On April 21, 2026 NextCure, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXTC), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering and developing novel, first-in-class, and best-in-class therapies to treat cancer and Simcere Zaiming Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., (Simcere) an oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company and a subsidiary of Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Ltd (HKEX: 2096), reported a poster will be presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2026 highlighting Phase 1 data for SIM0505 in the treatment of solid tumors. ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2026 is being held May 29 – June 2 in Chicago, Illinois. SIM0505 is an investigational antibody drug conjugate (ADC) targeting Cadherin-6 (CDH6) with a proprietary topoisomerase 1 inhibitor (TOPOi) payload.

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"We are very pleased to announce that the Phase 1 results for SIM0505 have been accepted as a poster presentation at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2026. This important milestone validates our collaborative clinical approach and highlights our mission of advancing innovative medicines to treat cancer patients," said Michael Richman, President and CEO of NextCure.

Presentation Details:

Title: Phase 1, multicenter, first-in-human (FIH) global study of SIM0505, an anti-CDH6 (CDH6) antibody-drug-conjugate (ADC) in patients with advanced solid tumors
Poster Abstract #: 5580
Poster Board: 246
Presenter: Xiaohua Wu, MD, PhD, Chief Physician and Chairman of the Multidisciplinary Team in Gynecologic Oncology at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
Session: Gynecologic Cancer
Session Date: Monday June 1, 2026
Session Time: 9:00 AM CST to 12:00 PM CDT
A full copy of the poster will be available on the NextCure website under the Investor Relations "Events & Presentations" tab following the presentation.

About SIM0505

SIM0505 is a novel antibody drug conjugate (ADC) directed to cadherin-6 (CDH6 ADC), featuring a proprietary topoisomerase 1 inhibitor (TOPOi) payload. The ADC is designed for broad anti-tumor activity, fast systemic clearance and an improved potential therapeutic window. SIM0505 is being evaluated in an open-label, Phase 1 study (NCT06792552) for the potential treatment of advanced solid tumors, including ovarian cancer, with an emphasis on platinum resistant ovarian cancer. NextCure holds exclusive global rights for SIM0505, excluding China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan which are retained by Simcere Zaiming Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

(Press release, NextCure, APR 21, 2026, View Source [SID1234664664])

On April 21, 2026, Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company") reported to have entered into securities purchase agreements (the "Agreements") with certain accredited investors (the "Investors") pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell and issue to the Investors in a private placement offering (the "Offering"), an aggregate offering of 17,500,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the "Common Stock") at an offering price of $0.04 per share for gross proceeds of $700,000. The Offering closed on April 21, 2026.

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The Common Stock is being offered in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) thereof and/or Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder, and applicable state securities laws. The issuance of the Common Stock has not been registered under the Securities Act and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws.

The Agreements contain customary representations, warranties and agreements by the Company, customary conditions to closing, indemnification obligations of the Company, other obligations of the parties and termination provisions.

(Filing, Hepion Pharmaceuticals, APR 21, 2026, View Source [SID1234664681])

On April 21, 2026 BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. (Nasdaq: BCTX, BCTXL) (TSX: BCT) ("BriaCell" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops novel immunotherapies to transform cancer care, reported positive data from its preclinical Bria-OTS+ platform at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting taking place April 17–22 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California.

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The poster is summarized below and linked here: View Source

Title: Re-Engineering Cancer Vaccines: Bria-OTS+ Integrates Innate and Adaptive Immunity for Broad and Persistent Anti-Tumor Responses
Session Category: Clinical Research
Session Title: Vaccines and Other Immunomodulatory Agents
Session: 4/21/2026 2:00-5:00 PM
Location: Poster Section 49
Poster Board Number: 12
Poster Number: 6701

Summary: Bria-OTS+ is a personalized, off-the-shelf, next-generation genetically engineered whole-cell cancer immunotherapy platform designed to enhance efficacy and safety. Our results demonstrate that Bria-OTS+ activates key components of both the innate and adaptive immune systems to broadly target and destroy cancer cells across solid tumors. These effects include coordinated activation of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, NK cells, NKT cells, dendritic cells, and B cells, together with increased cytokine release and sustained immune competence without exhaustion—helping address an important mechanism of cancer progression.

Data presented includes the following:

Rapid activation of innate and adaptive immune responses: Bria-BRES+ (breast cancer) and Bria-PROS+ (prostate cancer) drove early activation and proliferation of key immune cells including CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, NK cells, and NKT cells, enhanced cytotoxic activity against parental tumor targets, and increased CD80/CD86 expression on dendritic and B cells, consistent with improved antigen-presentation.
Sustained, long-lasting and targeted anti-tumor activity: Bria-BRES+ and Bria-PROS+ generated durable cytokine responses and maintained cytotoxic, serial killing activity through repeated cancer cell challenges without evidence of functional exhaustion. Bria-OTS+ also showed limited induction of immunosuppressive cell populations including regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs).
Broad tumor recognition may reduce escape risk: Bria-BRES+ and Bria-PROS+ cells demonstrated anti-tumor activity against multiple tumor targets, supporting the potential of Bria-OTS+ to drive broad, cross-tumor immune responses, reduce immune escape, and limit cancer progression.
Bria-OTS+ proposed mechanism of action: Following intradermal administration, Bria-OTS+ is designed to activate T cells and NK cells directly, while professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) take up tumor specific antigens, migrate to regional lymph nodes and prime tumor-specific T cells to drive a systemic anti-tumor immune response.
Miguel A. Lopez-Lago, PhD, BriaCell’s Chief Scientific Officer, commented, "We are thrilled with our data showing early, strong, and long-lasting anti-cancer activity of Bria-OTS+ in multiple cancer models, boosting the immune system response, and potentially overcoming common cancer cell resistance mechanisms. Our findings strongly support targeted anti-cancer effects of Bria-OTS+ and warrant additional testing of the Bria-OTS+ platform in clinical settings."

"Based on these promising preclinical findings, we are advancing Bria-OTS+ with the goal of entering the clinic for our first indications of metastatic breast cancer and prostate cancer later this year, with additional indications (lung cancer and melanoma) planned for 2027," added Dr. William V. Williams, BriaCell’s President and CEO.

(Press release, BriaCell Therapeutics, APR 21, 2026, View Source [SID1234664853])

On April 20, 2026 Akari Therapeutics, Plc (Nasdaq: AKTX), an oncology biotechnology company developing antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) with a novel RNA splicing modulator payload, reported the presentation of positive preclinical data for its lead TROP2-targeting ADC, AKTX-101, at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026. Access the poster here.

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Unlike current TROP2-targeting ADCs that use Topoisomerase I Inhibitor (Inh.) payloads, AKTX-101 has the potential to address resistance to Topoisomerase I Inh. ADCs and contribute to durable anti-tumor efficacy due to the payload’s unique cytotoxic and immune-activating mechanisms of action.

The preclinical data compares the performance of AKTX-101 versus TROP2 ADCs with Topoisomerase I Inh. payloads in the killing of different cancer types driven by different cancer genes (oncogenes). AKTX-101’s ability to kill cancer cells at lower concentrations vs. TROP2 ADCs using Topoisomerase I Inh. payloads suggests that AKTX-101 is a more potent drug.

The preclinical data was published recently as an abstract in Cancer Research, an AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) journal.

Here, AKTX-101 demonstrated greater potency and/or greater maximum cancer cell killing relative to TROP2 ADC Topoisomerase I Inh. payloads in cancers of the bladder, lung and breast. AKTX-101 demonstrated sub-nanomolar potency in all bladder cancer lines tested, a key tumor in which first-in-human clinical trials for AKTX-101 are planned.

AKTX-101 also demonstrated sub-nanomolar potency in several non-small cell lung cancer cell lines driven by EGFR, BRAF, and SMARCA4, as well as potent cell killing in HER2 breast cancer cell lines with inherent resistance to Topoisomerase I Inh. ADCs such as trastuzumab deruxtecan (ENHERTU).

"These data represent a significant step forward for our lead program, AKTX-101, and reinforce our belief that a differentiated ADC payload with multiple mechanisms of action has the potential to meaningfully improve outcomes for patients with TROP2-expressing cancers," commented Satyajit K. Mitra, Ph.D., Head of Oncology Research and Development at Akari Therapeutics. "We are seeing preclinical superior AKTX-101 potency and activity as compared to TROP2 ADCs using Topoisomerase I inhibitor payloads in bladder, lung, and breast cancer models. Together, these findings show that AKTX-101 has strong potential for targeting a broad range of cancer tumors and sub-types with superior cytotoxicity than current TROP2 ADCs that use Topoisomerase I Inhibitor payloads."

The TROP2 ADC class continues to emerge in terms of its potential, with revenue projections expected to reach ~$12B or greater by 2033 based on current and future entrants. Akari believes that AKTX-101, with its novel RNA splicing modulator payload, can grow this class further by addressing multiple solid tumors where TROP2 is overexpressed including bladder, lung, breast, pancreatic, head and neck, and others.

Key AKTX-101 Data Presented at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Highlights:

AKTX-101 demonstrated strong, single-agent anti-tumor activity across multiple models across bladder, lung, and breast cancers.
AKTX-101 demonstrated greater potency and cell killing compared to current TROP2 ADCs, including Topoisomerase I inhibitor-resistant tumor models, as well as standard-of-care chemotherapies and targeted therapies. Combination of AKTX-101 with anti-PD-1 therapy resulted in synergistic anti-tumor efficacy and tumor regressions within in vivo models, supporting future combinations with checkpoint inhibition to maximize tumor remissions rates.
Broad in vitro cytotoxicitywas observed across a diverse panel of tumor models, including those with clinically oncogenic driver mutations including FGFR3, BRAF, EGFR, and SMARCA4.
Abizer Gaslightwala, CEO of Akari Therapeutics, added, "This data continues to add to the conviction and differentiation we have in our novel ADC payload PH1 targeting RNA splicing. We are focused on rapidly advancing AKTX-101 into the clinic, with IND-enabling studies underway and plans to submit an IND in the fourth quarter of 2026, followed by initiation of a Phase 1 study in the first quarter of 2027. Our team is executing against a clear development plan designed to efficiently translate these encouraging preclinical findings into clinical proof of concept."

These data were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026. Access the poster here.

(Press release, Akari Therapeutics, APR 20, 2026, View Source [SID1234664531])

On April 20, 2026 Oxcia in a collaboration with SLU and Karolinska Institutet, reported that mitotic MTH1 inhibitor OXC-101 is investigated in a pilot clinical study in canine lymphoma and hemangiosarcoma. The early clinical results are presented by Dr. Kumar Sanjiv at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) annual meeting 19-22 April, 2026. The title of the presentation is: "OXC-2101 (karonudib) in canine lymphoma and hemangiosarcoma: Safety, early efficacy and translational potential" (Poster Number 7913) and will be presented Wed 22 April 2026.

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(Press release, Oxcia, APR 20, 2026, View Source;utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=oxc-101-as-a-novel-therapy-in-canine-blood-cancer-will-be-presented-at-aacr [SID1234664547])