On March 18, 2026 Kupando, a pioneering biopharmaceutical company developing a TLR 4/7 agonist that stimulates innate immunity and induces trained immunity for use in oncology and infectious diseases, reported that it has secured an additional €10 million in Series A financing. This latest investment brings Kupando’s total Series A funding to €23 million.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

The investment was again led by Remiges Ventures, co-led by LifeCare Partners, with additional investments by all other existing investors, among them Brandenburg Kapital, High-Tech Gründerfonds and Ventura Biomed Investors. Carma Fund joined as a new investor. The proceeds will be used to fund the Phase 1b clinical study of Kupando’s lead candidate, KUP101, in advanced solid tumors and to accelerate its preclinical programs in infectious diseases.

Kupando’s disruptive approach harnesses the power of innate immune stimulation and induction of trained innate immunity by dual Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) agonists. Its lead candidate, KUP101, is a differentiated dual TLR 4 and 7 agonist with a robust preclinical profile approaching clinical development. KUP101 is ideally suited for the systemic treatment of solid tumors (tissue agnostic), and the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, including antimicrobial-resistant infections. Its AMR program is being sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.

"We are incredibly grateful for the continued strong support from our existing investors and excited to welcome Carma Fund to the Kupando family," said Johanna Holldack, MD, Founder and CEO of Kupando. "This additional funding is a testament to the potential of our innovative dual TLR agonist platform and will be instrumental in advancing KUP101 into clinical studies for solid tumors and accelerating our crucial work in infectious diseases. Our mission is to leverage the natural resilience of the innate immune system to deliver truly transformative therapies for patients in critical need."

New investor Martin Raditsch, PhD, Managing Partner of Carma Fund, commented, "Kupando’s unique approach to leveraging innate immunity holds immense promise across oncology and infectious diseases. This successful funding round, especially in the current challenging financial climate, underscores the confidence we, as investors, have in Kupando’s science, team, and potential to deliver impactful solutions for unmet medical needs."

Kazuhiko Nonomura, PhD, Partner of Remiges Ventures and member of Kupando’s Advisory Board, added, "Remiges Ventures is proud to continue leading the investment in Kupando. We believe Kupando’s dual TLR 4 and 7 agonist technology, particularly KUP101, has the potential to redefine treatment paradigms in both cancer and infectious diseases. We are excited to see the company transition to the clinical stage and unlock the full potential of its pipeline."

Kupando was founded by its CEO Johanna Holldack, MD, driven by the natural resilience observed in animals relying solely on innate immunity. Recognizing the historically undervalued yet critical role of this system, especially with the new understanding of innate and trained immunity, Kupando has made it the core of its therapeutic approach.

(Press release, Kupando, MAR 18, 2026, View Source [SID1234663703])

On March 18, 2026 Crossbow Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company developing a novel class of potent and precise antibody therapies to treat a broad range of cancers, reported it has raised $77 million in a Series B financing that will support the completion of the CROSSCHECK-001 Phase 1 clinical trial of the company’s lead program, CBX-250, and accelerate development of additional T-Bolt immunotherapies designed to extend the reach of antibody therapy across a broad range of cancers.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

This Series B financing was co-led by Taiho Ventures and Arkin Bio Capital, with participation from new investors Sixty Degree Capital, Hamilton Square Partners Management LP, LifeLink Ventures, Libbs Ventures, and Blood Cancer United’s Therapy Acceleration Program (TAP), as well as existing investors MPM BioImpact, Pfizer Ventures, BVF Partners, Polaris Partners, Eli Lilly and Company, and Mirae Asset Venture Investment. As part of the financing, Sakae Asanuma, President & CEO of Taiho Ventures, and Pini Orbach, Managing Partner of Arkin Bio Capital, have joined Crossbow’s Board of Directors.

Crossbow is developing a broad portfolio of novel T-cell engager (TCE) therapies that potently target peptide human leukocyte antigen (pHLA) on cancer cells, using antibodies that mimic T-cell receptors (TCR-mimetics). These investigational products, known as T-BoltTM molecules, can be adapted to address a broad range of malignancies, potentially targeting the entire universe of cancer proteins.

"This financing not only strengthens our ability to advance CBX-250 through clinical development but also accelerates our mission to bring next-generation TCR-mimetic immunotherapies to patients who urgently need new options," said Briggs Morrison, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Crossbow Therapeutics. "We greatly appreciate our investors for sharing our conviction in the transformative potential of our T-BoltTM platform. We look forward to efficiently expanding our pipeline to address cancers that remain beyond the reach of today’s therapies."

The Series B financing will allow Crossbow to complete a Phase 1 clinical trial of CBX-250, Crossbow’s first-in-class TCE therapy, which targets a pHLA specific to myeloid cancer cells. The ongoing Phase 1 study (CROSSCHECK-001) is evaluating CBX-250 in patients with relapsed and refractory myeloid malignancies including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). Initial clinical data from the CROSSCHECK-001 trial are expected around the end of 2026.

The financing will also enable submission of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application and initiation of a Phase 1 trial of CBX-663, a first-in-class TCE targeting a telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT)-derived pHLA for the treatment of multiple hematologic and solid tumors. The initiation of the Phase 1 study evaluating CBX-663 is projected for Q3 2026.

Crossbow researchers will present preclinical findings for CBX-250 in myeloid malignancies as well as the characterization of CBX-663 in models of solid tumors at the upcoming American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2026 Annual Meeting in San Diego, Calif., which takes place April 17-22, 2026.

"Crossbow’s arsenal of T-cell engagers represents a differentiated and promising approach to anti-cancer immunotherapy by addressing the wide variety of intra-cellular targets and broadens the potentials of TCE modality," commented Sakae Asanuma, President & CEO of Taiho Ventures and Crossbow board member. "The company’s experienced team and versatile platform position it to overcome the limitations of current treatments and deliver impact for patients in need. We are excited to continue supporting Crossbow as it advances its lead programs into the clinic."

(Press release, Crossbow Therapeutics, MAR 18, 2026, View Source [SID1234663719])

On March 17, 2026 Immuneering Corporation (Nasdaq: IMRX), a late-stage clinical oncology company focused on keeping cancer patients alive and helping them thrive, reported it will present a poster on one of the three key mechanisms by which atebimetinib aims to improve overall survival: shrinking tumors durably. The poster will be presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting taking place April 17-22, 2026 in San Diego, CA.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Inhibitors of RAS, RAF, or MEK often provide only temporary benefit due to resistance, as tumors acquire new mutations or mechanisms of escape within the MAPK pathway. Atebimetinib, a novel Deep Cyclic Inhibitor of MEK, is engineered to mitigate the selective pressure that typically drives these resistance mechanisms, with the goal of more durable anti-tumor activity. Immuneering will present an analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) from ≥64 patients with RAS-mutant solid tumors treated with atebimetinib, showing that acquired MAPK pathway alterations are rarely seen in patients treated with atebimetinib. These findings suggest that Deep Cyclic Inhibitors have the potential to overcome the limitations of conventional MAPK inhibition and provide a more sustained clinical benefit for patients.

Poster Presentation Details:
Title: Atebimetinib’s Deep Cyclic Inhibition of MEK Constrains MAPK-Axis Adaptive and Acquired Alterations in Patients with RAS-Mutant Tumors
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Session Title: Targeting Drug Resistance 2: RAS Signaling
Poster Number: 1873
Poster Board Number: 6
Session Date: April 20, 2026
Session Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET
Location: Poster Section 19

The abstract will be available on the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) website. Following presentation, the poster will be available on the publications section of Immuneering’s website at View Source

(Press release, Immuneering, MAR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234663615])

On March 17, 2026 Senhwa Biosciences, Inc. (TPEx: 6492), a clinical stage company focusing on development of first-in-class therapeutics for oncology, rare diseases, and infectious diseases, reported that its first-in-class investigational drug Pidnarulex (CX-5461) has demonstrated a significant research breakthrough in the field of photodynamic therapy (PDT). The research findings have been selected for presentation at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper)—one of the world’s most influential conferences in oncology research—highlighting the innovation of the mechanism and its promising clinical development potential recognized by the international scientific community.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

In recent years, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has increasingly emerged as a promising cancer treatment strategy attracting strong interest from the global pharmaceutical industry. Several major pharmaceutical companies—including Novartis, AstraZeneca, and Roche—have actively invested in related research, acquisitions, and collaborations, exploring the integration of next-generation photosensitizers with photo-immunotherapy approaches.

The pre-clinical study shows that CX-5461 possesses photosensitizing properties. When exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, the compound generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to oxidative DNA damage and enhanced cancer cell death through both direct cytotoxicity and immune-mediated mechanisms. Under the same drug concentration conditions, cytotoxicity against cancer cells increased by approximately ten-fold.

Further investigation revealed that CX-5461’s binding to G-quadruplex (G4) DNA structures works synergistically with light-induced ROS generation, significantly enhancing anti-tumor activity and prolonging survival. These findings suggest that, beyond its established anti-cancer mechanisms, CX-5461 also has the potential to be developed as a novel photosensitizer for photodynamic and novel photoimmuno-therapy.

This emerging therapeutic strategy could potentially be applied to superficial tumors, skin cancers, and other localized treatment settings, enabling a cross-indication cancer treatment approach and opening new clinical applications in oncology.

The AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting serves as a premier global platform for validating groundbreaking science and presenting first-in-class mechanisms of action. Research presented at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) frequently shapes future directions in biomedical innovation and often facilitates strategic collaborations, licensing agreements, and co-development opportunities with global pharmaceutical companies. Selection of this study for presentation further enhances the global visibility of CX-5461 in the field of innovative cancer therapeutics.

The research will be presented during the "Radiation and Photodynamic Therapy Response Modifiers" clinical research session at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2026 Annual Meeting. Jason Huang, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Senhwa Biosciences, and Kai‑Wei Hsueh, Ph.D., Associate Director of Clinical Research, will attend the conference and present the findings.

Photodynamic therapy is a medical technology that combines a photosensitizing agent with specific wavelengths of light to activate the compound and generate singlet oxygen or free radicals, selectively destroying diseased cells or tissues. It is widely considered a minimally invasive treatment modality with relatively low systemic toxicity. PDT has already been applied in a range of diseases, including skin cancers, head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer, and cervical cancer.

Market research also indicates continued growth in the global photodynamic therapy market. The oncology-focused PDT market was estimated at approximately USD 3.54 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 5.89 billion by 2032, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 7–8%. With the increasing demand for precision oncology and minimally invasive therapies, photodynamic therapy is emerging as a key area of interest for global pharmaceutical development.

Senhwa Biosciences stated that the newly identified mechanism and application of CX-5461 in photodynamic therapy further demonstrate the compound’s potential as a multi-platform innovative anti-cancer therapeutic. The company will continue advancing related research and clinical development while actively exploring international partnerships and licensing opportunities to accelerate the global development of next-generation cancer treatments.

(Press release, Senhwa Biosciences, MAR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234663632])

On March 17, 2026 Onchilles Pharma, a private biotech company advancing therapeutics targeting the ELANE pathway, reported that new preclinical data supporting its systemically delivered NEU-002 program will be presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026, taking place April 17-22 in San Diego. The presentation will highlight the translational development of NEU-002, an engineered therapeutic elastase specifically designed for systemic administration, demonstrating anti-tumor activity via both intravenous and intraperitoneal delivery in solid tumors.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"With our clinical-stage lead program, N17350, establishing the foundational proof-of-concept for the ELANE pathway, NEU-002 represents our second program and extends this approach into systemic delivery for solid tumors," said Court Turner, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Onchilles Pharma. "The data to be presented reflect our progress in engineering a systemically deliverable therapeutic that maintains anti-tumor activity and supports the advancement of NEU-002 toward development candidate selection and clinical translation."

Presentation Details

Title: Translational Development of NEU-002: Engineered Therapeutic Elastases Demonstrate Systemic Anti-Tumor Activity via Intraperitoneal and Intravenous Administration
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Session Title: Innovative Therapeutic Modalities and Translational Platforms
Day & Time: Saturday, April 19, from 2pm to 5pm PDT
Location: Poster Section 13
Poster Board Number: 28
Poster Number: 310

About Onchilles Therapeutic Programs Targeting the ELANE Pathway

At the core of this approach is the ELANE pathway, a unique cancer-selective killing mechanism that leverages a vulnerability shared by many cancer cell types: elevated histone H1 levels. Our pipeline is led by N17350, our first-in-class, clinical-stage program, followed by NEU-002, the second program that extends this approach with systemic delivery. By targeting the ELANE pathway and inducing immunogenic cancer cell death, N17350 and NEU-002 are designed to rapidly eliminate tumors while mobilizing an adaptive immune response, offering the potential for sustained anti-tumor immunity. N17350 and NEU-002 offer a unique approach to treating cancer regardless of their genetic makeup, anatomical origin, or immune status, positioning them as potential gamechangers in cancer therapy.

(Press release, Onchilles Pharma, MAR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234663648])