On April 20, 2026 Deck Bio, a biotechnology company advancing multi-pMHC targeted T cell engagers for solid tumors, reported new preclinical data for its lead program, DBXO-1, at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026, which is being held April 17–22 in San Diego, California. The data were included in a poster titled "Preclinical characterization of DBXO-1, a multi-pMHC targeted bispecific T cell engager for major solid tumors."

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The data highlight Deck Bio’s strategy to overcome key limitations of T cell engagers in solid tumors, including low antigen density, tumor heterogeneity, and the scarcity of tumor-specific surface targets. DBXO-1 is designed to recognize multiple cancer-associated peptide–major histocompatibility complexes (pMHCs) using a single engineered T cell receptor (TCR)-based binder. By combining a proprietary TCR stabilization technology (dbTv) with a sequence-agnostic specificity profiling platform (dbSCOPE), DBXO-1 enables precise targeting of intracellular cancer antigens in a novel T cell engager format (dbTCE).

"The data presented at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) showcase the rationale and structural foundation that enables multi-pMHC targeting," said Johanna Kaufmann, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Deck Bio. "Leveraging our dbSCOPE technology, we prioritize specificity as a core design principle for DBXO-1, ensuring highly potent multi-target activity does not come at the expense of off-target toxicity."

Key Preclinical Findings from AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2026

Engineered TCR-based binders demonstrated multi-target engagement with ~1–2 nM affinity across target pMHCs.
The structural recognition mode of DBXO-1 binders enables multi-pMHC targeting.
Deep specificity profiling using dbSCOPE (Deck Bio’s Sequence-agnostic Comprehensive Off-target Profiling Engine) to interrogate binding against 13,849 HLA-A*02:01-presented peptides from healthy tissues showed minimal off-target interactions and a specificity profile comparable to an approved pMHC-TCE.
Functional assays under stringent conditions demonstrated a favorable potency window, with greater than 1,000-fold EC50 selectivity for target versus off-target peptides.
DBXO-1 dbTCEs mediated T cell activation and potent target-dependent cytotoxicity, with EC50s comparable to an established pMHC-TCE.
DBXO-1 dbTCEs showed no alloreactivity with closely related HLA alleles, consistent with a highly specific recognition profile.
DBXO-1 dbTCEs, which contain the stabilized dbTv moiety, demonstrated extended half-life in human FcRn transgenic mice, with an estimated elimination half-life exceeding 7.5 days.
"These data support our thesis that a multi-target approach can expand the reach of T cell engagers in solid tumors while maintaining a high bar for specificity," said Jack Silberstein, Ph.D., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Deck Bio. "We are advancing DBXO-1 with a disciplined focus on safety, durability of response, and the potential to treat broader patient populations."

Deck Bio is continuing preclinical development of DBXO-1, including additional safety and efficacy studies. The company’s initial clinical development is expected to focus on biomarker-selected patient populations across major solid tumor indications, including non-small cell lung and gastroesophageal cancers, representing an estimated addressable patient population of approximately 120,000 biomarker-positive patients in the first-line metastatic setting across the U.S., Europe, the U.K., and Australia.

(Press release, Deck Bio, APR 20, 2026, View Source [SID1234664571])

On April 20, 2026 Perspective Therapeutics, Inc. ("Perspective" or the "Company) (NYSE AMERICAN: CATX), a radiopharmaceutical development company pioneering advanced treatments for cancers throughout the body, reported updated interim results from its ongoing Phase 1/2a clinical trial of [212Pb]VMT-α-NET in patients with unresectable or metastatic somatostatin receptor type 2 (SSTR2) expressing neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) as part of a poster presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026. [212Pb]VMT-α-NET is potentially the first-in-class 212Pb-radiopharmaceutical therapy targeting SSTR2.

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Interim results with a data cut-off date of March 4, 2026 formed the basis of the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) update. The presentation includes safety data from 64 patients across three dose cohorts who have received at least one treatment of [212Pb]VMT-α-NET, and efficacy analysis from two patients in Cohort 1 (2.5 mCi) and 23 patients in Cohort 2 (5.0 mCi). Efficacy analysis with earlier data cut-off dates for the same patients were previously presented at the 2026 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in January 2026 (ASCO-GI 2026) and the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2025 (ESMO 2025) in October 2025.

"Updated analyses continue to support the compelling overall clinical profile of [212Pb]VMT-α-NET as a treatment for GEP-NETs at the Cohort 2 dose level of 5 mCi per dose or up to 20 mCi cumulatively," said Markus Puhlmann, Chief Medical Officer of Perspective. "We are particularly encouraged by continued learning on the time to onset of best response, durability of response, as well as emerging long-term safety of [212Pb]VMT-α-NET. Meanwhile, we are enhancing our robust clinical package and adding optionality with additional dose cohorts, as well as looking beyond GEP-NETs."

As of the data cut-off date of March 4, 2026:

Safety findings based on 64 patients who received at least one treatment:

The 64 patients in this safety analysis comprised two patients in Cohort 1 (2.5 mCi), 46 patients in Cohort 2 (5.0 mCi), and 16 patients in Cohort 3 (6.0 mCi).
There were no reports of dose limiting toxicities (DLTs), treatment-related discontinuations, serious renal complications, dysphagia, or clinically significant treatment-related myelosuppression.
Grade 3 or higher treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in 23 patients (36%). One of these patients, who was enrolled in Cohort 3, experienced a transient lymphocyte count decrease on the cusp of Grades 3 and 4. This event was subsequently determined by the site to be a Grade 3 event. This event was transient and resolved without medical intervention. The patient completed the full course of [212Pb]VMT-α-NET treatment of four treatments without interruption and remains on study. No further Grade 4 events have occurred in this patient or in other patients in the study. There were no Grade 5 events.
No additional patients experienced serious adverse events (SAEs) since the most recent data update at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)-GI 2026, with none of the five SAEs deemed related to the study medication.

Anti-tumor activity based on both patients in Cohort 1 and 23 patients in Cohort 2:

Updated efficacy analysis in the same 25 patients from ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)-GI 2026 and ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2025 was presented with an additional ~12 weeks and ~25 weeks of follow-up, respectively.
18 of the 25 patients (72%) were without progression and remained alive, including both patients in Cohort 1.
Ten (43%) patients in Cohort 2 were observed to have response according to investigator-assessed RECIST v1.1. Nine of those responses were previously reported at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)-GI 2026, including one initial response reported at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)-GI 2026 that has since been confirmed. Since then, one more patient experienced an initial response in their most recent tumor assessment. As the patient remains on study, the patient is expected to receive a subsequent tumor assessment.
Eight (50%) of the 16 patients in Cohort 2 whose tumors all express SSTR2 were observed to have response according to investigator-assessed RECIST v1.1.
Nine patients were observed to have deepening of best response since initial tumor assessments on these patients were reported at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) in October 2025.
About [212Pb]VMT-α-NET

Perspective designed [212Pb]VMT-α-NET to target and deliver 212Pb to tumor sites expressing somatostatin receptor type 2 (SSTR2). The Company is conducting a multi-center, open-label, dose-escalation, dose-expansion study (clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT05636618) of [212Pb]VMT-α-NET in patients with unresectable or metastatic SSTR2-positive neuroendocrine tumors who have not received prior radiopharmaceutical therapies (RPT).

(Press release, Perspective Therapeutics, APR 20, 2026, View Source [SID1234664591])

On April 20, 2026 GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) reported the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China has approved Blenrep (belantamab mafodotin) in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone (BVd) for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior line of therapy. The approval follows priority review5 of the application and Breakthrough Therapy Designation6 for the BVd combination based on its potential to provide substantial improvement over available therapies.7

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The Blenrep approval is supported by data from the pivotal DREAMM-7 phase III trial. These include statistically significant and clinically meaningful progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) results for the Blenrep combination versus a daratumumab-based triplet combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone (DVd). The safety and tolerability profiles of the Blenrep combination were broadly consistent with the known profiles of the individual agents.1,2

Hesham Abdullah, Senior Vice President, Global Head Oncology, R&D, GSK, said: "Patients with multiple myeloma who face relapse need treatment options that are both effective and accessible. Today’s approval of Blenrep brings anti-BCMA therapy to patients in China with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma in 2L+, introducing a differentiated mechanism of action with the potential to help slow disease progression and extend survival. Further, Blenrep as the only anti-BCMA ADC is fully outpatient administered, so patients can be treated at any site of care without complex pre-administration regimens or hospitalisation."

In China, the incidence of multiple myeloma has doubled to approximately 30,000 new cases annually and mortality has increased by 50% over the past three decades.8 Blenrep is the only anti-BCMA (B-cell maturation antigen) antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) approved in multiple myeloma, which provides patients with a differentiated mechanism of action. Blenrep can be administered to a range of patient types across treatment settings as a 30-minute outpatient infusion.

About multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma is the third most common blood cancer globally and is generally considered treatable but not curable.9,10 There are approximately 180,000 new cases of multiple myeloma diagnosed globally each year.11 Research into new therapies is needed as multiple myeloma commonly becomes refractory to available treatments.3 Many patients with multiple myeloma are treated in a community cancer setting, leaving an urgent need for new, effective therapies with manageable side effects that can be administered outside of an academic centre.12,13

About Blenrep
Blenrep is a monoclonal ADC comprising a humanised BCMA conjugated to the cytotoxic agent monomethyl auristatin F via a non-cleavable linker. The drug linker technology is licensed from Seagen Inc.; the monoclonal antibody is produced using POTELLIGENT Technology licensed from BioWa Inc., a member of the Kyowa Kirin Group.

Blenrep is approved in the US14 in combination with bortezomib plus dexamethasone for the treatment of adults who have previously received at least two prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent. Blenrep has received more than 15 regulatory approvals in 2L+ relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone and in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone, including in the European Union15, UK16, Japan17, Canada, Switzerland, Brazil and Australia. Applications are under review in other countries globally.

About DREAMM-7
DREAMM-7 is a multicentre, open-label, randomised phase III clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of BVd compared to DVd in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who previously were treated with at least one prior line of multiple myeloma therapy, with documented disease progression during or after their most recent therapy. The trial enrolled 494 participants who were randomised 1:1 to receive either BVd or DVd. Belantamab mafodotin was administered at a dose of 2.5mg/kg intravenously every three weeks in combination for the first eight cycles and then continued as a single agent. The primary endpoint was PFS as per an independent review committee, with secondary endpoints including OS, duration of response (DOR), and minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity rate as assessed by next-generation sequencing. Other secondary endpoints include overall response rate (ORR), safety, and patient reported and quality of life outcomes.

In DREAMM-7 overall, BVd nearly tripled median PFS versus DVd (36.6 months versus 13.4 months, respectively (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.41 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.31-0.53], p-value<0.00001). DREAMM-7 also met the key secondary endpoint of OS, showing a statistically significant and clinically meaningful 42% reduction in the risk of death at a median follow-up of 39.4 months favouring BVd (n=243) versus DVd (n=251) (HR 0.58; 95% CI: 0.43-0.79; p=0.00023). The three-year OS rate was 74% in the BVd arm and 60% in the DVd arm.2

In DREAMM-7, BVd consistently benefited a broad range of patients, including those with poor prognostic features or outcomes, such as high-risk cytogenetics or those refractory to lenalidomide. The trial also showed clinically meaningful improvements across all other secondary efficacy endpoints, including deeper and more durable responses versus the comparator.2

DREAMM-7 showed that eye-related side effects associated with Blenrep can be managed and reversed with appropriate dose modifications and follow-up. This allowed patients to maintain benefit and resulted in low rates of discontinuation due to eye-related side effects (≤9%). The most commonly reported non-ocular adverse events (>30% of participants) in the Blenrep combination arm were thrombocytopenia (87%) and diarrhoea (32%) in DREAMM-7.2

PFS results19 were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Plenary Series in February 2024 and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. OS results20 were presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December 2024.

(Press release, GlaxoSmithKline, APR 20, 2026, View Source [SID1234664539])

On April 20, 2026 Flatiron Health reported the publication of the Validation of Accuracy for LLM/ML-Extracted Information and Data (VALID) Framework in the Journal of Clinical Oncology Clinical Cancer Informatics. The framework represents the first and most comprehensive, peer-reviewed approach to evaluating the quality and reliability of real-world data extracted by large language models (LLMs) and machine learning—setting a methodological benchmark for data integrity in oncology research.

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As large language models emerge as a tool for clinical data extraction from sources such as electronic health records, the industry faces a tradeoff—AI can unlock speed and scale, but it requires rigorous validation. Flatiron’s VALID Framework makes real-world data quality transparent and measurable, enabling evidence that meets the bar for high-stakes clinical decisions. Specifically, the framework applies a rigorous, three-pillar approach: variable-level performance metrics that benchmark LLM extraction against expert human abstraction; automated verification checks that systematically identify logical inconsistencies and implausibilities in data; and replication and benchmark analyses that confirm LLM-extracted results replicate established clinical findings.

"By publishing this framework transparently, we hope to contribute to raising the bar across the industry," said Nathan Hubbard, Chief Executive Officer of Flatiron Health. "Our commitment to data quality while applying LLMs responsibly and rigorously has enabled us to work at scale—with longitudinal records across millions of patients and over 1.5 billion data points—without compromising the rigor that has defined Flatiron for decades."

Flatiron’s LLM-extracted data builds on the highest-quality, human-abstracted real-world oncology data. By combining AI with expert human abstraction, Flatiron delivers gold-standard data quality at scale without trading off the clinical rigor that makes it fit for use in the highest-stakes decisions in cancer care and drug development. Every LLM-enabled dataset is subject to the VALID Framework, alongside long term clinical and scientific oversight to ensure data that captures complete patient journeys and validated outcomes.

"The VALID Framework, combined with our robust clinical and methodological expertise, gives us—and our customers—a clear basis for evaluating whether efficiency and accuracy go hand in hand, as well as confidence in clinical and strategic decisions made using real-world data," said Jonathan Kish, PhD, MPH, Vice President and Head of Research Sciences at Flatiron Health. "We’re investing deeply in the underlying work: data models, multimodal depth, and resolving complex edge cases to ensure that we’re not just extracting more data; we’re extracting better data at scale, so every decision is informed by intelligence you can trust."

Read the full publication: Estevez M, Singh N, Dyson L, et al. Ensuring Reliability of Curated EHR-Derived Data: The Validation of Accuracy for LLM/ML-Extracted Information and Data (VALID) Framework. JCO Clin Cancer Inform. 2026. View Source

(Press release, Flatiron Health, APR 20, 2026, View Source [SID1234664572])

On April 20, 2026 Enara Bio, a pioneer in Dark Antigen discovery and bispecific T cell engager (TCE) innovation, reported the presentation of new preclinical data for ENA101, its first‑in‑class bispecific T cell engager (TCE), delivered today in an oral session at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026.

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ENA101 targets DARKFOX, a novel, cancer‑specific Dark Antigen encoded by a previously undiscovered alternative open reading frame (alt‑ORF) within FOXM1. DARKFOX was discovered and validated using Enara’s proprietary EDAPT platform and represents a new class of highly tumor‑specific targets derived from the dark proteome.

"ENA101 exemplifies the power of uncovering antigens within the dark proteome to overcome long-standing challenges in solid tumor immunotherapy," said Dr. Joe Dukes, Chief Scientific Officer of Enara Bio. "The data presented today at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) demonstrate that DARKFOX is a compelling cancer specific target and that ENA101 exhibits the potency, specificity and druglike profile required to advance a best-in-class T cell engager toward the clinic."

The oral presentation, titled "ENA101: A First‑in‑Class Bispecific T Cell Engager Targeting a DARKFOX Peptide Presented by Solid Tumors," was delivered by Dr. Joe Dukes in the Advances in Therapeutic Antibodies session
(Abstract #4052). The presentation highlighted the discovery of DARKFOX, the engineering of ENA101, and the comprehensive preclinical dataset supporting its advancement into clinical development.

Enara Bio is currently advancing ENA101 through IND-enabling studies to support IND filing in 2H’2026.

The abstract is available in Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026.

About ENA101
ENA101 is a first‑in‑class bispecific T cell engager developed using Enara Bio’s proprietary EnTiCE platform. It incorporates a high‑affinity TCR‑mimic binder targeting the DARKFOX‑A3 peptide, a clinically validated anti‑CD3 arm, and an Fc‑based architecture for half‑life extension, to enable potent, selective and durable anti‑tumor immune responses.

(Press release, Enara Bio, APR 20, 2026, View Source [SID1234664592])