On May 17, 2026 Propanc Biopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPCB) ("Propanc" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel treatments for chronic diseases, including recurrent and metastatic cancer, reported that the Company’s CEO, Mr. James Nathanielsz, forecasts new medical breakthroughs in the fight against pancreatic cancer over the next decade. Recent developments in treatment reflect a level of progress that has been difficult to achieve in this field. Clinical stage companies like Revolution Medicines Inc. and Erasca Inc. have demonstrated significant advancements in this field.

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New clinical data from a late-stage trial targeting KRAS mutations, which are present in many pancreatic cancer cases, showed a meaningful improvement in overall survival. Patients receiving the targeted therapy lived approximately 13 months compared to about 7 months with standard treatment. For a disease where outcomes have remained largely unchanged for decades, this represents an important step forward.

At the same time, additional data from combination therapy approaches are reinforcing a broader trend. In one study, a treatment designed to improve tumor penetration and support immune response increased one year survival rates to roughly 42%, compared to 22% with chemotherapy alone. These types of results are beginning to show that progress is more likely when multiple biological mechanisms are addressed together rather than in isolation. What stands out across these developments is not only the improvement in outcomes, but also what they reveal about the nature of pancreatic cancer. This is a disease driven by complex signaling pathways and supported by a highly resistant tumor environment. Targeting a single pathway, even one as important as KRAS, may not be sufficient on its own.

"From a broader perspective, these findings reinforce the importance of continuing to deepen our understanding of the underlying biology that drives both growth and resistance. While these advances are encouraging, survival outcomes remain limited, and there is still significant work to be done," said Mr. Nathanielsz. "At Propanc, we view this progress as part of a larger shift toward more biologically informed treatment strategies. Continued research into the mechanisms that support tumor persistence and recurrence will be critical in improving outcomes for patients facing this disease."

Propanc’s lead asset, PRP, achieved Orphan Drug Designation status from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer in 2017. Compassionate use data published in Scientific Reports, an online Nature journal, administering a once daily suppository of trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen in a fixed combination of 8.92mg ea., resulted in 3 out of 4 patients significantly exceeding life expectancy from terminal pancreatic cancer with no severe or even serious side effects observed from treatment (2017).

The Company plans to file a Clinical Trial Application (CTA) in Australia for a Phase 1b, First-In-Human, Maximum Tolerated Dose study in 30 – 40 advanced cancer patients suffering from solid tumors using PRP in an I.V. formulation administered once weekly later this year. It will be at significantly higher doses than the compassionate use study based on non-clinical safety and tolerability data translating to a safe starting dose in humans. After Phase 1 completion, the Company plans to then undertake two, Phase 2, 60 patient studies in pancreatic and ovarian cancers to establish proof of concept for each therapeutic indication.

(Press release, Propanc, MAY 20, 2026, View Source [SID1234665895])

On May 20, 2026 Ernexa Therapeutics (Nasdaq: ERNA), an industry innovator developing novel cell therapies for the treatment of advanced cancer and autoimmune disease, reported the release of a Virtual Investor KOL Connect segment featuring Dr. Elena Ratner, Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Yale University School of Medicine and a member of Ernexa’s Board of Directors.
 
As part of the segment, Dr. Ratner discusses ovarian cancer, one of the most difficult malignancies to treat, and highlights the significant challenges patients continue to face throughout diagnosis and treatment. The discussion explores limitations of current therapeutic approaches and the persistent unmet need for more effective and durable treatment options.

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Dr. Ratner also discusses the evolving ovarian cancer treatment landscape and shares her perspective on Ernexa’s differentiated biological approach to addressing immunologically "cold" tumors. The segment highlights Ernexa’s lead product candidate, ERNA-101, and recently announced preclinical data demonstrating complete tumor elimination and 100% long-term survival in ovarian cancer models when combined with PD-1 blockade.

The discussion also highlights the potential advantages of Ernexa’s engineered allogeneic induced mesenchymal stem cell (iMSC) platform, including the opportunity to develop scalable, off-the-shelf cell therapies designed to improve accessibility and overcome manufacturing challenges associated with traditional autologous approaches.

The Virtual Investor KOL Connect segment featuring Ernexa Therapeutics is now available here. For more information about ERNA-101 and the Company’s development plans, visit www.ernexatx.com

(Press release, Ernexa Therapeutics, MAY 20, 2026, View Source [SID1234665911])

On May 19, 2026 Mestag Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech company harnessing fibroblast immunology for the benefit of patients with inflammatory disease and cancer, reported the dosing of the first patient in a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating MST-0312 in patients with selected advanced solid tumors. The first in human trial, named the STARLYS trial, is an adaptive, modular multi-part, multi-arm open-label study designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and anti-tumor activity of MST-0312 alone and in combination with pembrolizumab.

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MST-0312 is a bispecific antibody designed to activate lymphotoxin-beta receptor (LTBR) in the tumor microenvironment to induce the formation of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) and associated high endothelial venules (HEV) in tumor tissue. TLS are a hallmark of effective anti-tumor immunity consisting of aggregates of T, B and dendritic cells, associated with the recruitment, education, and activation of immune cells to drive anti-tumor immune responsesi,ii. Patients with TLS and HEV in their tumors show significantly improved response to treatment and extended survival outcomes compared to patients whose tumors lack these structuresiii,iv,v,vi. The STARLYS trial will initially evaluate MST-0312 in tumors formed in barrier organs (lung, gut, bladder, breast and skin), which are believed to be particularly sensitive to TLS formation.

"Dosing the first patient with MST-0312 is a significant milestone in developing this potential new therapeutic class," said Dr. Lindsey Rolfe, MBChB, Chief Medical Officer of Mestag. "Our carefully designed study evaluates monotherapy and combination therapy in immunologically ‘cold’ and ‘warm’ tumors, generating multiple mechanistic and clinical insights to inform future development. This important step reflects the scientific rigor and dedication of the Mestag team, as we advance novel therapies for patients."

Dr. Emiliano Calvo MD PhD, a Principal Investigator of the study and Director of Clinical Research at START Madrid-CIOCC (Centro Integral Oncológico Clara Campal) Hospital in Madrid, Spain where the first patient was dosed, said "MST-0312 is an exciting new investigative approach for the treatment of solid tumors and we are thrilled to have dosed the first patient in the STARLYS trial."

Dr. Elena Garralda MD PhD, Co-Director of the Clinical Research Program and Head of Early Drug Development at Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology in Barcelona, Spain, and coordinating Principal Investigator of the STARLYS trial, added, "Published data show that the presence of TLS is associated with significantly improved outcomes for patients. Despite recent therapeutic advances, many patients with solid tumors derive limited benefit from current therapies. MST-0312 is designed to address this unmet need by inducing TLS and reshaping anti-tumor immunity. I look forward to working with the STARLYS investigators to evaluate MST-0312 in the clinic."

(Press release, Mestag Therapeutics, MAY 19, 2026, View Source [SID1234665844])

On May 19, 2026 Innate Pharma SA (Euronext Paris: IPH; Nasdaq: IPHA) ("Innate" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing immunotherapies for cancer patients, reported that members of its executive team will participate in one-on-one investor meetings at the following conference:

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Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference 2026
Dates: June 2–4, 2026
Location: New York, United States

(Press release, Innate Pharma, MAY 19, 2026, View Source [SID1234665860])

On May 19, 2026 Antengene Corporation Limited ("Antengene", SEHK: 6996.HK), a leading innovative, commercial-stage global biotech company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing first-in-class and/or best-in-class medicines for autoimmune disease, solid tumors and hematological malignancies indications, reported that Dr. Bing Hou has been appointed Chief Scientific Officer, reporting directly to Dr. Jay Mei, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Antengene.

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Dr. Hou’s appointment underscores Antengene’s commitment to strengthening its innovation-driven R&D model as a global biotech company. In this role, Dr. Hou will lead Antengene’s efforts across Drug Discovery, Translational Medicine, and Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC), with a focus on deepening the Company’s research engine and building a pipeline of next-generation therapeutic candidates with transformational potential.

Since joining Antengene in 2019, Dr. Hou has been a key member of the Company’s scientific leadership team, and prior to this appointment, served as Vice President, Head of Discovery Science & Translational Medicine. During his tenure, he has built and led a high-caliber discovery organization, helped guide Antengene’s R&D initiatives, advanced internally discovered programs into clinical development, and played an important role in establishing newly developed proprietary platforms designed to support future innovation programs.

"We are very pleased to appoint Dr. Bing Hou as Chief Scientific Officer of Antengene," said Dr. Jay Mei, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Antengene. "Dr. Hou has made significant contributions to shaping Antengene’s scientific strategy and strengthening our internal research capabilities. Under his leadership, Antengene has built and advanced AnTenGager, the Company’s proprietary T-cell engager (TCE) 2.0 platform with broad applicability across autoimmune diseases, solid tumors and hematological malignancies, as well as other novel programs and platform technologies that support our next-generation pipeline. The global license agreement Antengene entered into with UCB for ATG-201, a CD19 x CD3 TCE developed from the AnTenGager platform for B cell-related autoimmune diseases, further highlights the strategic value of Antengene’s proprietary discovery capabilities. As we enter our next stage of growth, we look forward to Dr. Hou’s continued leadership in expanding our innovative pipeline, and bringing forward transformative therapies for patients globally."

"I am honored and excited to step into the role of Chief Scientific Officer at Antengene," said Dr. Bing Hou, Chief Scientific Officer of Antengene. "Antengene is advancing a number of highly promising programs across oncology and autoimmune diseases, and I believe we are well positioned to build a next-generation pipeline grounded in rigorous biology, differentiated mechanisms and platform innovation. Looking ahead, we will continue to focus on programs with the potential to address significant unmet medical needs, including T cell engagers developed from our proprietary AnTenGager platform; ATG-125, a B7-H3 x PD-L1 bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) designed to combine ADC and immuno-oncology mechanisms; and ATG-207, a globally first-in-class αCD3-TGF-β bifunctional fusion protein for T cell-driven autoimmune diseases. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the Antengene team to translate our differentiated science and platform capabilities into a robust pipeline of innovative medicines."

Dr. Hou received his Ph.D. in Biomedicine from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. He has published multiple high-impact research papers as first author or corresponding author in leading journals including Nature, Science Advances, and Cancer Research. He has filed more than 40 patent applications for novel therapeutics. As an inventor and/or principal leader, he has advanced multiple first-in-class or best-in-class drug candidates into various stages of clinical development.

(Press release, Antengene, MAY 19, 2026, View Source [SID1234665878])