1stOncology™: Cancer Intelligence Service – Page 109 – 1stOncology is recognized as a Top 10 Global Pharma Analytic Provider

ABION Presents Preclinical Data at AACR Showing IFN-β Antibody Fusion ABN202 Outperforms TROP2-Targeting ADCs

On April 6, 2026 ABION (KOSDAQ, 203400), a precision oncology therapeutics developer, reported that its next-generation immuno-oncology candidate, ABN202, demonstrated a superior anti-cancer mechanism compared with TROP2-targeting antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in preclinical studies.

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 findings will be presented as a poster at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) (AACR 2026), to be held April 17–22 in San Diego, USA.

ABN202 is a next-generation immuno-oncology drug candidate based on the company’s proprietary iRAC (Interferon-β Antibody Conjugate) platform, designed to enable both direct tumor cell killing and robust immune activation. In the study, ABN202 demonstrated a superior anti-cancer mechanism compared with currently approved TROP2-targeting ADCs.

Notably, ABN202 overcame resistance to TROP2-targeting ADCs and showed superior anti-tumor efficacy compared with ADCs combined with anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors in preclinical models. In addition, ABN202 induced sustained and systemic CD8-positive T cell-mediated immune responses, suggesting the potential for durable anti-tumor immunity.

These findings suggest that ABN202 represents a novel immuno-oncology strategy capable of overcoming resistance associated with existing ADC therapies, highlighting its strong potential as a new treatment option for patients with solid tumors who have failed prior ADC-based therapies.

ABION’s first-in-class iRAC platform can be applied not only to TROP2-targeting antibodies but also to a broad range of solid tumor targets. This platform’s versatility positions iRAC as a promising next-generation immuno-oncology approach with potential pipeline expansion opportunities.

Dr. Young Kee Shin, CEO/CTO of ABION, said, "These results highlight the potential of a differentiated IFN-β-based immuno-oncology strategy to overcome resistance to current ADC therapies. Based on these encouraging preclinical findings, we are also actively exploring strategic partnership opportunities for ABN202, including collaborations at the preclinical stage."

(Press release, ABION, APR 6, 2026, View Source;Antibody-Fusion-ABN202-Outperforms-TROP2-Targeting-ADCs [SID1234664190])

K-679: A Novel Antibody Drug-loaded Unimicelle Conjugate Demonstrates Tumor-Selective Pharmacokinetics, Extensive Intratumoral Distribution and Superior Efficacy in Non-Clinical Animal Models

On April 6, 2026 Kowa Company, Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan), reported an upcoming presentation of non-clinical data for K‑679, its novel antibody drug-loaded unimicelle conjugate (ADUC) with unprecedented drug loading capacity. The compound, developed using Kowa’s proprietary micelle technology, has demonstrated tumor-selective pharmacokinetics, extensive intratumoral distribution, and superior efficacy in EGFR-expressing solid tumors compared to conventional antibody drug conjugates (ADCs). The data will be presented at The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026 to be held in San Diego, California, from April 17 to 22, 2026.

Presentation Details
Presentation Title: Selective intratumoral distribution and post-T-DXd activity of K-679, an ultra-high-DAR EGFR-targeted antibody drug-loaded unimicelle conjugate (ADUC)
Session Title: Antibody Technologies and Platforms 2
Presentation Date and Time: April 21, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CST (10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET)
Poster Number: 4396
Presenter: Hideo Yoshida

The abstract of the presentation is available at
AACR Annual Meeting 2026 Itinerary Planner | Presentation

More information about the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026 can be found on the event website at the following link: AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026 | Meetings | AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper)

About K-679
K-679 is an Antibody Drug-loaded Unimicelle Conjugate (ADUC), a novel type of ADC using Kowa’s proprietary micelle technology, currently in nonclinical development. The conjugate combines an anti-EGFR antibody with drug (DM1)-loaded unimicelles, which incorporate substantial quantities of payloads into a single-chain polymer. This innovative approach achieves an ultra-high DAR (Drug-to-Antibody Ratio) of approximately 45 DM1 molecules per antibody, significantly higher than conventional ADCs.

In non-clinical studies, K-679 has demonstrated tumor-selective pharmacokinetics, extensive intratumoral distribution, and concordant spatial pharmacodynamic effects in xenograft models, compared with a benchmark antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). K-679 also showed anti-tumor activity in colorectal patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models with low and heterogeneous epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression.

(Press release, Kowa, APR 6, 2026, View Source [SID1234664189])

DELFI Diagnostics to Showcase Whole-Genome cfDNA Platform Advances in Cancer Detection and Monitoring at AACR 2026 Annual Meeting

On April 6, 2026 DELFI Diagnostics, Inc., developer of innovative blood-based tests that leverage whole-genome cell-free DNA (cfDNA) assays for cancer detection and monitoring, reported it will present five poster presentations at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2026 Annual Meeting, taking place April 17–22, 2026 in San Diego, CA. The presentations highlight advances across DELFI’s platform, including lung cancer subtyping, immunotherapy response prediction, the clinical utility of ctDNA-based molecular response, treatment monitoring on ultra high-throughput, next-generation sequencing platforms, and colorectal cancer treatment response monitoring.

"This year’s AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) presentations reflect the breadth and maturity of our AI-driven, computational platform," said Susan Tousi, CEO. "From early detection to treatment monitoring, we’re generating clinical evidence across the cancer continuum that reinforces the power of genome-wide cfDNA analysis combined with AI. These five abstracts represent meaningful contributions from our team and our academic collaborators at Johns Hopkins and the Netherlands Cancer Institute."

Poster Presentations at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2026

Sunday, April 19 | 2:00–5:00 PM PT
Cell-Free DNA Fragmentome Profiles Predict Immunotherapy Response

Session: Liquid Biopsies: Circulating Nucleic Acids 1
Poster Section 44, Board 15 | Abstract #1134
Presenter: Valsamo Anagnostou, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins University
Lung Cancer Subtyping Using Cell-Free DNA Fragmentomes and Protein Biomarkers

Session: Liquid Biopsies: Circulating Nucleic Acids 1
Poster Section 44, Board 16 | Abstract #1135
Presenter: Laurel Millberg, MSc, DELFI Diagnostics
Clinical Utility of Landmark ctDNA Molecular Response as an Early Indicator of Immunotherapy Outcomes in Lung Cancer

Session: Liquid Biopsy: Multi-Analyte and Multi-Omic
Poster Section 5, Board 17 | Abstract #110
Presenter: Jaime Wehr, MS, Johns Hopkins University
Monday, April 20 | 2:00–5:00 PM PT
Enhanced cfDNA Fragmentation-Based Treatment Monitoring on the Ultima Genomics Platform

Session: Liquid Biopsies: Circulating Nucleic Acids 3
Poster Section 45, Board 24 | Abstract #3863
Presenter: Laurel Millberg, MSc, DELFI Diagnostics
Tuesday, April 21 | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM PT
Cell-Free DNA Fragmentomes for Treatment Response Monitoring in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: The DOLPHIN Study

Session: Liquid Biopsies: Circulating Nucleic Acids 4
Poster Section 45, Board 20 | Abstract #5325
Presenter: Denise van Steijn, MSc, Netherlands Cancer Institute
The five presentations reflect the expanding clinical evidence base for DELFI’s technology platform, which uses AI and machine learning to analyze genome-wide patterns of cell-free DNA fragmentation in blood. The research spans early detection, cancer subtyping, immunotherapy response prediction, and treatment monitoring across multiple cancer types and sequencing platforms.

In early detection, DELFI has clinically validated FirstLook Lung, a blood-based test designed to improve early detection of lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. New data being presented at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2026 extend the platform’s capabilities into lung cancer subtyping and immunotherapy response prediction, demonstrating how fragmentation patterns and protein biomarkers can provide clinical insights beyond initial detection.

On the treatment-monitoring front, DELFI-TF*, the company’s tumor-fraction-based monitoring solution, continues to generate clinical validation data across cancer types. The DOLPHIN study presentation describes a multicenter, prospective, observational study from the Netherlands Cancer Institute that examines new potential applications for cfDNA-based treatment response monitoring in ~500 colorectal cancer patients treated with systemic chemotherapy.

Additionally, new DELFI-TF data generated on the Ultima Genomics platform underscore the adaptability of DELFI’s core genomics technology and identify promising avenues for performance enhancement in future product generations.

"We are excited to present our latest work in early detection, treatment monitoring, subtyping, and technology innovation, " said Amoolya Singh, PhD, Chief Technology Officer. "We continue to believe that the sensitivity, low cost, and versatility of our technical approach position us well for continued scientific discovery and product development."

(Press release, Delfi Diagnostics, APR 6, 2026, View Source [SID1234664188])

Akeso Presents Updated Data on Cadonilimab Combination Therapy in PD-(L)1 Inhibitor-Resistant Advanced NSCLC at ELCC 2026

On April 6, 2026 Akeso, Inc. (9926.HK) ("Akeso" or the "Company") reported that, at the 2026 European Lung Cancer Congress (ELCC 2026), it has announced updated results with a median follow-up of 21.45 months from a prospective, open-label, single-arm, multicenter Phase Ib/II study evaluating cadonilimab in combination with anlotinib and docetaxel in patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who progressed after prior PD-(L)1 inhibitor-based therapy.

Cadonilimab is the world’s first approved bispecific antibody for cancer immunotherapy, having received marketing approval in 2022. In extensive real-world clinical practice and multiple Phase III studies, it has demonstrated clinically meaningful benefit across all patient populations regardless of PD-L1 expression status, addressing a significant unmet medical need and earning broad recognition from physicians and patients.

Cadonilimab-based regimens have previously shown promising therapeutic potential in difficult-to-treat tumors, including immunotherapy-refractory hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and gastric cancer. The updated data presented at ELCC 2026 now provide further robust evidence of cadonilimab’s important additional value in treating immunotherapy-resistant diseases, beyond its well-established benefit in the all-comer population. Just as importantly, cadonilimab’s consistent safety profile makes it a highly preferable backbone with which other treatments can be combined to create efficacious treatment for a multitude of cancers.

In this difficult-to-treat population of patients with immunotherapy-resistant advanced NSCLC, the cadonilimab combination regimen demonstrated clinically meaningful anti-tumor activity, durable disease control, and a manageable safety profile, supporting its potential as a new second-line treatment option.

Key Findings from the Phase Ib/II Study (Median Follow-Up: 21.45 Months):

Progression-Free Survival (PFS): In the overall population, median PFS was 7.0 months, with a 6-month PFS rate of 55.7%.
Consistent Benefit Across Subgroups: Median PFS was 7.5 months in the squamous NSCLC (sq-NSCLC) subgroup and 7.4 months in the PD-L1 TPS ≥1% subgroup.
Disease Control and Response Durability: The Disease Control Rate (DCR) reached 95.2%; the Objective Response Rate (ORR) was 26.2%, and the median Duration of Response (DoR) was 6.0 months. Patients who achieved circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) clearance had a median PFS of 9.1 months. After the first treatment cycle (C1), the ctDNA detection rate decreased from 1.5% to 0.5%, demonstrating the regimen’s depth of anti-tumor activity at the molecular level.
Safety Profile: The triple combination of cadonilimab, anlotinib, and docetaxel was well tolerated, with a grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse event (TRAE) rate of 14.0%. No treatment-related deaths were reported.

(Press release, Akeso Biopharma, APR 6, 2026, View Source [SID1234664187])

IDEAYA Biosciences Announces First-Patient-In for Phase 1 Trial of IDE574, a Potential First-In Class Dual Inhibitor of KAT6/7 to Target Multiple Solid Tumor Indications, including Breast, Prostate, CRC, and Lung Cancer

On April 6, 2026 IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDYA), a leading precision medicine oncology company, reported that the first patient has been enrolled in its Phase 1 dose escalation trial evaluating IDE574, a potential first-in-class oral small molecule equipotent dual inhibitor of the lysine acetyltransferase (KAT) 6 and 7 paralogs, both of which have been shown to support cancer cell survival. The company is planning to evaluate safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of IDE574 as a monotherapy in the Phase 1 dose escalation trial in solid tumor patients, including breast, prostate, colorectal, and lung cancer.

"Targeting mechanisms of resistance and tumor heterogeneity in cancer are core strategies of our R&D efforts, and we are excited to advance IDE574 in the clinic to evaluate its potential as a monotherapy agent to drive deeper, more durable antitumor responses for patients versus historical clinical data published with KAT6-selective agents," said Michael White, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of IDEAYA Biosciences. "We are thrilled to advance another potential first-in-class agent into the clinic that targets large solid tumor indications of high unmet need, including breast, prostate, CRC, and lung cancer. We believe the novel chromatin remodeling mechanism of the KAT6/7 dual inhibitor IDE574, has the potential for monotherapy efficacy and to treat breast cancer patient’s refractory to hormone-based therapy due to ESR1 mutations, and to evaluate rational combinations with assets in the IDEAYA pipeline," said Yujiro S. Hata, President and Chief Executive Officer, IDEAYA Biosciences.

IDE574 is a selective, equipotent dual inhibitor of both KAT6 and KAT7 with single-digit to low-teen nanomolar cellular potency in target engagement assays, which spares other structurally similar KAT paralogs with approximately a 350-to-2,000-fold selectivity windows versus KAT5 and KAT8, both of which are required for normal cell function. KAT6 and KAT7 are epigenetic modulators of cell identity and lineage commitment programs that are corrupted by oncogenic transformation. Estrogen-receptor 1 mutations (ESR1) is a common acquired resistance mechanism to endocrine based therapy in breast cancer with prevalence from 10 to 50% (Fuqua, et al., Cancer, July 2019; Zundelevich, et al., Breast Cancer Research, February 2020) highlighting the unmet need for alternative drug mechanisms, such as KAT6/7. IDE574 has shown robust and durable monotherapy anti-tumor activity, superior to KAT6 inhibition alone, in preclinical tumor models with 8p11 amplifications and ESR1 mutations, as well as in selected indications dependent upon lineage-specific transcription factor activity.

(Press release, Ideaya Biosciences, APR 6, 2026, View Source [SID1234664186])