On April 27, 2026 Jecho Laboratories, Inc. ("Jecho"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapeutics, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for JLM019.

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JLM019 is a CD80/PD-1 dual-target Fc fusion protein with a unique bidirectional synergistic mechanism. With its precise targeting design, the drug is expected to overcome the limitations of existing immunotherapies, improve immunotherapy response rates, and delay the development of tumor cell resistance. As a result, it has the potential to significantly enhance immunotherapy and provide new treatment options and hope for survival for patients with advanced solid tumors and lymphomas.

JLM019 is currently in a Phase 1 study for advanced malignant tumors in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, as it was approved to commence clinical trials by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in September 2025. The Phase 1 study is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of JLM019 injection in patients with advanced malignancies.

This achievement marks the third U.S. FDA IND clearance Jecho has obtained and the 11th overall IND clearance.

(Press release, Jecho Laboratories, APR 27, 2026, View Source [SID1234664969])

On April 27, 2026 Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) and Ajax Therapeutics, Inc. ("Ajax"), a biopharmaceutical company developing next generation JAK inhibitors for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), reported a definitive agreement for Lilly to acquire Ajax. Ajax’s lead asset, AJ1-11095, is an investigational, once-daily oral, first-in-class Type II JAK2 inhibitor currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial, AJX-101, in patients with myelofibrosis who have previously been treated with a Type I JAK2 inhibitor.

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All approved JAK2 inhibitors for patients with MPNs, including myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera, bind the Type I confirmation of JAK2. While these JAK2 inhibitors provide clinical and symptomatic relief, many patients often discontinue Type I JAK2 treatment due to a lack of durable benefit or loss of response. AJ1-11095 was designed as a selective Type II JAK2 inhibitor to not only deliver deeper and more durable efficacy than existing JAK2 inhibitors but also to provide a novel treatment option for those patients who become resistant to Type I JAK2 inhibitors. The Phase 1 clinical trial of AJ1-11095 began in late 2024 and dose selection for future clinical development is expected in 2026.

"As a founding strategic investor in Ajax, Lilly has long believed in the approach and is excited about the potential for AJ1-11095 to deliver deeper and more durable efficacy than available treatments with a tolerability profile that would allow for patients to remain on therapy longer and be used across both the first- and second-line settings," said Jacob Van Naarden, executive vice president and president of Lilly Oncology and head of corporate business development. "We look forward to the presentation of clinical proof-of-concept data later in 2026, rapidly advancing AJ1-11095 into registrational clinical trials, and using our expertise in blood cancer to hopefully deliver another important new medicine to patients and hematologists."

"We started Ajax to build on the work of its five scientific founders, including Ross Levine, MD, chief scientific officer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and chair of Ajax’s scientific advisory board, who sought to develop a novel class of selective and more potent JAK2 inhibitors to address the significant unmet need of patients with MPNs," said Martin Vogelbaum, co-founder and chief executive officer of Ajax Therapeutics. "With a small but highly motivated team, we have successfully applied this work to the design and development of our highly selective, first-in-class Type II JAK2 inhibitor, AJ1-11095. We now look forward to Lilly advancing AJ1-11095 through the clinic and providing a much-needed new therapy for patients with MPNs. It has been an honor working with our employees and scientific advisors and we’re grateful to our clinical investigators, and most importantly, the patients who have participated in our ongoing Phase 1 study, AJX-101."

Under the terms of the agreement, Lilly will acquire Ajax and Ajax shareholders could receive up to $2.3 billion in cash, inclusive of an upfront payment and subsequent payments upon the achievement of certain clinical and regulatory milestones.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. Lilly will determine the accounting treatment of this transaction following closing in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). This transaction will thereafter be reflected in Lilly’s financial results and financial guidance.

For Lilly Ropes Gray LLP is acting as legal counsel. For Ajax, Cooley LLP is acting as legal counsel. Kirkland & Ellis LLP also provided legal advice to Ajax.

(Press release, Eli Lilly, APR 27, 2026, View Source [SID1234664789])

On April 27, 2026 Sona Nanotech Inc. (CSE: SONA) (OTCQB: SNANF) (the "Company", "Sona"), reported that its Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Carman Giacomantonio presented data from its first-in-human early feasibility study for its Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy cancer treatment at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) ("AACR") last week in San Diego. Dr. Giacomantonio has also been accepted to present Sona’s data at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) ("ASCO") annual meeting May 29 – June 2, 2026, a conference centered on scientific innovation and its translation into practical patient-centered clinical application.

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Dr. Giacomantonio commented, "AACR is the premier stage for sharing breakthrough science, and it was exciting to see our Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy align so well with the conference’s focus on overcoming immunotherapy resistance. The feedback we received on our clinical study was incredibly encouraging and confirms for us that we’re on the right path toward offering new hope to patients who have run out of options. Next, we are delighted to have been invited to share our compelling data to the more industry-focused ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) conference."

The presentation highlights the initial safety, tolerability and anti-tumor activity from this study which demonstrated a complete response in treated indicative tumors in six out of ten late-stage melanoma patients who had previously failed on standard of care immunotherapy. This study is a critical milestone in the Company’s mission to treat immunotherapy-resistant solid tumors in humans. A manuscript detailing these results is currently being prepared for submission to a leading peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Sona’s first-in-human study results speak to a persistent unmet need that remains the dominant conversation in the melanoma community. The Melanoma Research Alliance noted in October 2025 that roughly half of advanced melanoma patients still do not respond to — or develop resistance to — currently approved immunotherapies. Sona’s study was conducted in patients from precisely this refractory group.

Next month’s ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) annual meeting is the world’s most significant gathering of oncology professionals, serving as the premier global stage for the unveiling of practice-changing clinical research. Each year, more than 40,000 oncology experts, patient advocates, and industry leaders from over 150 countries convene to present and discuss the latest advances in clinical cancer care. Known for its focus on the "bench-to-bedside" transition, the meeting features groundbreaking abstracts and clinical trial results that directly influence the standard of care for patients worldwide.

(Press release, Sona Nanotech, APR 27, 2026, View Source [SID1234664805])

On April 27, 2026 MediciNova, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company traded on the NASDAQ Global Market (NASDAQ: MNOV) and the Standard Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (Code Number: 4875), reported that a study conducted by researchers at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) has identified macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF)–mediated reprogramming of CD74‑positive microglia and macrophages as a central vulnerability in brain metastasis. The research, recently published in the peer‑reviewed journal "Cancer Research" (March 2026), demonstrates pharmacological modulation of this pathway using the brain‑penetrant small molecule ibudilast.

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The work, led by Manuel Valiente PhD, head of CNIO Brain Metastasis group, and colleagues at CNIO, shows that tumor‑derived MIF alters the functional state of microglia and infiltrating macrophages in the brain, converting them from a potentially protective role into a pro‑metastatic one. In multiple experimental models and fresh patient‑derived brain metastasis samples, inhibition of the MIF–CD74 signaling axis significantly reduced metastatic progression. Importantly, the investigators also identified secreted MIF as a candidate liquid biopsy biomarker detectable in cerebrospinal fluid, supporting a translational, biomarker‑guided clinical strategy.

The study further demonstrates that ibudilast can effectively block MIF–CD74 signaling, reverse pro‑metastatic immune reprogramming, and suppress brain metastasis growth in preclinical systems. In addition, transcriptomic analyses define predictive biomarker signatures associated with treatment response, reinforcing the potential for patient stratification in future clinical studies. The findings suggest translational potential for MN-166 (ibudilast), the company’s leading product, in future therapeutic strategies for brain metastasis within neuro-oncology.

MediciNova plans to collaborate with Dr. Valiente and CNIO on future clinical research aimed at patients with solid tumors having brain metastases.

Dr. Valiente commented on the findings, "Brain metastases develop in up to 30% of patients with advanced solid tumors, most commonly arising from lung cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, and colorectal cancer, and remain an area of substantial unmet medical need. Despite recent advances in systemic therapies, patients with brain metastases have historically been excluded from many clinical trials, limiting progress in the development of targeted treatments. By focusing on brain‑specific immune–microenvironment interactions rather than tumor‑intrinsic alterations alone, the CNIO findings open a new therapeutic avenue that may be applicable across multiple primary tumor types."

"Brain metastasis represents one of the most urgent and challenging frontiers in oncology," said Dr. Kazuko Matsuda, Chief Medical Officer. "The publication of this work in Cancer Research provides strong mechanistic and translational rationale to pursue biomarker‑driven clinical strategies. We hold granted patents covering MN‑166 for preventing and minimizing cancer metastasis across multiple solid tumor types, including pancreatic, lung, breast, colorectal and ovarian cancers, as well as melanoma. Our focus is now on advancing future clinical investigations and responsibly translating these insights into studies designed for patients with brain metastases."

The full study, "MIF‑Induced CD74+ Microglia and Macrophages Promote Progression of Brain Metastasis and Are Clinically Relevant Across Central Nervous System Disorders," is available online in Cancer Research. (View Source )

(Press release, MediciNova, APR 27, 2026, View Source [SID1234664821])

On April 27, 2026, Erasca, Inc. (the "Company") reported that it will host a conference call and webcast to discuss preliminary Phase 1 dose escalation data for its potentially best-in-class pan-RAS molecular glue ERAS-0015 in patients with RAS-mutant solid tumors today, Monday, April 27, 2026, at 4:30 pm ET.

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The dial-in number is 1-877-407-3982 (U.S./Canada) or 1-201-493-6780 (international). The live webcast and replay may be accessed by visiting Erasca’s website at Erasca.com/events.

(Press release, Erasca, APR 27, 2026, View Source [SID1234664790])