On March 31, 2026 Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOTH), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for unmet medical needs, reported that the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has granted Chinese Patent, titled "Targeting Kit with Splice Switching Oligonucleotides to Induce Apoptosis of Mast Cells."

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The patent, originally filed under PCT Application No. PCT/US2019/048400 and developed by North Carolina State University, strengthens Hoth’s intellectual property portfolio and provides protection in a key global market through August 27, 2039, subject to maintenance requirements.

The granted patent relates to a novel therapeutic platform utilizing splice-switching oligonucleotides designed to selectively induce apoptosis in mast cells, which play a central role in a variety of inflammatory and immunological conditions.

"This patent grant in China represents an important milestone in expanding our global intellectual property protection for this innovative platform," said Robb Knie, Chief Executive Officer of Hoth Therapeutics. "We believe this technology has broad potential across multiple indications where mast cell activity contributes to disease, and this issuance further strengthens our position as we advance development."

(Press release, Hoth Therapeutics, MAR 31, 2026, View Source [SID1234664093])

On March 31, 2026 BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. (Nasdaq: BCTX, BCTXW, BCTXZ, BCTXL) (TSX: BCT) ("BriaCell"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops novel immunotherapies to transform cancer care, and its majority-owned subsidiary, BriaPro Therapeutics Corp. ("BriaPro"), reported the completion of the previously announced asset purchase transaction (the "Transaction") pursuant to a definitive purchase agreement dated February 4, 2026 (the "Purchase Agreement"), under which BriaPro acquired BriaCell’s exclusive license to develop and commercialize Soluble CD80 ("sCD80") as a biologic agent for the treatment of cancer and other associated assets.

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Background

BriaCell originally secured the exclusive license from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County ("UMBC") on August 2, 2022. The novel technology, originally developed by Suzanne Ostrand-Rosenberg, Ph.D., Emeritus Faculty at UMBC, and member of BriaCell’s scientific advisory board, is titled "Soluble CD80 as a Therapeutic to Reverse Immune Suppression in Cancer Patients" and is covered under USPN 8,956,619 B2, USPN 9,650,429 B2, and USPN 10,377,810 B2. In animal models, sCD80 was well-tolerated and stopped tumor growth by potentially restoring natural anti-tumor immunity (see Lucas A Horn, et al. and Samuel T Haile et al. in collaboration with Dr. Ostrand-Rosenberg). Additionally, strong anti-tumor activity of sCD80 has been reported in multiple tumor types (see Lucas A Horn, et al.). Importantly, as demonstrated in the same studies, sCD80’s unique actions may involve both awakening and boosting the immune system to recognize and destroy tumor cells.

The Transaction

Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, BriaPro gained the worldwide rights to develop and commercialize sCD80 as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of cancer, while UMBC holds all rights, title and interest in the inventions and the patent, except for certain rights retained by the United States Government. BriaPro will pay 2% royalties to UMBC upon the commercialization of the product plus other development costs.

As part of the Transaction, BriaCell has made available to BriaPro up to $3 million to fund research and development efforts (the "Credit Facility"). Each drawdown under the Credit Facility will be subject to BriaCell’s approval regarding the use of funds.

As consideration for the transfer of the exclusive license and the Credit Facility, BriaPro issued to BriaCell 23,972,589 Common Shares at an aggregate value of approximately C$1.18M, increasing BriaCell’s interest in BriaPro to approximately 78% post-transaction.

Appointment of Jamieson Bondarenko as BriaPro Board Chair

Upon closing of the Transaction, Mr. Jamieson Bondarenko was appointed to the BriaPro board as Chairman. Mr. Bondarenko has served as Chairman of BriaCell since 2019. He provides strategic capital markets & corporate development advice to early-stage life sciences companies through his merchant capital company, JGRNT Capital Corp. Previously, he held a number of senior investment banking roles, including as Managing Director at Eight Capital and at Dundee Securities. Mr. Bondarenko is expected to play a significant role in BriaPro’s pursuit of capital markets and other strategic opportunities as the company advances its expanding IP portfolio.

Shareholder Approval

The Transaction was approved by 99.81% of the votes cast by the disinterested shareholders of BriaPro in accordance with Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. As a 10% shareholder with an interest in the Transaction, BriaCell’s shareholdings in BriaPro were excluded from voting.

Formal Valuation Requirements

In respect of the formal valuation requirement of MI 61-101, BriaPro relied on the specified markets exemptions set forth in subsection 5.5(b) of MI 61-101, as none of its securities are listed or quoted on a specified senior exchange, and BriaCell relied on the exemption set forth in subsection 5.5(a) of MI 61‑101, as the fair market value of the Transaction did not exceed 25% of BriaCell’s market capitalization.

Though a formal valuation is not required under applicable securities laws, as a matter of good governance and best corporate practice, BriaCell obtained a fairness opinion confirming, subject to certain customary assumptions and qualifications, that the consideration received by BriaCell in the Transaction was fair to BriaCell shareholders.

"Our mission has been to develop safe and effective treatments for cancer patients who do not respond to existing treatments, and a transformational anti-cancer agent such as sCD80 may provide us with such an additional opportunity," stated Dr. Bill Williams, BriaCell and BriaPro’s President and CEO. "Based on the promising data in animal studies, we plan to explore the potential use of sCD80 technology as a therapeutic agent in combination with our other immunotherapies or on its own. We look forward to accelerating the development of this novel anti-cancer agent to bring hope to patients who need it the most."

Early Warning

Immediately prior to the closing of the Transaction, BriaCell owned and controlled an aggregate of 31,963,452 Common Shares, representing approximately 66.7% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares of BriaPro. Immediately following the closing of the Transaction, BriaCell owns and controls an aggregate of 55,936,041 Common Shares representing approximately 78% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares of BriaPro.

BriaCell acquired the Common Shares for investment purposes and may make further acquisitions or dispositions of securities of BriaPro depending on market conditions and other relevant factors.

This press release is issued pursuant to National Instrument 62-103 – The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues. A copy of the related early warning report will be filed with the applicable securities commissions and be available under BriaPro’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca.

(Press release, BriaCell Therapeutics, MAR 31, 2026, View Source [SID1234664109])

On March 31, 2026 ABK Biomedical and the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) are powering the next generation of cancer treatment, reported to have signed a long-term agreement naming MURR as the primary irradiation partner for Eye90 microspheres, an advanced Yttrium-90 (Y-90) radioembolization therapy designed to fight liver cancer.

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This strategic partnership builds on seven years of collaboration between ABK and MURR, a relationship that has already driven critical progress in Eye90 development and is fueling the recently-fully-enrolled Route90 FDA IDE clinical trial for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). By formalizing this continuing alliance, ABK secures a reliable and scalable production partner for Eye90 microspheres and brings life-saving treatments closer to patients worldwide.

"MURR is internationally recognized for its leadership in nuclear research and medical isotope production," Mike Mangano, President and CEO of ABK Biomedical, said. "This agreement marks a major milestone as we transition from clinical development to commercialization. It underscores our commitment to Columbia, Missouri, and our confidence in MURR’s unmatched expertise."

The agreement also reflects a shared vision for advancing medical innovation. Together, ABK and MURR are creating a foundation for global access to novel cancer therapies, combining ABK’s pioneering device technology with MURR’s proven capabilities in isotope production and research excellence.

"Today’s agreement reflects Mizzou at its very best — bringing together world-class research, industry leadership and unmatched reactor capabilities to solve some of the most urgent challenges in human health," University of Missouri President Mun Choi said. "Our partnership with ABK Biomedical strengthens Missouri’s role as a national leader in medical innovation and delivers direct benefits to patients and communities across the state. This kind of collaboration accelerates discovery and improves lives here at home and around the world."

"This partnership represents a powerful win for the entire state of Missouri," UM Board of Curators Chair Todd Graves said. "By expanding high-tech research and advanced medical production right here in Columbia, we’re strengthening our economy and delivering innovations that improve health outcomes for Missouri families. Investments like this ensure that our university system continues to drive growth and opportunity in all 114 counties — fueling progress that benefits every community we serve."

"At MURR, our mission is to deliver absolute reliability in the production of life‑saving medical isotopes, and this partnership demonstrates exactly why our reactor is indispensable to patients in Missouri and around the world," Matt Sanford, executive director of MURR, said. "With decades of experience operating at the highest standards, MURR provides the consistency, capacity and scientific rigor required to bring breakthrough therapies like Eye90 to market. We’re proud that our work not only fuels cutting‑edge innovation but also strengthens Missouri’s position as a global leader in nuclear medicine."

Mizzou began a multiyear, strategic partnership with ABK Biomedical in 2019 and is currently the only location in the United States producing Y-90 for clinical and commercial use.

(Press release, ABK Biomedical, MAR 31, 2026, View Source [SID1234664230])

On March 31, 2026 Akeso, Inc. (9926.HK) ("Akeso" or the "Company") reported the results of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data (Poster: 107P) from the HARMONi-2 study at the 2026 European Lung Cancer Congress (ELCC). The study evaluated ivonescimab, the company’s first-in-class PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody, versus pembrolizumab as a first-line treatment for patients with PD-L1–positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

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In the primary analyses of HARMONi-2, ivonescimab demonstrated a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 11.14 months compared with 5.82 months for pembrolizumab (HR = 0.51; P < 0.0001), representing a 49% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death, with a manageable safety profile. The exploratory analysis presented at ELCC 2026 focuses on the other key pillar of treatment evaluation: HRQoL. The HRQoL analysis was conducted with the QLQ-C30, QLQ-LC13, and EQ-5D-5L instruments, showed that in the chemotherapy-free setting, ivonescimab not only significantly extended PFS but also delivered meaningful improvements in health-related quality of life. These findings provide additional, robust evidence to support the broad clinical use of ivonescimab and reinforce its role as a new standard of care (SOC) in first-line lung cancer treatment.

Key Findings:

Global health and functional status with sustained improvements and delayed deterioration:

In the primary analysis of HARMONi-2, in the ivonescimab group, the median time to deterioration (TTD) in global health status/quality of life (GHS/QoL) was not reached (vs 9.9 months for pembrolizumab), and the 12-month deterioration-free rate was 51% (vs 46%). The results published at ELCC2026, scores for GHS/QoL, physical function, and emotional function improved from baseline in both arms. In the ivonescimab arm, the mean GHS/QoL score increased from 71.8 (SD 17.6) at baseline to 78.5 (SD 15.9) at week 12 and remained stable at 78.5 (SD 16.0) at week 30. In the pembrolizumab arm, the mean score improved from 73.6 (SD 17.5) at baseline to 76.7 (SD 16.6) at week 12 and decreased slightly to 76.5 (SD 16.9) by week 30.

Better control of key lung cancer symptoms, with a sustained advantage in dyspnea:

According to the EORTC QLQ-LC13 lung cancer-specific questionnaire, patients in the ivonescumab group experienced sustained reductions in scores for cough, hemoptysis, and dyspnea.

Cough: Median TTD was not reached; the mean score decreased from 29.9 (SD 23.3) at baseline to 19.0 (SD 18.2) at week 12 and 19.6 (SD 21.7) at week 30.

Hemoptysis: The mean score decreased from 7.2 (SD 14.6) at baseline to 2.9 (SD 9.5) at week 30.

Dyspnea: Ivonescumab showed a trend toward superior long-term control, with the mean score decreasing from 17.5 (SD 16.0) at baseline to 12.1 (SD 14.6) at week 30.

High and stable health utility values:

On the EQ-5D-5L visual analog scale (VAS), the mean health status score increased from 81.9 (SD 13.5) at baseline to 84.3 (SD 10.6) at week 12 and remained high at 83.7 (SD 11.4) at week 30. Health utility values, which reflect overall patient well-being, remained consistently high throughout ivonescimab treatment, with mean values of approximately 0.9 (SD 0.1) at baseline, week 12, and week 30.

Based on the HARMONi-2 results, ivonescimab became the first therapy to show a significant PFS benefit over pembrolizumab in a head-to-head Phase III study. Ivonescimab was approved in 2025 in China as a first-line treatment for patients with PD-L1-positive NSCLC, establishing a novel, more effective, and safer chemotherapy-free option. To date, the breakthrough clinical value of ivonescimab has been demonstrated in dozens of clinical trials and real-world experience involving more than 70,000 patients.

(Press release, Akeso Biopharma, MAR 31, 2026, View Source [SID1234664094])

On March 31, 2026 AAVivo, a Delaware-registered biotechnology company focused on next-generation AAV-based gene therapies and supported by Virovek, reported that it will host a sponsored symposium at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) 2026 Annual Meeting, taking place May 11–15, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts.

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The symposium, titled "Breaking Barriers in In Vivo CAR-T Therapy: CD3scFv-Engineered AAV Capsids Drive Superior CAR-T Cell Generation and Complete Tumor Eradication," will showcase compelling new preclinical data from AAVivo’s proprietary AAVTCeT platform.

During the session, the company will present evidence demonstrating how its CD3scFv-engineered AAV capsids enable highly efficient in vivo CAR-T cell generation, resulting in complete tumor eradication in preclinical models. This innovative approach addresses major limitations of traditional ex vivo CAR-T therapies, including complex and costly manufacturing processes, limited patient accessibility, and scalability challenges.

"Presenting at ASGCT (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) 2026 provides an important platform to share our progress toward transforming CAR-T therapy," said Haifeng Chen, PhD, CEO of AAVivo. "Our AAVTCeT platform has the potential to deliver an off-the-shelf, in vivo solution that could significantly improve patient outcomes and broaden access to life-changing cell therapies. We look forward to engaging with the gene and cell therapy community and potential partners in Boston."

Symposium Details

Title: Breaking Barriers in In Vivo CAR-T Therapy: CD3scFv-Engineered AAV Capsids Drive Superior CAR-T Cell Generation and Complete Tumor Eradication
Date & Time: Friday, May 15, 2026 | 10:15 – 10:45 AM
Location: Room 109AB, Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center, Boston, MA
Format: Sponsored Symposium (open to ASGCT (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) 2026 registered attendees; also livestreamed via the ASGCT (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) Events App)
The presentation will include an overview of the AAVTCeT platform technology, key preclinical efficacy and safety data, and the company’s development roadmap for clinical translation.

AAVivo is advancing its platform with the support of Virovek’s established AAV expertise to develop more accessible and cost-effective genetic medicines.

(Press release, AAVivo, MAR 31, 2026, View Source [SID1234664118])