The ctRNA platform was co-invented by Timothy Block, PhD, a member of Hepion’s Board of Directors and co-founder of the Hepatitis B Foundation, Baruch S. Blumberg Institute (BSBI), and Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center, and Aejaz Sayeed, PhD, associate professor at the BSBI and chief scientific officer at Cirna Diagnostics.

"Circulating tumor RNA liquid biopsy offers a more abundant signal and detects mutations and splicing variants that are invisible to DNA-based tests," explained Dr. Sayeed. "Our ctRNA platform also sheds light on the ‘dark’ or regulatory genome and highlights novel noncoding elements associated with cancer. It is a confidence-boosting tool for clinicians seeking diagnostic clarity for their at-risk patients. The platform is also disease-agnostic; it has direct applications in lung, breast, pancreatic, and fusion-driven cancers, and potential utility across the full arc of clinical management, encompassing surveillance, treatment monitoring, prognosis, and therapy selection."

With its ctRNA and mSEPT9 diagnostic assays, Hepion takes the next steps toward a theranostics-enabling approach that presents a tremendous commercial opportunity. The global liquid biopsy market is currently valued at $10 billion and growing, and in the U.S. alone is projected to reach nearly $9 billion by 2035.

(Press release, Hepion Pharmaceuticals, MAR 3, 2026, View Source [SID1234663226])