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Evaxion promotes Birgitte Rønø to joint role of Chief Scientific and Chief Operating Officer

On April 27, 2026 Evaxion A/S (NASDAQ: EVAX) ("Evaxion"), a clinical-stage TechBio company developing novel vaccines with its pioneering AI-Immunology platform, that Birgitte Rønø, its Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), reported it will take on the dual responsibilities of CSO and Chief Operating Officer (COO).

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The promotion follows an internal management review of the optimal way of working to continue to deliver Evaxion’s strategy through broader external visibility of the power of the AI-Immunology platform with partners and investors. It also reflects the recognition of Dr Rønø’s long and extensive contribution to the internal operation of Evaxion over many years.

"I am delighted to announce the promotion of Dr Rønø to the dual role of CSO and COO, reflecting her long contribution to the efficient operation of the company coupled with her deep scientific expertise. Alongside the considerable expertise of the other members of the Evaxion management team, this change leaves us very well placed to continue building and broadening awareness of Evaxion’s unique AI capabilities in immune target discovery, vaccine and other drug product candidate design through to early preclinical and clinical validation," says Helen Tayton-Martin, CEO of Evaxion.

Following the promotion, Evaxion’s management team remains composed of the following members:

Helen Tayton-Martin, CEO
Birgitte Rønø, CSO and COO
Thomas Schmidt, CFO
Andreas Mattsson, Chief AI Officer

(Press release, Evaxion, APR 27, 2026, View Source [SID1234664791])

Erasca will provide update on pan-RAS molecular glue ERAS-0015

On April 27, 2026, Erasca, Inc. (the "Company") reported that it will host a conference call and webcast to discuss preliminary Phase 1 dose escalation data for its potentially best-in-class pan-RAS molecular glue ERAS-0015 in patients with RAS-mutant solid tumors today, Monday, April 27, 2026, at 4:30 pm ET.

The dial-in number is 1-877-407-3982 (U.S./Canada) or 1-201-493-6780 (international). The live webcast and replay may be accessed by visiting Erasca’s website at Erasca.com/events.

(Press release, Erasca, APR 27, 2026, View Source [SID1234664790])

Lilly to acquire Ajax Therapeutics to advance outcomes for patients with myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera

On April 27, 2026 Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) and Ajax Therapeutics, Inc. ("Ajax"), a biopharmaceutical company developing next generation JAK inhibitors for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), reported a definitive agreement for Lilly to acquire Ajax. Ajax’s lead asset, AJ1-11095, is an investigational, once-daily oral, first-in-class Type II JAK2 inhibitor currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial, AJX-101, in patients with myelofibrosis who have previously been treated with a Type I JAK2 inhibitor.

All approved JAK2 inhibitors for patients with MPNs, including myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera, bind the Type I confirmation of JAK2. While these JAK2 inhibitors provide clinical and symptomatic relief, many patients often discontinue Type I JAK2 treatment due to a lack of durable benefit or loss of response. AJ1-11095 was designed as a selective Type II JAK2 inhibitor to not only deliver deeper and more durable efficacy than existing JAK2 inhibitors but also to provide a novel treatment option for those patients who become resistant to Type I JAK2 inhibitors. The Phase 1 clinical trial of AJ1-11095 began in late 2024 and dose selection for future clinical development is expected in 2026.

"As a founding strategic investor in Ajax, Lilly has long believed in the approach and is excited about the potential for AJ1-11095 to deliver deeper and more durable efficacy than available treatments with a tolerability profile that would allow for patients to remain on therapy longer and be used across both the first- and second-line settings," said Jacob Van Naarden, executive vice president and president of Lilly Oncology and head of corporate business development. "We look forward to the presentation of clinical proof-of-concept data later in 2026, rapidly advancing AJ1-11095 into registrational clinical trials, and using our expertise in blood cancer to hopefully deliver another important new medicine to patients and hematologists."

"We started Ajax to build on the work of its five scientific founders, including Ross Levine, MD, chief scientific officer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and chair of Ajax’s scientific advisory board, who sought to develop a novel class of selective and more potent JAK2 inhibitors to address the significant unmet need of patients with MPNs," said Martin Vogelbaum, co-founder and chief executive officer of Ajax Therapeutics. "With a small but highly motivated team, we have successfully applied this work to the design and development of our highly selective, first-in-class Type II JAK2 inhibitor, AJ1-11095. We now look forward to Lilly advancing AJ1-11095 through the clinic and providing a much-needed new therapy for patients with MPNs. It has been an honor working with our employees and scientific advisors and we’re grateful to our clinical investigators, and most importantly, the patients who have participated in our ongoing Phase 1 study, AJX-101."

Under the terms of the agreement, Lilly will acquire Ajax and Ajax shareholders could receive up to $2.3 billion in cash, inclusive of an upfront payment and subsequent payments upon the achievement of certain clinical and regulatory milestones.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. Lilly will determine the accounting treatment of this transaction following closing in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). This transaction will thereafter be reflected in Lilly’s financial results and financial guidance.

For Lilly Ropes Gray LLP is acting as legal counsel. For Ajax, Cooley LLP is acting as legal counsel. Kirkland & Ellis LLP also provided legal advice to Ajax.

(Press release, Eli Lilly, APR 27, 2026, View Source [SID1234664789])

Cellectis Presents Epigenetic Editing Platform to Turn Genes Off Without Altering DNA at the ASGCT Annual Meeting

On April 27, 2026 Cellectis (the "Company") (Euronext Growth: ALCLS – NASDAQ: CLLS), a clinical-stage biotechnology company using its pioneering gene editing platform to develop life-saving cell and gene therapies, reported new research on a TALE-based epigenetic editing approach, that does not cut or permanently modify the DNA sequence, making it a potentially safer alternative for genome editing, at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) annual meeting, that will be held on May 11-15, in Boston (MA).

The data will be presented in a poster:

Title: TALE-based epigenetic modulators show sustained knock-down of target genes in T-cells and HEPG2 via a high-throughput multiplex screening platform

Transcription activator-like effector-based epigenetic modulators (TALEM) are engineered fusion proteins consisting of a TALE DNA-binding domain with functional domains that mediate epigenetic modifications. These proteins can be precisely guided to a target location in the genome to switch genes on or off through a process known as epigenetic editing.

Unlike traditional gene editing tools, this approach does not induce DNA breaks and DNA sequence modifications, making it a potentially safer alternative for genome editing.

In this work, Cellectis developed a high-throughput screening system capable of rapidly assembling and testing hundreds of these TALEM, identifying which combinations are most effective at regulating a given gene.

The results:

This strategy was used for two distinct genes: one highly expressed in hepatocytes (active in liver cells) and another implicated in T-cell dysfunction and exhaustion, a key challenge in cancer immunotherapy. In both cases, the approach achieved >90% reduction in gene activity, which remained stable throughout the study.

"We are excited to present these results at ASGCT (Free ASGCT Whitepaper), which demonstrate Cellectis’ ability to apply its gene editing platform into the emerging field of epigenetic editing" said Louisa Mayer, Ph.D., Scientist II and Supervisor – Innovation & Gene Editing at Cellectis. "This work shows our ability to design and identify highly potent epigenetic editors across different cell types, thereby enriching our gene‑editing toolbox."

The abstract is published on the ASGCT (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) website. The poster will be available on Cellectis’ website on the presentation day, Wednesday May 13, 2026 at 5 pm ET.

(Press release, Cellectis, APR 27, 2026, View Source [SID1234664788])

Akari Therapeutics Secures Australian Patent Approval, Further Expanding Global Protection of Its Proprietary PH1 RNA Splicing Modulator ADC Payload

On April 27, 2026 Akari Therapeutics, Plc (Nasdaq: AKTX), an oncology biotechnology company developing antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) with novel RNA splicing modulator payloads, reported the acceptance of an Australian patent covering its core payload technology, and further expanding protection of its proprietary ADC platform.

The accepted patent (Application No. 2024201765), titled "Thailanstatin Analogs," includes composition-of-matter claims covering proprietary analogs of Thailanstatin designed for use as cytotoxic ADC therapeutics. This patent contains broad claims covering the use of these proprietary splicing payloads with state-of-the-art ADC linkers and may be used to target different proteins on the cancer cell.

Akari’s growing pipeline of novel ADCs including AKTX-101 (targeting TROP2 directed) and AKTX-102 (targeting CEACAM5) all use the PH1 payload that is built around this novel IP. Targeting RNA splicing biology has the potential to be a highly effective and differentiated strategy to attack cancer tumors in multiple ways by eliminating vital proteins needed for cancer cell survival, as well as uniquely activating the immune system to drive durable efficacy.

"This patent acceptance strengthens the foundation of our proprietary payload platform and reinforces our ability to build a differentiated ADC pipeline," said Abizer Gaslightwala, President and Chief Executive Officer of Akari Therapeutics. "Our RNA splicing payload enable us to build a novel class of ADC therapeutics that have the potential to disrupt the current ADC category, and we believe expanding broad composition-of-matter protection globally is critical to unlocking multiple ADCs across tumor types and major markets around the world. This patent grant continues to increase the total value of
Akari’s novel ADC technology, while enabling us to advance the development of cancer therapies for patients across the world while protecting our intellectual property."

This Australian patent approval builds on Akari’s expanding global intellectual property portfolio, which includes issued patents in the United States, China, India, Japan, Israel, and Mexico, further strengthening protection of its proprietary PH1 payload platform and reinforcing the Company’s strategy to establish broad, global composition-of-matter coverage.

Akari’s lead program, AKTX-101, a TROP2-targeting ADC powered by its proprietary PH1 payload, is currently in IND-enabling studies with a targeted Phase 1 first-in-human clinical trial expected in late 2026/ early 2027. This enables Akari to continue to advance its novel ADC into a rapidly evolving TROP2 ADC class expected to reach ~$12B by 20331.

This patent approval further strengthens Akari’s intellectual property across payload chemistry, ADC architecture, and therapeutic applications, supporting the Company’s strategy to advance a durable and differentiated platform for next-generation ADC development.

(Press release, Akari Therapeutics, APR 27, 2026, View Source [SID1234664787])