On January 13, 2026 Moleculin Biotech, Inc., (Nasdaq: MBRX) ("Moleculin" or the "Company"), reported it has received a new independent assessment for the absence of cardiotoxicity in subjects treated with Annamycin, bringing the total number of Annamycin treated subjects reviewed by its independent expert to 90. Data from the most recently completed clinical trials’ subjects were made available to an expert in chemotherapy who is affiliated with a leading cancer research institute in assessing cardiotoxicity. After review of certain data, the independent expert concluded that there was no evidence of cardiotoxicity. This data is across five clinical trials treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and soft tissue sarcoma (STS) with Annamycin as a monotherapy and in combination with cytarabine and across multiple sites in the United States (US) and the European Union (EU). Most of these subjects were treated above the recommended lifetime maximum for other anthracyclines.
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The data made available to the expert included, but was not limited to, data from serial 12-lead ECGs, transthoracic echocardiography with centralized global longitudinal strain (GLS) analysis, and cardiac biomarker (troponins I and T) concentration measurements by a central lab using validated assays. Cardiac health biomarkers such as blood troponin levels are considered an indicator of potential long-term heart damage.
"As we closely approach almost 100 subjects that have received Annamycin (also known by the name "naxtarubicin") which have been reviewed by our expert, we continue to be encouraged by the potential of Annamycin. This additional independent report of additional datasets provides further validation of the absence of cardiotoxicity," commented Walter Klemp, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Moleculin. "Annamycin continues to demonstrate an absence of cardiotoxicity, even in subjects who have received far more than the lifetime maximum cumulative anthracycline exposure established by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In fact, 65 of the 90 subjects evaluated have been taken over the FDA’s lifetime maximum of 550 mg/m2 and with one of them being taken over 6500 mg/m2. Our growing body of positive data for Annamycin continues to bolster our confidence in our belief that Annamycin is truly a ‘next generation’ anthracycline, especially in light of the growing efficacy data that we have previously reported in the treatment of AML and STS. We remain focused on advancing our Annamycin development programs and ultimately, addressing the medical unmet needs of people with difficult to treat cancers."
"It is important to understand that nearly half of all cancers and 60% of childhood cancers are currently treated with cardiotoxic anthracyclines that result in permanent damage to the heart. To quote one study: ‘Some commonly used cancer drugs, such as the anthracyclines, are known to be cardiotoxic. Left undetected and untreated, this cardiotoxicity is progressive and persistent and can lead to cardiomyopathy, clinical heart failure, the need for a heart transplant, or death. In fact, 30 years after diagnosis, the number of cardiac-related deaths among survivors exceeds the number caused by cancer recurrence (emphasis added).’ We believe Annamycin has the potential to become the first ever non-cardiotoxic anthracycline. Coupled with its observed ability in a wide range of tumor animal models to avoid cross-resistance with existing anthracyclines and to demonstrate equal or greater efficacy, we believe the market opportunity for Annamycin is potentially enormous. We are looking forward to adding to this dataset and completing long-term cardiac follow-up with active subjects in our current trials."
(Press release, Moleculin, JAN 13, 2026, https://moleculin.com/moleculin-reports-independent-assessment-confirms-no-cardiotoxicity-of-annamycin-in-90-subjects/ [SID1234662017])