Leads Biolabs’ Opamtistomig (PD-L1/4-1BB Bispecific Antibody) Phase II Clinical Study for First-Line Treatment of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Advances to Expansion Stage

On August 24, 2026 Nanjing Leads Biolabs Co., Ltd. ("Leads Biolabs" or the "Company," Stock Code: 9887.HK) reported that Opamtistomig (LBL-024), the Company’s proprietary PD-L1/4-1BB bispecific antibody, as a first-line treatment for locally advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), has completed its safety run‑in assessment and advanced to the expansion phase based on encouraging efficacy signals and a favorable safety profile.

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The study is led by Professor Shen Lin of Peking University Cancer Hospital. In the safety run‑in stage, Opamtistomig in combination with chemotherapy demonstrated encouraging efficacy signals in patients with ESCC receiving first-line treatment, with a favorable overall safety and tolerability profile. Based on these findings and a comprehensive evaluation by the sponsor and investigators, the study has advanced to the combination therapy expansion phase.

This expansion phase is designed as a randomized controlled trial to conduct a head‑to‑head comparison of Opamtistomig plus chemotherapy versus tislelizumab plus chemotherapy as first‑line therapy for ESCC, aiming to further improve clinical outcomes over the current standard of care.

Opamtistomig is currently being evaluated in 11 clinical studies, including one pivotal single-arm registrational study, one confirmatory Phase III clinical study and nine proof-of-concept ("POC") studies. To date, patient enrollment has been completed in three POC studies in first-line extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma (EP-NEC), small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and biliary tract cancer (BTC), of which the first-line EP-NEC program has advanced into confirmatory Phase III clinical development. Two additional POC studies in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and ESCC have advanced to the expansion stage, further validating Opamtistomig’s pan‑tumor efficacy potential. Opamtistomig has demonstrated encouraging and durable efficacy signals across multiple indications. Clinical data from the first seven indications have demonstrated robust antitumor activity, while maintaining a favorable safety profile and good tolerability in approximately 800 patients, supporting its continued development as a potential next-generation immuno-oncology backbone therapy.

Executive Commentary
Dr. Charles Cai, Chief Medical Officer of Leads Biolabs, commented: "Advancing this Phase II study of Opamtistomig in first‑line ESCC into the expansion phase is an important milestone in validating its potential as a next‑generation immuno‑oncology backbone therapy. While ESCC remains a significant disease burden, and despite advances in first-line treatment, patients continue to face substantial unmet medical needs. The encouraging efficacy signals and favorable safety profile observed with Opamtistomig in combination with chemotherapy during the safety run‑in provide further confidence in its potential to improve treatment outcomes for patients with ESCC. We will continue to accelerate clinical development to bring this innovative therapy to patients as quickly as possible."

About ESCC
China is a high-incidence region for esophageal cancer, accounting for approximately half of the new cases and deaths from esophageal cancer globally. Esophageal cancer is primarily classified into ESCC and esophageal adenocarcinoma, with ESCC being the predominant histological subtype in China. According to data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2022, ESCC ranks seventh in cancer incidence in China, with approximately 224,000 new cases and 187,000 deaths annually. ESCC is often diagnosed at a locally advanced or metastatic stage and is associated with a poor prognosis. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors in combination with chemotherapy have improved objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), median OS remains approximately 12 to 17 months and the five-year survival rate is approximately 10.0% to 30.0%. These limitations of existing therapies highlight a significant unmet medical need for more effective and durable treatment options.

About Opamtistomig
Opamtistomig (LBL-024) is emerging as a next-generation pan-cancer backbone therapy with potential overall survival (OS) benefit that simultaneously targets PD-L1 and the co-stimulatory receptor 4-1BB. Developed using Leads Biolabs’ proprietary X-Body bispecific platform, Opamtistomig is designed to simultaneously block PD-1/L1 immune suppression and conditionally activate 4-1BB, an agonist pathway, resulting in a potent and synergistic anti-tumor immune response. It has a safety profile comparable to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and demonstrates broader-spectrum anti-cancer potential. To date, Opamtistomig has demonstrated first- or best-in-class potential in Phase II or registrational clinical trials across multiple indications, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), small cell lung cancer (SCLC), biliary tract cancer (BTC), and extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma (EP-NEC).

As the first 4-1BB–targeting bispecific antibody globally to advance to a single-arm pivotal trial as monotherapy, Opamtistomig has been evaluated in 13 solid tumor indications in China, including 1 pivotal registration trial and 8 proof-of-concept studies. These cover EP-NEC, NSCLC, SCLC, BTC, ovarian cancer (OC), esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), gastric cancer (GC), triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), malignant melanoma, and other areas with high unmet medical needs.

Mechanistically, 4-1BB agonism can reactivate exhausted T cells and promote robust T-cell proliferation, offering significant promise for PD-1/PD-L1–resistant or immunologically "cold" tumors, and has the potential to deliver durable, long-tail survival benefits. Recognizing its clinical potential, Opamtistomig received Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in October 2024, and Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of neuroendocrine carcinoma in November 2024. Additionally, in January 2026, Opamtistomig was granted Fast Track Designation (FTD) by the FDA and ODD by the European Commission for the treatment of EP-NEC, further underscoring its potential to address unmet medical needs in this patient population.

(Press release, Nanjing Leads Biolabs, AUG 24, 2026, View Source [SID1234670305])

InnoCare Reports 2026 Interim Results, Sustained Profitability and Key Milestones Achieved

On August 24, 2026 InnoCare Pharma (HKEX: 09969; SSE: 688428), a leading biopharmaceutical company focusing on cancer and autoimmune diseases, reported the interim results and business highlights for the six months ended 30 June 2026.

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InnoCare delivered robust revenue growth and strengthened profitability in the first half of 2026, driven by strong commercial execution and global business development collaborations. In the first half of 2026, the Company’s revenue grew by 55.5% year-on-year to RMB 1.1 billion, and profit reached RMB 239.7 million, a turnaround from a loss in the same period last year. These results reflect the successful implementation of the Company’s strategy driven by innovation, commercialization and globalization.

In the first half of 2026, InnoCare continued to accelerate innovation, achieving a series of key milestones.

1 NDA approval: Orelabrutinib was approved in Australia.
2 NDA acceptances: The NDA applications for orelabrutinib in primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and for zurletrectinib in pediatric solid tumors have been accepted.
2 Phase III studies met primary endpoints: The two novel TYK2 inhibitors, soficitinib (ICP‑332) and fadeucravacitinib (ICP‑488), achieved their primary endpoints in the Phase III trials for atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, respectively.
3 Phase III trials initiated: Phase III trials were initiated for orelabrutinib in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); for the novel BCL2 inhibitor mesutoclax (ICP‑248) in combination with orelabrutinib in relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma (r/r MCL); and for a head-to-head trial of mesutoclax with azacitidine versus venetoclax with azacitidine in treatment naïve (TN) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in China.
4 Investigational New Drugs (IND): The VAV1 molecular glue degrader ICP-538, the novel oral IL-17AA/AF inhibitor ICP-054, and the novel CDH17-targeting ADC ICP-B208 received IND approvals. The IND application for the PSMA- and STEAP1-targeting ADC ICP-B381 has been accepted.

Dr. Jasmine Cui, the Co-founder, Chairwoman, and CEO of InnoCare, said, "We have delivered a strong performance in the first half of 2026. We sustained profitability, continued our commercial expansion, achieved milestones across multiple pivotal phase III pipelines with primary endpoints met, and advanced our global footprint. Looking ahead, we will accelerate the implementation of Strategy 2.0, continue to achieve rapid growth in commercialization while advancing innovation and global expansion to benefit patients worldwide."

Financial Highlights

Revenue grew by 55.5% year-on-year (YoY) to RMB 1.1 billion in the first half of 2026, mainly driven by robust commercial growth and global business development collaborations.

Drug sales increased by 43.2% YoY to RMB 918.1 million for the six months ended 30 June 2026,driven by robust growth of orelabrutinib and the new launches of tafasitamab and zurletrectinib.

Profit reached RMB 239.7 million, mainly due to significant commercial growth, global BD, and sustained improvement in cost efficiency.

Research and Development Investment increased by 10.5% YoY to RMB 497.1 million for the six months ended 30 June 2026, reflecting our advancements in global clinical development, as well as increased investment in new technology platforms such as ADCs and molecular glue.

Cash and Related Accounts Balance stood at approximately RMB 8.4 billion1 as of 30 June 2026. This strong cash position provides InnoCare with the flexibility to expedite global clinical development and invest in new technology platforms.

Enhanced Commercialization

In the first half of 2026, all four approved indications of orelabrutinib were included in the updated National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL). Orelabrutinib sales grew rapidly following the NRDL inclusion of the first line chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (1L CLL/SLL) indication, while the orelabrutinib maintained its exclusive indication advantage in marginal zone lymphoma (MZL). Additionally, both tafasitamab and zurletrectinib have been approved for marketing and have begun to contribute to sales. Tafasitamab became the first CD19 antibody approved for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in China, while the next-generation TRK inhibitor, zurletrectinib, is now being prescribed in hospitals across China. As a result, drug sales increased by 43.2% YoY, reaching RMB 918.1 million in the first half of 2026.

Leading Franchise in Hemato-Oncology

In the first half of 2026, InnoCare made significant progress toward building a leading franchise in hemato-oncology, driven by coordinated advances in commercial execution, late-stage clinical development, and global program expansion across its three cornerstone therapies: orelabrutinib, tafasitamab, and mesutoclax (ICP-248).

Orelabrutinib has grown rapidly following the NRDL inclusion of its 1L CLL/SLL indication while maintaining its exclusive indication advantage in MZL.

The tafasitamab combination regimen received a Grade I Recommendation for second-line and subsequent-line treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in the 2026 CSCO Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines. Results from the global Phase III frontMIND study of the tafasitamab regimen were published in The Lancet, a top-tier international medical journal, and featured as a high-impact oral presentation at the plenary session of the 2026 European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) Annual Congress. The results demonstrated that, compared with R‑CHOP, the current first‑line standard‑of‑care, the tafasitamab regimen significantly prolonged progression‑free survival (PFS), with the potential to establish a new first‑line standard‑of‑care for patients with DLBCL.

As the first BCL2 inhibitor granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) in China, mesutoclax has rapidly advanced across multiple clinical programs throughout China and globally, positioning it to become a globally competitive innovative therapy, further consolidating the Company’s leading position in hemato-oncology.

1) The head-to-head registrational Phase III trial of mesutoclax with azacitidine versus venetoclax with azacitidine in treatment naïve (TN) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was initiated in China, with overall survival (OS) as the primary endpoint.

Global clinical development of mesutoclax in AML and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is accelerating in China, the U.S., and Australia. Clinical data of mesutoclax in AML and MDS has been released at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting as an oral presentation, demonstrating outstanding efficacy and safety profiles.

As of April 13, 2026, among the evaluable TN AML patients, 81.8% achieved composite CR (cCR, CR+CRi). Among patients who achieved overall response, 86.5% were negative for minimal residual disease (MRD). Among cCR responders, 83% achieved cCR in the first treatment cycle, demonstrating that the mesutoclax regimen enables rapid and deep remission. No dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were observed, and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was not reached. Notably, both 30-day mortality and 60-day mortality were 0% among TN AML patients. At the recommended dose, the 6-month overall survival (OS) rate was 90.5%.
As of April 20, 2026, among evaluable TN MDS patients, the overall response rate (ORR) per IWG 2006 criteria was 100%, including complete response (CR) in 40%, and marrow CR in 60%. The composite CR rate was 90% per IWG 2023 criteria, including 60% CR.

2) The Phase III trial of the fixed-duration combination of mesutoclax with orelabrutinib in 1L CLL/SLL has completed patient enrollment. Data presented at the 2026 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting showed that the combination achieved an overall response rate (ORR) of 100% in 1L CLL/SLL.

3) The registrational Phase II clinical trial of mesutoclax in BTK inhibitor-treated mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is being expedited and has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD). It is the first BCL2 inhibitor to receive BTD recognition in China. Data presented at the 2025 ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting demonstrated an ORR of 84.0% among MCL patients who were BTK inhibitor refractory.

4) The registrational Phase III clinical trial of mesutoclax in combination with orelabrutinib in r/r MCL is ongoing in China. Phase I data presented at the 2026 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting demonstrated that the combination regimen achieved an ORR of 100% in patients with r/r MCL.

5) Mesutoclax in combination with orelabrutinib has been granted BTD in China for the treatment of patients with MZL who have received at least one prior therapy. Data presented at the 2026 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting demonstrated that the combination achieved an ORR of 100%, with an excellent efficacy and safety, in this patient population.

Accelerating Autoimmune Pipeline

The global market for autoimmune disease therapies is anticipated to reach US$185 billion by 2029. Leveraging our strong capabilities in oral small-molecule drug discovery, InnoCare has built a differentiated and comprehensive autoimmune portfolio targeting both B-cell and T-cell-mediated disease pathways. InnoCare’s strategy focuses on developing first-in-class and best-in-class oral therapies, anchored by orelabrutinib in B-cell-driven diseases and a robust TYK2 franchise addressing T-cell-mediated inflammation. In parallel, the Company has continued to advance early-stage programs targeting novel immune pathways to sustain long-term innovation and portfolio depth.

Orelabrutinib

The NDA submission for orelabrutinib in Immune thrombocytopenia(ITP)was accepted in China, marking the first NDA acceptance for orelabrutinib in autoimmune diseases and a significant milestone in expanding orelabrutinib beyond hematologic malignancies into autoimmune diseases. This achievement represents an important step toward addressing the significant unmet medical needs of patients with ITP in China.

The registrational Phase III clinical trial of orelabrutinib for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been accelerating patient enrollment. Positive data from the Phase IIb study were presented at the EULAR 2026 European Congress of Rheumatology. The Phase IIb study met its primary and secondary endpoints, making orelabrutinib the first BTK inhibitor to demonstrate significant efficacy in a Phase II clinical trial in SLE. Orelabrutinib is expected to become the first-in-class oral BTK inhibitor for the treatment of SLE.

Two global registrational Phase III clinical trials of orelabrutinib in primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) are ongoing. Four related study abstracts have been accepted for presentation at MSToronto 2026:

1) Efficacy and Safety of Orelabrutinib in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: 24-Week Results from a Phase 2 Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

2) Pharmacokinetics of Orelabrutinib in a Phase 2 Study in Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis.

3) Orelabrutinib in Non-Active Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: Design of the Monarch Phase 3 Randomized Controlled Trial.

4) Orelabrutinib in Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: Design of the PriMroSe Phase 3 Randomized Controlled Trial.

Two TYK2 Inhibitors: Soficitinib(ICP 332)and Fadeucravacitinib(ICP 488)

Focusing on multiple T‑cell‑mediated autoimmune diseases, InnoCare has built in‑depth pipeline with two TYK2 inhibitors targeting multiple high-value indications, including atopic dermatitis (AD), psoriasis, vitiligo, prurigo nodularis (PN), chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) and other dermatological diseases. In the first half of 2026, both TYK inhibitors released multiple pivotal Phase II/III clinical results that met their primary endpoints, positioning them as potentially globally competitive innovative therapies.

Soficitinib (ICP-332)

1) The Phase III clinical trial of soficitinib in patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis achieved its primary endpoint and multiple key secondary endpoints. The safety profile of soficitinib remained consistent with previous clinical studies, with no new safety signals identified. These findings confirm soficitinib’s excellent efficacy and safety profiles in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. The Company plans to submit an NDA following the completion of the 52-week safety follow-up.

2) The Phase II portion of the Phase II/III trial in non-segmental vitiligo has met its primary endpoint. The Phase II results showed that, at Week 24, treatment with soficitinib resulted in significant improvements from baseline in Facial Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (F-VASI). The least-squares mean percent change from baseline in F-VASI was 38.8% in the 80 mg once-daily group and 41.2% in the 120 mg once-daily group, compared with 2.2% in the placebo group. The two soficitinib dose groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements versus placebo (P<0.0001). Soficitinib also showed a favorable safety profile, consistent with previous clinical studies. The treatment was well tolerated, and no new safety signals were identified. The Company will accelerate Phase III clinical trials.

3) The global Phase II clinical trial for prurigo nodularis (PN) has continued patient enrollment in the U.S. and Europe.

4) The Phase II/III clinical trial for moderate‑to‑severe chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) has completed patient enrollment.

5) The Phase II clinical trial for moderate‑to‑severe plaque psoriasis has completed patient enrollment.

Fadeucravacitinib (ICP-488)

1) The Phase III clinical study in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis achieved its primary endpoint and multiple secondary endpoints, demonstrating a consistent treatment effect across efficacy measures. Fadeucravacitinib also showed a favorable safety profile, which was consistent with previous clinical studies. The treatment was well tolerated, and no new safety signals were identified.

2) The Phase II clinical trial in cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is being expedited.

3) The Phase II clinical trial in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is ongoing.

The novel oral IL-17AA/AF inhibitor ICP-054 (ZB021) has successfully enrolled healthy volunteers. The single‑ascending‑dose (SAD) and multiple‑ascending‑dose (MAD) portions of the trial are being conducted in collaboration with Zenas, with data expected to be released by the end of 2026.

ICP-054 is a novel, oral, highly potent and selective IL-17AA/AF inhibitor with significant therapeutic potential in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. ICP-054 blocks signal transduction pathways of both the IL-17AA homodimer and the IL-17AF heterodimer, thereby inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, exerting an anti-inflammatory effect. Simultaneously, it reduces excessive proliferation of keratinocytes and inflammatory cell infiltration, improving skin lesions and thus suppressing the occurrence of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

The first VAV1 degrader (ICP-538) approved to enter clinical trials in China and the second globally has successfully enrolled patients.

ICP-538 is a novel, potent, highly selective, orally administered molecular glue degrader targeting VAV1, a key protein downstream of T-cell and B-cell receptors. ICP-538 is being developed for the treatment of hard-to-treat autoimmune diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), SLE, and multiple sclerosis (MS).

The CD20xCD3 T-cell engager (TCE) ICP-B02 (PRO-203) has completed single ascending dose (SAD) trials of healthy volunteers for severe autoimmune diseases. Meanwhile, Prolium, InnoCare’s partner, has advanced the clinical development of subcutaneously dosed ICP-B02across multiple severe autoimmune diseases. In June 2026, Prolium initiated a multinational Phase I/II study in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and announced plans to further explore ICP-B02 in additional severe autoimmune diseases driven by aberrant B-cell activity. In June 2026, Prolium also announced completion of the 26-week follow-up of all patients in an investigator-initiated study of ICP-B02 in patients with treatment-refractory lupus nephritis.

Building Competitive Solid Tumor Pipeline

InnoCare has been building a robust and diversified portfolio to address significant unmet medical needs across multiple tumor types. The Company is committed to combining targeted small molecules with next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) to maximize clinical benefit while minimizing systemic toxicity. The R&D team aims to focus on tumor types with high unmet needs, and to develop therapies that are differentiated in mechanism of action, potency, and safety profile. By leveraging our proprietary platforms and biomarker-driven patient selection, the Company seeks to accelerate clinical development, increase the likelihood of regulatory success, and ultimately provide innovative treatment options that improve patient outcomes across diverse solid tumor indications.

The next-generation TRK inhibitor zurletrectinib was granted priority review for the treatment of pediatric patients (ages 2–12) with solid tumors harboring NTRK fusions, and the NDA application has been accepted. Zurletrectinib showed outstanding efficacy and safety for pediatric solid tumors, with an ORR of 100% as assessed by the independent review committee (IRC).

In December 2025, zurletrectinib received approval for the treatment of adult and adolescent patients (aged 12 years and older) with solid tumors harboring NTRK gene fusions in China.

The novel B7-H3 targeted ADC ICP-B794 has successfully begun patient enrollment, and its Phase I dose‑escalation trial is being expedited. Preclinical data was selected for presentation at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) annual meeting, demonstrating superior anti-tumor activity and a significantly larger safety window compared with similar drugs.

ICP-B794 is a novel ADC comprising a humanized anti-B7-H3 monoclonal antibody conjugated to a potent in-house developed payload via a protease-cleavable linker. This combination ensures precise targeting of tumor cells while minimizing off-target effects, offering a promising treatment for solid tumors such as lung cancer, esophageal cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, prostate cancer, and others.

The novel CDH17-targeted ADC ICP-B208 has entered clinical development, with patient enrollment underway. ICP-B208 will be developed for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers, including gastric, colorectal, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and cholangiocarcinoma. In preclinical studies, ICP-B208 demonstrated potent anti-tumor activity even in CDH17-low tumors.

The IND application for ICP‑B381, a novel bi-specific ADC targeting PSMA and STEAP1, has been accepted in China for the treatment of solid tumors including prostate cancer. ICP-B381 is InnoCare’s first dual‑antibody ADC built on its established ADC technology platform. In preclinical studies, ICP-B381 demonstrated robust and dose-dependent antitumor activity in a 22Rv1 human prostate cancer xenograft model, outperforming the corresponding single-target PSMA and STEAP1 ADCs at the same dose, with favorable tolerability. The Company plans to submit an IND application in the U.S.

Accelerating Globalization

In the first half of 2026, the Company accelerated the implementation of its global strategy. Orelabrutinib was approved in Singapore and Australia, and with the rapid advancement of global clinical trials and milestone achieved from BD collaborations, the Company further consolidated its foundation for global growth.

Moving forward, InnoCare will continue to unlock the value of its innovation globally through multiple approaches including out‑licensing, regional collaborations and in‑house capability building, generating additional growth opportunities for all stakeholders and benefiting patients worldwide.

To know more about the detailed financial data and business updates of InnoCare 2026 interim results, please log in to View Source

Conference Call Information

InnoCare will host a conference call at 8:30 p.m. Beijing time on August 24 in English and at 9:00 a.m. Beijing time in Chinese on August 25, 2026. Participants must register in advance of the conference call. Details are as follows:

For English conference call, please register through the below link:

View Source

For Chinese conference call, please register through the below link:

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(Press release, InnoCare Pharma, AUG 24, 2026, View Source [SID1234670306])

BriaCell Advances Personalized Melanoma Immunotherapy Vaccine Candidate, Bria-MEL+(TM)

On August 24, 2026 BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. (Nasdaq: BCTX, BCTXL) (TSX: BCT) ("BriaCell" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel immunotherapies to transform cancer care, reported that Bria-MEL+, its personalized whole cell melanoma immunotherapy vaccine candidate, has achieved a key genetic engineering milestone, advancing the program toward clinical development.

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Bria-MEL+ is a cell-based therapeutic cancer vaccine designed to harness a patient’s own immune system to combat melanoma. The program is personalized yet ‘off-the-shelf ’: a simple patient saliva test will determine which of the several premanufactured treatment cell lines will be selected for personalized treatment, avoiding the need to manufacture a unique product for each individual patient.

"Bria-MEL+ is designed to combine the advantages of personalized immunotherapy with the accessibility of an off-the-shelf vaccine," said William V. Williams, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of BriaCell. "By eliminating individualized manufacturing, we believe this approach has the potential to broaden access, shorten treatment timelines, and reduce treatment costs while preserving patient-specific matching."

"Building on the encouraging efficacy and tolerability results from BriaCell’s metastatic breast cancer immunotherapy program, we continue to expand our pipeline with additional personalized, cell-based immunotherapy vaccine candidates, including Bria-MEL+ for melanoma," stated Miguel A. Lopez-Lago, PhD, BriaCell’s Chief Scientific Officer.

About Bria-MEL+

Bria-MEL+ is a personalized, off-the-shelf, genetically modified whole-cell cancer vaccine designed to activate multiple components of the immune system, including innate and adaptive immune responses, to target and destroy melanoma cells. The program is derived from BriaCell’s Bria-OTS+ (off-the-shelf) cellular immunotherapy platform and is being developed using premanufactured cell lines selected through patient HLA matching.

BriaCell’s Bria-MEL+ expands the Company’s personalized immunotherapy platform which is led by Bria-IMT, currently in a pivotal Phase 3 trial for metastatic breast cancer. BriaCell is also advancing Bria-OTS in breast cancer, in which the first patient dosed experienced sustained complete resolution of a lung metastasis, and Bria-PROS+ in prostate cancer which has recently received FDA clearance to initiate clinical evaluation. The Bria-MEL+, Bria-PROS+ and Bria-OTS programs are based on matching patient HLA type with the corresponding immunotherapy cell line.

Earlier In 2026, BriaCell reported preclinical data from the Bria-OTS+ platform at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, Bria-OTS+ demonstrated activation of both adaptive and innate immunity, including naïve/resting T cells, dendritic cells, and natural killer (NK) cells, inducing immune memory and eliciting "serial killer" activity against cancer cells. BriaCell believes this multipronged immune activation supports the potential of the Bria-OTS+ platform to generate anti-tumor immune responses and informs the development of Bria-MEL+ for melanoma.

BriaCell has commenced development activities to support production of Bria-MEL+ for potential clinical use. Bria-MEL+ recently passed a key milestone in the genetic engineering process, streamlining the path to the clinic.

Melanoma Facts

The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 112,000 new cases of melanomas will be diagnosed in the United States in 2026, including about 65,400 in men and 46,600 in women. Based on 2021–2023 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data, approximately 2.2% of men and women will be diagnosed with skin melanoma during their lifetime.

Despite major advances in treatment, melanoma remains a significant unmet medical need. Approximately 8510 people are expected to die from melanoma in the United States in 2026, including about 5500 men and 3010 women. Melanoma accounts for only about 1% of skin cancers but causes a large majority of skin cancer deaths.

(Press release, BriaCell Therapeutics, AUG 24, 2026, View Source [SID1234670290])

Liminatus Pharma Engages Synex as Contract Research Organization to Support Phase 1/2a Clinical Development of CD19xCD22 bivalent CAR-T therapy

On August 24, 2026 Liminatus Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: LIMN) ("Liminatus" or the "Company"), a biotechnology company developing innovative cancer therapies, reported that it has engaged Synex Consulting Ltd. ("Synex"), a Korea-based full-service contract research organization ("CRO"), to support the clinical development of IBC101, the Company’s CD19xCD22 bivalent CAR-T cell therapy candidate.

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The engagement represents an important step in advancing IBC101 toward clinical execution in South Korea. IBC101 has received authorization from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of the Republic of Korea (MFDS) for a Phase 1/2a clinical study in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma ("DLBCL"), with Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital identified as the lead clinical site.

Under the engagement, Synex will provide clinical research services pursuant to a milestone-based program, with payments linked to key clinical development milestones, including patient enrollment, database lock and completion of the clinical study report.

"Engaging Synex is another important step in moving IBC101 from regulatory authorization toward clinical execution," said Chris Kim, Chief Executive Officer of Liminatus. "Synex brings extensive experience supporting pharmaceutical clinical development in Korea, and we believe its local regulatory and clinical capabilities will be valuable as we advance the IBC101 Phase 1/2a program."

IBC101 is an autologous CD19xCD22 bivalent CAR-T cell therapy designed for relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies. The candidate utilizes an OR-gate approach intended to recognize malignant B cells expressing either CD19 or CD22. By targeting two established B-cell antigens, IBC101 is designed to broaden antigen coverage and potentially address antigen escape and tumor heterogeneity, two mechanisms associated with relapse following single-antigen CAR-T therapy.

The IBC101 program further expands Liminatus’ oncology development portfolio beyond its IBA101 CD47 checkpoint inhibitor program and establishes an additional clinical-stage development pathway focused on hematologic malignancies.

"Following the expansion of our oncology portfolio, our focus is increasingly shifting toward execution across our development programs," added Mr. Kim. "The Synex engagement provides clinical infrastructure in Korea to support the next stage of IBC101’s development, and we look forward to progressing the program toward patient enrollment."

About IBC101

IBC101 is an investigational autologous CD19xCD22 bivalent CAR-T cell therapy candidate designed for the treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies. The therapy is designed as an OR-gate CAR-T system capable of recognizing tumor cells expressing either CD19 or CD22, with the goal of expanding antigen coverage and reducing the potential for antigen escape associated with single-target CAR-T therapies. IBC101 has received authorization from the MFDS for a Phase 1/2a clinical study in relapsed or refractory DLBCL.

(Press release, Liminatus Pharma, AUG 24, 2026, View Source [SID1234670307])

Erasca Granted FDA Fast Track Designation for Pan-RAS Molecular Glue ERAS-0015 in Patients with Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

On August 24, 2026 Erasca, Inc. (Nasdaq: ERAS), a clinical-stage precision oncology company singularly focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing therapies for patients with RAS/MAPK pathway-driven cancers, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track Designation (FTD) to ERAS-0015 for the treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. ERAS-0015 is an oral, highly potent pan-RAS molecular glue designed to inhibit RAS signaling with a potential best-in-class profile.

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"Receiving FTD is an important milestone for ERAS-0015 and reflects the urgent need for new therapies for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer," said Jonathan E. Lim, M.D., Erasca’s chairman, CEO, and co-founder. "Together with the encouraging clinical activity and favorable tolerability observed to date, this FTD helps to position us to rapidly advance the clinical development of ERAS-0015, including working closely with FDA on a planned Phase 3 trial in pancreatic cancer, alongside two additional potentially pivotal trials in lung cancer. We look forward to reporting additional monotherapy and combination data in the first half of 2027."

FTD is intended to facilitate development and expedite the review of therapies for serious conditions with unmet medical needs. Designated programs may benefit from more frequent interactions with the FDA and, if relevant criteria are met, may be eligible for benefits such as accelerated approval, priority review, and rolling review.

In July 2026, Erasca reported updated preliminary data from the AURORAS-1 Phase 1 trial in the U.S. demonstrating encouraging clinical activity, including a 57% uORR8wk in patients with second-line or later (2L+) KRAS G12X pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) receiving ERAS-0015 monotherapy at the recommended dose for expansion (RDE) of 32 mg once daily.1 All responding patients across doses remained on treatment as of the data cutoff, and ERAS-0015 continued to demonstrate favorable tolerability.2 Additional data from the monotherapy expansion and combination dose escalation cohorts, including the panitumumab combination, are expected in the first half of 2027.

The uORR8wk is the overall response rate (ORR) (confirmed and unconfirmed responses) for patients who received first dose of ERAS-0015 at least 8 weeks prior to the May 25, 2026 data cut off.
2 May 25, 2026 data cut off

About ERAS-0015
ERAS-0015 is an investigational, oral, highly potent pan-RAS molecular glue designed to inhibit RAS signaling with a potential best-in-class profile. Erasca is evaluating ERAS-0015 in the AURORAS-1 Phase 1 trial in patients with RAS-mutant solid tumors. Early dose escalation data in AURORAS-1 demonstrated favorable safety and tolerability results, well-behaved, linear PK, and confirmed and unconfirmed partial responses in multiple patients across multiple tumor types with different RAS mutations, including confirmed partial responses at doses as low as 8 mg once daily (QD). ERAS-0015 is also designed to prevent resistance against mutant-selective inhibitors through inhibition of RAS wildtype variants. In addition, ERAS-0015 has demonstrated favorable absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) and pharmacokinetic (PK) properties in multiple animal species.

(Press release, Erasca, AUG 24, 2026, View Source [SID1234670291])