On October 13, 2026 Novastra Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a novel category of cancer immune therapy, reported that initial clinical data from an ongoing investigator-initiated Phase 1 study of its candidate OAP-101 in anti-PD-1-refractory advanced melanoma will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress 2026, taking place October 23-27, 2026, in Madrid, Spain.

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Novastra’s OmniAntigen Platform (OAP) enables systematic immune reprogramming therapy (XIRT), with off-the-shelf in situ and autologous approaches designed to coordinate tumor-antigen presentation with innate immune activation, priming tumor-directed immunity. These approaches aim to overcome resistance of cold solid tumors to checkpoint inhibition and to act as an immune amplification companion for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.

Presentation details:
Presentation type: Poster
Session: Investigational Immunotherapy
Title: OAP-101 autologous whole-tumor antigen system-level immune reprogramming therapy in anti–PD-1–refractory advanced melanoma
Presenting author: Junling Guo, PhD, Chief Executive Officer, Novastra Therapeutics
Presentation number: 2000P
Date and time: Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 12:00 – 12:45 CEST

The poster will feature the first clinical data for Novastra’s OAP/XIRT approach in a setting designed to overcome checkpoint-inhibitor resistance in immunologically cold solid tumors. The Phase 1 study investigates OAP-101 in patients with advanced metastatic melanoma refractory to multiple lines of currently available therapy, including anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibition.

The full abstract will be available as of 12:05 a.m. CEST on October 19, 2026, through the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress 2026 online programme and the Annals of Oncology Abstract Book supplement.

Reaching more patients with cold solid tumors who are currently left behind
Despite advances in checkpoint inhibition and ADCs, many patients with solid tumors still experience treatment resistance. For immunotherapy, a key challenge is the absence of an effective anti-tumor immune response because the tumor hides from immune recognition.1-3

Built on OAP, XIRT is designed to overcome this challenge by priming the immune system. OAP enables rapid antigen encapsulation with a supramolecular nanocloak for effective presentation to the immune system. The nanocloak is designed to combine antigen delivery with innate immune stimulation, including activation of the cGAS-STING pathway, connecting the innate and adaptive immune systems.4 OAP enables the preservation of a broad repertoire of tumor-cell antigens in autologous settings. For in vivo applications, Novastra is designing an in-situ approach where the nanocloak self-assembles within the tumor, capturing tumor-derived antigens released by ADCs, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy.

(Press release, Novastra Therapeutics, OCT 13, 2026, View Source [SID1234673377])