On April 16, 2026 STORM Therapeutics Ltd. (STORM), the clinical stage company targeting RNA modifications to reprogram cells and develop novel cancer therapies, reported a successful $56 million Series C financing.

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The proceeds will support the advancement of STC-15, a first‑in‑class, oral small-molecule inhibitor of METTL3, including funding the Company’s Phase 2 monotherapy study in selected sarcoma indications, in which the first patient has now been successfully dosed. Sarcoma is a form of cancer that arises in bone or soft tissues, including muscle, fat, cartilage, blood vessels, and other connective or supportive tissue. This study is designed to support a potential accelerated regulatory approval pathway for STC-15 and to establish a foundation for subsequent clinical development across additional oncology indications.

STC-15 inhibits METTL3, an RNA-modifying enzyme involved in the regulation of cancer stem cell differentiation, a critical process in the development of sarcomas and other malignancies. In a Phase 1 monotherapy study, STC-15 demonstrated durable tumor regression across multiple sarcoma subtypes, underscoring its potential to target and reprogram progenitor cells that transform into cancer cells. These results will be presented at an upcoming medical conference in 2026.

Jerry McMahon, Chief Executive Officer of STORM Therapeutics, said: "Advancing our first‑in‑class METTL3 inhibitor, STC-15, into Phase 2 clinical development marks a pivotal breakthrough in tackling cancers characterized by aberrant cell differentiation. This milestone highlights our scientific innovation and the potential to create new therapeutic options for patients with substantial unmet needs. We are grateful for the steadfast support from our investors and are encouraged by the robust durability and activity demonstrated with STC-15 in Phase 1 studies. As we begin our Phase 2 trial, our focus remains on addressing critical unmet needs in sarcoma for the benefit of patients."

Jonathan Trent, MD of the University of Miami, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, commented: "The launch of the Phase 2 trial for STC-15 represents a significant advancement in the treatment landscape for sarcoma and other tumors driven by METTL3. STC-15’s novel mechanism of action targets sarcomas at their vulnerability, reprogramming malignant cells toward cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. We are hopeful that this research will yield meaningful insights and, ultimately, new therapeutic avenues for patients with pressing unmet needs."

STORM’s sarcoma program builds on previous clinical and translational research in epitranscriptomic regulation, emphasizing the importance of RNA-modifying enzymes in the maintenance of stem cell‑derived tumors and their potential application in broader settings. METTL3 methylates mRNA, influencing the differentiation processes of connective tissues and other cell types. Sarcomas arise from transformed mesenchymal stem cells as they progress into malignant connective tissue cells, accounting for 1% of adult cancers and 15% of pediatric cancers. Due to the frequent absence of driver mutations or immunogenic features amenable to standard treatments, sarcomas depend on METTL3-driven methylation for growth and survival. The Phase 2 trial will assess the anti-tumor effects of inhibiting mRNA methylation in sarcomas.

The financing was funded by existing investors, M Ventures, Pfizer Ventures, Taiho Ventures LLC, IP Group plc, the UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. (UTokyo IPC), and Fast Track Initiative (FTI).

(Press release, STORM Therapeutics, APR 16, 2026, View Source [SID1234664461])

On April 16, 2026 Allogene Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALLO) reported the closing of its previously reported underwritten public offering of 87,500,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $2.00 per share. In addition, the underwriters partially exercised their option and purchased 12,700,000 additional shares of common stock. Including the option exercise, the aggregate gross proceeds from this offering were $200.4 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by Allogene.

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Allogene expects to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include clinical trial expenses, research and development expenses, general and administrative expenses, and capital expenditures.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Jefferies and TD Cowen acted as joint bookrunners for the offering. Piper Sandler and William Blair also acted as joint bookrunners for the offering. Baird and Canaccord Genuity acted as lead managers for the offering. TPG Capital BD, LLC acted as co-manager for the offering.

The shares of common stock described above were offered by Allogene pursuant to a shelf registration statement filed by Allogene with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that was declared effective on April 25, 2024. A final prospectus supplement related to the offering has been filed with the SEC and is available on the SEC’s website located at View Source Copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus related to this offering may be obtained from Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, or by telephone at (866) 471-2526, or by email at [email protected]; or from Jefferies LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate Prospectus Department, 520 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022, or by telephone at (877) 821-7388, or by emailing [email protected]; or from TD Securities (USA) LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or by email at [email protected].

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

(Press release, Allogene, APR 16, 2026, View Source [SID1234664430])

On April 16, 2026 Geminii, Inc., a company developing bioelectronic medicines, reported that it will present new data at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026 in San Diego highlighting its non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) program. The poster, titled "Bioelectromagnetic reprogramming of tumor-immune metabolism to selectively destroy NSCLC," will be presented on April 22, 2026.

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The data to be presented show that Geminii’s bioelectronic therapy slowed tumor growth, extended survival, and enhanced the activity of chemoradiation in multiple preclinical NSCLC models without toxicity to healthy tissue. The studies also show increased markers consistent with tumor-cell damage and evidence of increased immune activation in the tumor microenvironment.

Geminii is developing a non-invasive bioelectronic therapy designed to work alongside existing cancer treatments. The company believes these findings support the potential of its platform to address cancer through a differentiated mechanism, expand the reach of its platform beyond metabolic disease into oncology, and potentially open a new avenue for home-based cancer treatment delivered during sleep.

"These findings are exciting not only because they highlight a differentiated approach in NSCLC, but also because they suggest our platform may extend beyond metabolic disease into oncology," said Calvin Carter, PhD, CEO of Geminii. "We believe this work supports the broader potential of bioelectronic medicine and may help open a new avenue for at-home, sleep-compatible cancer therapy. These data support the advancement of our bioelectronic platform toward clinical development."

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

Poster Presentation Details Title: Bioelectromagnetic reprogramming of tumor-immune metabolism to selectively destroy NSCLC
Poster Number: 7793
Session Category: Clinical Research
Session Title: Immunomodulatory Agents and Interventions
Date/Time: April 22, 2026, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. PT
Location: Poster Section 43, Board 21

(Press release, Geminii Health, APR 16, 2026, View Source [SID1234664446])

On April 16, 2026 Adlai Nortye Ltd. (Nasdaq: ANL) (the "Company" or "Adlai Nortye"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative cancer therapies, reported that it has entered into a securities purchase agreement for a private investment in public equity financing that is expected to result in gross proceeds of approximately $150.0 million, before deducting placement agent fees and other private placement expenses.

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The oversubscribed transaction includes participation from both new and existing institutional investors. New investors include Soleus Capital, Perceptive Advisors, ADAR1 Capital Management, MPM BioImpact, Octagon Capital, Eventide Asset Management and Kalehua Capital, DAFNA Capital Management, etc., with additional participation from existing investors including Cormorant Asset Management, Columbia Threadneedle Investments, Balyasny Asset Management, Casdin Capital and Squadron Capital Management, Superstring Capital Management, etc.

In the private placement, the Company is selling 11,320,755 ADSs, at a price of $13.25 per ADS, which equals the closing price of the Company’s ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Market on April 15, 2026. The private placement is expected to close on April 17, 2026, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Carsten Lu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Adlai Nortye, said, "We are delighted to have brought together this group of high-quality healthcare investors to support Adlai Nortye and our innovative, potentially best-in-class RAS-targeting therapies. We thank our investors for their confidence in the broad potential of our RAS-targeting pipeline and our next-generation ADC payload platform, RASiCA, as well as their commitment to our mission to transform deadly cancer into a chronic and eventually curable disease."

Leerink Partners, Cantor, Lucid Capital Markets, H.C. Wainwright & Co. and Jones are acting as joint placement agents for the private placement.

The securities being issued and sold in this private placement have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or applicable state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. Adlai Nortye has agreed to file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission registering the resale of the ADSs issued in the private placement.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

(Press release, Adlai Nortye Biopharma, APR 16, 2026, View Source [SID1234664462])

On April 16, 2026 Blacksmith Medicines, Inc. (Blacksmith), a leading biopharma dedicated to discovering and developing therapeutics targeting metalloenzymes, reported the company will present data on its oncology program targeting flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1), a structure-specific metallonuclease that cleaves 5′ DNA flaps during replication and repair, at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026, taking place April 17-22 at the San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA.

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Details of the poster presentation are as follows:

Abstract Number: 234
Title: "Proteomic profiling of FEN1 inhibition by BSM-1516 reveals chromatin-associated biomarkers for preclinical pharmacodynamic evaluation"
Session Title: DNA Damage and Repair 1
Session Date and Time: Sunday April 19, 2026 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Poster Section 11
Poster Board Number: 5

The abstract is now available on the conference website at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026.

About FEN1
Flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) is a structure-specific di-magnesium metallonuclease that cleaves 5′ DNA flaps during replication and repair. FEN1 is an attractive target for development of anticancer therapeutics because it is overexpressed in many tumor types and has a large number of synthetic lethality partners including genes in Homologous Recombination (HR) pathway.

About metalloenzymes and the Blacksmith platform
Metalloenzymes rely on metal ion cofactors within their active sites to perform critical biological functions. Historically, these targets have been challenging to drug due to limitations in small-molecule chemistry. The Blacksmith platform addresses these challenges through:

A proprietary fragment library of metal-binding pharmacophores (MBPs);
A comprehensive database mapping metalloenzyme functions, metal cofactors, and disease associations;
A unique metallo-CRISPR library of custom single guide RNAs;
An advanced computational toolkit for docking, modeling, and structure-based drug design;
A robust intellectual property portfolio spanning bioinorganic, medicinal, and computational chemistry for metalloenzyme-targeted therapeutics

(Press release, Blacksmith Medicines, APR 16, 2026, View Source [SID1234664431])