Signatera™ MRD Test Predicted Overall Survival Benefit from Chemotherapy in Resected Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

On July 6, 2026 Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTRA), a global leader in cell-free DNA and precision medicine, reported the publication of new data in JAMA Oncology, evaluating the utility of Signatera, its personalized molecular residual disease (MRD) test, in patients with resected colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). The data was also presented as an oral presentation at the 2026 European Society for Medical Oncology Gastrointestinal (ESMO GI) Congress.

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The liver is the most common site of distant metastasis in colorectal cancer, and CRLM is a major cause of cancer-related mortality.1,2 In patients where curative-intent surgery is possible, the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) has been a point of debate and uncertainty.3 MRD status has previously been shown to predict a disease free survival (DFS) benefit from ACT, but not an overall survival (OS) benefit. This is the first dataset in a large cohort to show MRD test prediction of OS from ACT in this population.

The JAMA paper included 298 patients from the GALAXY trial, the prospective, observational arm of CIRCULATE-Japan. Outcomes were evaluated according to MRD status and whether patients received ACT, with a median follow-up of 43 months. Key findings included:

Signatera identified patients who derive a significant survival benefit from ACT. Among MRD-positive patients who underwent surgery without neoadjuvant chemotherapy, ACT was associated with improved DFS and OS compared to observation (OS: adjusted HR, 0.27; P=0.03; 48-month OS, 65.3% vs. 32.9%; DFS: adjusted HR, 0.07; P<0.0001). MRD-negative patients had favorable outcomes, with no observed survival benefit from ACT.
Post-surgical MRD status was strongly prognostic. MRD positivity 2–10 weeks after surgery was associated with significantly worse DFS and OS, including those who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery (DFS: HR, 4.82; P<0.0001; OS: HR, 9.43; P<0.001), and those who did not (DFS: HR, 4.14; P<0.0001; OS: HR, 9.13; P<0.0001).
"For patients with colorectal liver metastases, the benefit of ACT after curative-intent surgery has remained uncertain," said Kozo Kataoka, M.D., Ph.D., division of lower GI, department of gastroenterological surgery, Hyogo Medical University, and senior author of the study. "Importantly, this is the largest analysis to show that post-surgical MRD status may help identify which patients benefit from ACT in patients who underwent upfront surgery."

"This analysis adds important overall survival data in resected colorectal liver metastases, a setting where clinicians have historically had limited tools to determine who is most likely to benefit from ACT," said Adham Jurdi, M.D., senior medical director of oncology at Natera. "It further reinforces how Signatera can help tailor treatment to each patient."

(Press release, Natera, JUL 6, 2026, View Source [SID1234669083])

Astex Announces Exclusive Research Collaboration and License Agreement with Genentech for Breast Cancer Therapy Program

On July 6, 2026 Astex Pharmaceuticals ("Astex"), a pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel small molecule therapeutics for oncology and diseases of the central nervous system, reported that it has entered into an exclusive, worldwide research collaboration and license agreement with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, to identify small molecule drug candidates with selective inhibitory activity as potential treatments for breast cancer.

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Under the terms of the agreement, Astex will grant Genentech an exclusive license to compounds from Astex’s existing drug discovery program for breast cancer and will collaborate with Genentech to accelerate the further optimisation and development of lead compounds towards the identification of preclinical candidates. Genentech will be solely responsible for preclinical and clinical development of lead candidates as well as commercialisation of all medicines arising from the collaboration globally. Astex will receive an upfront payment of $25 million and is eligible to receive further payments on the achievement of preclinical, clinical, regulatory and sales milestones, potentially totalling more than $490 million, as well as tiered royalties on net sales of medicines arising from the collaboration.
Astex’s drug discovery program originated from an earlier collaborative project under Astex’s strategic alliance agreement with Newcastle University and Cancer Research Horizons.

Michelle Jones, president of Astex Pharmaceuticals, said, "Working together with colleagues from Newcastle University, Astex’s fragment-based drug discovery expertise has led to the discovery of a novel and innovative approach to selectively inhibit this key oncology target for breast cancer therapy. Genentech’s focus on embracing innovation, its expertise in oncology and its longstanding dedication to innovation for breast cancer patients makes Genentech an excellent partner for this collaboration. We are delighted to be working together in this important drug discovery alliance with the aim to build on our progress and accelerate compounds into development in a rapidly emerging area of need which, as yet, remains unmet."

"We are committed to pushing the boundaries of scientific innovation and turning breakthroughs into better outcomes for people with breast cancer," said Boris L. Zaïtra, Head of Roche Corporate Business Development. "Working alongside partners like Astex Pharmaceuticals in pursuit of precision therapies against cell-cycle regulators, we follow the science to focus our innovation on the areas of the highest unmet need."

(Press release, Astex Pharmaceuticals, JUL 6, 2026, View Source [SID1234669068])

Elicio Therapeutics Announces Closing of $15 Million Registered Direct Offering

On July 6, 2026 Elicio Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ELTX) ("Elicio" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation immunotherapies for KRAS-driven cancers, reported the closing of its previously announced registered direct offering (the "Offering") pursuant to a definitive securities purchase agreement led by two new fundamental institutional investors with participation from a large existing shareholder for the purchase of an aggregate of 4,380,313 shares of its common stock. The gross proceeds to the Company were approximately $15 million, before deducting placement agents’ fees and other Offering expenses. Elicio intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering, together with its existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, to primarily fund the planned Phase 1 clinical development of ELI-002 7P in metastatic PDAC and Elicio’s pipeline and platform, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes.

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Titan Partners, a division of American Capital Partners, acted as lead placement agent for the Offering. B. Riley Securities, Inc. acted as co-placement agent for the Offering.

The Offering was made pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-293861) initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on February 27, 2026, as amended on March 2, 2026 and further amended on March 12, 2026, and declared effective by the SEC on March 16, 2026 (the "Registration Statement"). The shares of common stock were offered only by means of a prospectus, including a prospectus supplement, forming a part of the effective registration statement. The prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to, and describing the terms of, the Offering are filed with the SEC and are available for free on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Electronic copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus may also be obtained, by contacting Titan Partners Group LLC, a division of American Capital Partners, LLC, 4 World Trade Center, 49th Floor, New York, NY 10007, by phone at (929) 833-1246 or by email at [email protected], or B. Riley Securities, Inc. at 1655 Fort Myer Drive, Suite 1200, Arlington, Virginia 22209, Attention: Syndicate Prospectus Department, by telephone at 703-312-9580 or by email at [email protected].

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the 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.

About ELI-002

Elicio’s lead product candidate, ELI-002, is a structurally novel investigational AMP cancer immunotherapy that targets cancers that are driven by mutations in the KRAS-gene—a prevalent driver of many human cancers. ELI-002 is comprised of two powerful components that are built with Elicio’s proprietary AMP technology consisting of AMP-modified mutant KRAS peptide antigens and ELI-004, an AMP-modified CpG oligodeoxynucleotide adjuvant that is available as an off-the-shelf subcutaneous administration.

ELI-002 7P (7-peptide formulation) was evaluated in the randomized Phase 2 AMPLIFY-7P trial in patients with mKRAS-driven pancreatic cancer (NCT05726864). The Phase 2 AMPLIFY-7P trial included patients with mKRAS-positive pancreatic cancer who completed standard therapy but remain at high risk of relapse. Based on topline results and post-hoc analyses, Elicio has refined its Phase 3 development strategy to focus on patients with lower residual disease burden and extended treatment duration. Elicio intends to initiate a Phase 1 study in metastatic PDAC designed to provide a rapid assessment of clinical activity through a focused, confirmatory study. Elicio plans to use the study findings to further evaluate checkpoint inhibitor combinations and help inform future development strategies in metastatic PDAC and the adjuvant PDAC Phase 3 trial. At the time of the Phase 2 AMPLIFY-7P analysis, data for overall survival remained immature. The ELI-002 7P formulation is designed to provide immune response coverage against seven of the most common KRAS mutations present in 25% of all solid tumors, thereby increasing the potential patient population for ELI-002.

(Press release, Elicio Therapeutics, JUL 6, 2026, View Source [SID1234669084])

Curis Consents First Six Patients in TakeAim CLL Study

On July 6, 2026 Curis, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRIS), a biotechnology company focused on the development of emavusertib (CA-4948), an orally available, small molecule IRAK4 and FLT3 inhibitor, reported an important enrollment milestone in its TakeAim CLL study.

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On June 26, 2026, Curis announced that eleven clinical sites had opened for enrollment in the TakeAim CLL study. Today, Curis is announcing that it has consented the first six patients in that study – and reaffirmed its guidance for the dosing of five CLL patients by the end of July 2026, with initial CLL data expected in December 2026.

"We are encouraged by the strong interest among clinical sites and key opinion leaders in our TakeAim CLL study that has enabled us to exceed expectations for site activation and enrollment," said James Dentzer, Chief Executive Officer of Curis. "It reflects the clear unmet need in CLL and the excitement for the potential of emavusertib to fundamentally change the treatment paradigm in CLL."

In CLL, disease is driven by NF-kB dysregulation, which is in turn driven by two biologic pathways: BCR and TLR1. The goal of combining emavusertib with a BTK inhibitor (BTKi) in the TakeAim CLL Study is to enable a dual blockade of NF-kB, by inhibiting both the BCR and TLR pathways. BTK inhibitors (BTKi) block the BCR pathway; emavusertib blocks the TLR pathway.

BTKi is the current standard of care in CLL. In the registrational study for the BTKi zanubrutinib, 93% of patients were able to achieve an objective response, but only 7% achieved complete response2. More recent clinical studies have demonstrated that adding emavusertib to a BTKi regimen, blocking both the TLR and BCR pathways, can enable patients with NHL to achieve deeper responses, including complete responses or undetectable minimal residual disease (MRD).

About the TakeAim CLL Study

The TakeAim CLL Study is an open label phase 2 study of emavusertib in combination with zanubrutinib in patients with CLL (CA-4948-203, NCT07271667). Participants in the study must be in a partial response (PR) or partial response with lymphocytosis (PR-L), with measurable residual disease (MRD+) as determined by the clonoSEQ assay and actively taking zanubrutinib for at least 12 months. Curis expects to announce the dosing of the initial 5 patients in the TakeAim CLL study by the end of July, with initial data expected in December 2026.

(Press release, Curis, JUL 6, 2026, View Source [SID1234669069])

LIXTE Completes Corporate Name Change to NOMAD Power Solutions, Inc.; To Begin Trading Under New Nasdaq Symbol NMAD

On July 6, 2026 NOMAD Power Solutions, Inc. ("NOMAD" or the "Company"), reported that it has completed its name change from LIXTE Biotechnology Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LIXT) to NOMAD Power Solutions, Inc (Nasdaq: NMAD).

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The Company’s common stock will begin trading today under its new ticker, NMAD on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Shares under the symbol LIXT ceased trading at the close of market on Thursday, July 2, 2026.

The new corporate name reflects the next chapter for the Company in the AI energy infrastructure equipment and services sector, following the recent acquisition of NOMAD Transportable Power Systems, a pioneer in the meeting the rapidly growing power demands of AI and hyperscale data centers. Nomad introduced the first mobile, utility-grade truck-transportable battery energy storage system.

The company’s innovative mobile products provide instantaneous power to an electrical grid or facility, bypassing months of construction typically required for traditional fixed installations. NOMAD’s patented platforms are deployed on semi-trailers, and serve emerging AI-driven applications, along with utilities, industrial operators, government agencies, and critical infrastructure providers through equipment sales, rentals and Energy-as-a-Service offerings. The Company no longer plans to operate in its legacy life sciences market and is exploring options for a sale or merger of those assets.

"Our new corporate name marks an important milestone in the Company’s transformation, reflecting who we are today and where we are headed," said Geordan Pursglove Chief Executive Officer. "We believe the broad AI energy sector offers significant, scalable growth opportunities and tangible long-term shareholder value, as we address a multi-billion dollar rapidly growing marketplace."

(Press release, Lixte Biotechnology, JUL 6, 2026, View Source [SID1234669085])