Junshi Biosciences Presents Results from JS207 (PD-1/VEGF BsAb) Phase 2 Combo Studies and JS212 (EGFR/HER3 ADC) FIH Phase 1/2 Study at AACR 2026

On April 20, 2026 Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co., Ltd (Junshi Biosciences, HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180), a leading innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapies, reported that early clinical results from four studies across its innovative pipeline were presented at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, featuring: the recombinant humanized anti-EGFR/HER3 bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) JS212, the anti-PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody JS207, and the anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody JS007.

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!

Dr. Jianjun ZOU, General Manager and CEO of Junshi Biosciences, said, "At this year’s AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, we reported not only two combination therapy datasets for our bispecific antibody, JS207, but also first-in-human results for the bispecific ADC, JS212. Their results demonstrated highly encouraging clinical profiles. As cornerstone assets under our Immuno-Oncology 2.0 (IO 2.0) strategy, these novel therapies have exceptional development potential. Their enhanced efficacy, activity against treatment-resistant populations, and broad-spectrum antitumor coverage position them as our next-generation flagship products. We are accelerating proof-of-concept clinical studies to identify optimal indications and deliver superior treatment options to patients."

#CT159: Preliminary results from a phase 2 study evaluating JS207 in combination with JS007 as first-line treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

The Phase 2 study (NCT06954467) aiming to evaluate the safety and efficacy of JS207 in combination with JS007 included a safety run-in period and a randomized expansion phase, which enrolled patients with unresectable or metastatic HCC who had not previously received any systemic anticancer therapy.

As of March 20, 2026, a total of 26 patients had received JS207 plus JS007, including 7 patients in the safety run-in period and 19 patients in the randomized expansion phase.

Among the 22 evaluable patients, the objective response rate (ORR) reached 45.5% while the disease control rate (DCR) was 86.4%.
JS207 plus JS007 was well-tolerated, with no dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) observed during the safety run-in period.

Preliminary findings from the study demonstrate that JS207 combined with JS007 exhibits encouraging synergistic efficacy and favorable tolerability as first-line treatment for advanced HCC. Patient enrollment continues to progress smoothly, potentially offering a novel therapeutic approach for advanced HCC patients.

#CT152: Preliminary results from a phase 2 study evaluating JS207 in combination with chemotherapy as first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC)

This Phase 2 study (NCT06885385) evaluates the preliminary safety and efficacy of JS207 in combination with XELOX (capecitabine + oxaliplatin) as first-line therapy for mCRC. The study enrolled patients with mCRC who had not previously received systemic antitumor therapy for metastatic disease, or whose disease recurred/progressed at least 12 months after their last neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy.

Patients received JS207 at 10 mg/kg combined with the XELOX regimen (oxaliplatin 130 mg/m² IV, d1 + capecitabine 1000 mg/m², BID, d1-14) every 3 weeks until disease progression or intolerable toxicity.

As of January 13, 2026, 32 patients had been enrolled and received JS207 plus XELOX, including 9 in the safety run-in phase and 23 in the dose-expansion phase.

Among the 31 efficacy-evaluable patients, 22 achieved a partial response (PR) and 8 achieved stable disease (SD), resulting in an ORR of 71.0% and a DCR of 96.8%.
Due to the relatively short follow-up duration, median progression-free survival (PFS) and median duration of response (DoR) have not yet been reached, and the longest duration of response remained ongoing at 8 months.
JS207 was well-tolerated overall, with no DLTs observed during the safety run-in period.

The study demonstrates that JS207 combined with chemotherapy exhibits promising antitumor activity and a favorable safety profile as first-line treatment for mCRC. These findings suggest that dual-target immunotherapy (anti-PD-1/VEGF) plus chemotherapy holds significant potential in immunologically cold tumors, providing critical clinical evidence for immuno-combination therapy as first-line treatment of mCRC.

#1715: Preclinical evaluation of JS212

Preclinical studies of JS212 (EGFR/HER3 bsAb) demonstrate high binding affinity to tumor cells expressing EGFR and/or HER3, exhibiting superior broad-spectrum antitumor activity, favorable tolerability, and optimal pharmacokinetic profiles. In multiple cell-derived xenograft (CDX) models, JS212 showed enhanced antitumor efficacy compared to the benchmark agent. Notably, it demonstrated efficacy in osimertinib-resistant, patritumab deruxtecan-resistant, and BL-B01D1-resistant CDX models.

#CT128: Preliminary results from JS212’s first-in-human (FIH) phase 1/2 study in advanced solid tumors

This FIH phase 1/2 study (NCT06888830) was designed to assess the safety, tolerability, PK, and preliminary efficacy of JS212 in patients with advanced solid tumors. It comprised dose escalation and expansion and clinical expansion. As of March 26, 2026, a total of 63 patients have been enrolled.

JS212 was administered every three weeks. The treatment was well-tolerated, and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was not reached.
Responses were observed at the 1.8 mg/kg cohort and above.
In the 4.2 mg/kg and 4.6 mg/kg dose cohorts, ORR reached 44.4% and 50.0% respectively, with a DCR of 100.0% in both groups. The median DoR has not yet been reached.
An ORR of 50.0% was observed in HER2-negative breast cancer and 38.9% in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

JS212 monotherapy exhibits encouraging efficacy across a range of dose levels (as low as 1.8 mg/kg) with favorable tolerability in advanced solid tumors, indicating promising development potential. Further exploration of JS212 in multiple indications and combination strategies are ongoing.

About JS207

JS207, a recombinant humanized anti-PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody, was independently developed by Junshi Biosciences for the treatment of advanced malignant tumors. To date, JS207 has been approved for conducting phase 2/3 clinical study, and it has 11 ongoing phase 2 clinical studies, exploring its use in combination with chemotherapy, monoclonal antibodies, ADCs and other drugs in NSCLC, colorectal cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, liver cancer and other tumor types. Preclinical results of JS207 have been published in Frontiers in Immunology, while early-stage clinical data were first presented in a poster session at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) ASIA 2025.

JS207 can simultaneously bind to PD-1 and VEGFA with high affinity, effectively blocking the binding of PD-1 to PD-L1 and PD-L2 while also inhibiting the binding of VEGF to its receptor. JS207 has the efficacy of both immunotherapeutic drugs and anti-angiogenic drugs. Through the neutralization of VEGF, JS207 inhibits the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells, improves the tumor microenvironment, and increases the infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the tumor microenvironment, thereby achieving better anti-neoplasm activity.

JS207’s design is based on the high-affinity, clinically proven and differentiated anti-PD-1 drug, toripalimab as the backbone. The anti-PD-1 moiety of JS207 adopts a Fab structure to maintain binding affinity to PD-1, thereby attaining better enrichment in the tumor microenvironment. The anti-VEGF moiety has a binding affinity for human vascular endothelial growth factor that is comparable to that of bevacizumab. In non-clinical in vitro cytological tests, compared with the combination of an anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibody and a VEGF monoclonal antibody, a bispecific antibody simultaneously targeting PD-1/PD-L1 and VEGF demonstrated significantly enhanced PD-1 antigen binding and internalization, as well as synergistic enhancement of the NFAT signaling pathway, thereby better activating immune cells in the tumor microenvironment.

About JS007

JS007 is a recombinant humanized anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody developed independently by Junshi Biosciences that is mainly aimed at treating advanced cancer.

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is an important receptor on the T cell surface that modulates immune response. Studies show that JS007 is able to specifically bind to CTLA-4 and effectively block the interaction between CTLA-4 and its ligand B7 (CD80 or CD86), thereby activating the T-lymphocyte and inhibiting tumor growth.

About JS212

JS212 is a recombinant humanized EGFR and HER3 bispecific ADC that is mainly used for the treatment of advanced malignant solid tumors. EGFR and HER3 are highly expressed in a variety of cancers, such as lung cancer, breast cancer and head and neck cancer etc. There is interaction in the signaling pathways between EGFR and HER3, and they jointly facilitate the proliferation, survival, migration and angiogenesis of tumor cells. In addition, HER3 is involved in the drug-resistance mechanisms of various anti-tumor drugs (including EGFR-targeted drugs, chemotherapy, etc.). Compared to single-target ADC drugs, JS212 can suppress tumors by binding to both EGFR and HER3, and may be effective on a wider range of tumors and overcome drug resistance.

According to preclinical studies, JS212’s high affinity and specific binding to EGFR and HER3 resulted in a significant anti-tumor effect in various animal models. JS212 also maintained a favorable and acceptable safety profile.

To date, an open-label, dose-escalation and dose-expansion phase 1/2 clinical trial of JS212 is underway in Chinese Mainland. The study is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and preliminary efficacy of JS212 in patients with advanced solid tumors. In addition, the clinical trial application for JS212 as a multi-cohort combined drug was approved by the National Medical Products Administration of China (NMPA) in November 2025. The phase 2 clinical trial evaluating JS207 in combination with JS212 is underway. In December 2025, the investigational new drug (IND) application for JS212 for the treatment of advanced solid tumors was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

(Press release, Shanghai Junshi Bioscience, APR 20, 2026, View Source [SID1234664579])

Palleon Pharmaceuticals Presents First-in-Class B7-H3 Targeted Sialidase at the 2026 AACR Annual Meeting

On April 20, 2026 Palleon Pharmaceuticals reported preclinical data and announced the initiation of a human clinical trial for E-688/HLX316, a first-in-class B7-H3 targeted sialidase, in an oral presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting "New Drugs on the Horizon" session. The presentation, titled "E-688/HLX316: A First-in-Class B7-H3 Targeted Sialidase for Boosting Innate and Adaptive Anti-Tumor Immunity" introduces the first ever tumor-targeted enzymatic desialylation agent to enter the clinic.

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!

Tumor hypersialylation — the upregulation of sialic acid-containing glycans on the surface of cancer cells — activates several sialic acid-dependent immune regulatory pathways that suppress anti-tumor immunity. This axis of immune evasion is present across the majority of solid tumors and correlates with poor clinical outcomes in dozens of published studies. Conventional antibodies and small molecules cannot effectively disrupt this redundant glycan-mediated immunosuppression. Palleon’s engineered human sialidase overcomes this challenge by enzymatically removing sialic acid from the tumor surface, broadly neutralizing sialic acid-mediated immune suppression.

Palleon’s first-generation sialidase, E-602, established human proof-of-mechanism and a favorable tolerability profile in a previous clinical trial and is now in Phase 2 development in autoimmunity. This early clinical experience helped define the additional design requirements needed for the oncology clinical setting: durable tumor-localized desialylation and direct tumor cell killing. E-688/HLX316 was engineered to satisfy both conditions, and preclinical data confirm that it extends tumor surface desialylation to more than seven days in vivo and outperforms anti-PD-1 as a single agent in humanized tumor models, enhancing both innate and adaptive anti-tumor immunity.

"Tumor hypersialylation is now an addressable axis of immune evasion that is independent of PD-1/L1 biology," said Jim Broderick, M.D., CEO and Founder of Palleon Pharmaceuticals. "Our first-generation clinical experience identified the attributes of an effective oncology sialidase and informed the design of E-688/HLX316. The preclinical package confirms the approach works as intended."

E-688/HLX316 is being evaluated in a first-in-human monotherapy trial in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer in China led by Palleon’s strategic collaborator Henlius. Palleon’s clinical roadmap includes a systematic expansion into other large cancer populations characterized by high B7-H3 expression and hypersialylation, including lung and prostate cancer.

(Press release, Palleon Pharmaceuticals, APR 20, 2026, View Source [SID1234664578])

Samsung Bioepis Presents Nonclinical Data for its First Novel Antibody-Drug Conjugate Candidate SBE303 at AACR 2026

On April 20, 2026 Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. reported that the company has presented a nonclinical characterization of its first novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) candidate SBE303 in a poster presentation at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, taking place April 17-22, 2026, in San Diego.

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 results we’ve shared reinforce the strong potential of SBE303 as a next-generation ADC and our commitment to innovation beyond biosimilars," said Donghoon Shin, Executive Vice President and Clinical Sciences Division Leader at Samsung Bioepis. "The nonclinical results show encouraging efficacy, safety, tolerability and a promising ability to work in combination with existing immuno-oncology therapies. Importantly, it demonstrates that our engineered antibody is designed to significantly improve target-mediated internalization. We look forward to continuing the clinical development of SBE303 and advancing our broader mission to bring innovative treatments to patients in need."

SBE303 is Samsung Bioepis’s first novel ADC engineered to bind to Nectin-4, an adhesion protein that is specifically expressed in tumor cells, including urothelial cancer, lung cancer, and breast cancer.1 Currently available Nectin-4 targeting ADCs are often limited by narrow therapeutic index (TI) and dose-limiting toxicities. SBE303 is engineered to improve the therapeutic window by combining a highly specific anti-Nectin-4 antibody conjugated with a potent novel topoisomerase I inhibitor via a proprietary linker. For nonclinical characterization of SBE303, a comprehensive set of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology studies was performed to evaluate the underlying mechanism, preclinical efficacy and safety, as well as its potential form combination therapy with anti-PD-1 blockade to support clinical development. SBE303 treatment resulted in robust anti-tumor activity with a differentiated tolerability profile, supporting an improved TI. Notably, the highest non severely toxic dose (HNSTD) was estimated to be 40 mg/kg and no intestinal lung disease (ILD) findings were observed at doses ≥40 mg/kg in repeat-dose toxicity studies. Based on the promising data, SBE303 is currently under Phase I clinical development (NCT07524348).

Poster presentation details:

– Title: Nonclinical characterization of SBE303: A Nectin-4 targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) with novel topoisomerase 1 inhibitor shows a favorable safety margin
– Authors: Ji Yeon Kim, Sungwoo Hyung, Hyun-Ji Choi, Songhyun Lim, Jae Hee Lee, Seokuee Kim, Donghyun Kim, So-Shin Ahn, Donghoon Shin
– Abstract number: 1815
– Presentation Date & Time: Monday, April 20, 2026, 09:00 a.m. CET

The abstract is available on the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2026 website.

(Press release, Samsung Bioepis, APR 20, 2026, View Source [SID1234664577])

Takara Bio USA, Inc. Validates New Class of Spatial Technology with Benchmark Study for Cancer Research

On April 20, 2026 Takara Bio USA, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Takara Bio Inc. ("Takara Bio"), reported data from a benchmark study comparing key performance metrics of its Trekker FX technology against conventional spatial methods. This study was conducted using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples from human lung squamous cell carcinoma. This study is the first in a planned series of independent studies to validate the advantages of Trekker FX technology over other existing spatial transcriptomics products. Takara Bio USA will present a poster on the findings at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) conference, taking place this week in San Diego.

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 benchmark study demonstrates that Trekker FX enables higher resolution, easier scalability, and deeper unbiased spatial characterization and insights than other methods," said Andrew Farmer, PhD, CSO of Takara Bio USA. "By combining true single-cell spatial mapping with broad molecular detection, the Trekker approach represents an entirely new class of spatial technology that complements existing single-cell sequencing workflows and expands what researchers can reveal in a cell’s native tissue environment."

In this benchmark study, Trekker FX delivered improved whole-transcriptome detection through its unique donation-based spatial tagging approach, which maintains single-cell NGS sensitivity. This results in Trekker FX being able to identify key subpopulations relevant in tumor biology (i.e., Tregs, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, lymphatic endothelial cells, and others). Trekker FX also identified 3X more statistically significant ligand-receptor interactions to better uncover how cells communicate within the tumor microenvironment.

The benchmark study was conducted by Takara Bio Genome Analysis Center in Japan, leveraging its world-class service capabilities and expertise across various spatial products and solutions. As a global leader in biotech research and development, Takara Bio offers a wide range of services that help scientists around the world push their research to new frontiers with a comprehensive array of technologies. Takara Bio USA, a subsidiary of Takara Bio Inc., published this study as the first in a new benchmarking series. This technology is now being further explored by top independent researchers, reflecting strong external validation beyond Takara Bio.

AACR poster presentation details

Title: Cross-platform comparison of spatial transcriptomics technologies in an FFPE lung squamous cell carcinoma sample
Abstract: View Source!/21436/presentation/10770
Session date and time: April 21, 2026, from 9:00 am–12:00 pm PST
Presenter: Bryan Bell, PhD
Location: Section 31
Poster board number: 17
Presentation number: 4960

(Press release, Takara Bio, APR 20, 2026, View Source [SID1234664576])

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Study Demonstrates Predictive Value of Ignite Proteomics’ RPPA Platform for T-DXd (Enhertu®) Therapy in Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients

On April 20, 2026 Aditxt, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADTX) ("Aditxt" or the "Company"), a social innovation platform accelerating promising health innovations, reported that its precision oncology subsidiary, Ignite Proteomics, LLC ("Ignite" or "Ignite Proteomics"), has been featured in a peer-reviewed study published online ahead of print in npj Precision Oncology, a Nature journal. The study, led by investigators at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, evaluated outcomes among patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd, marketed as Enhertu by AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo) and assessed multiple quantitative HER2-related assays for their association with treatment outcomes.

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!

While conventional HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed some association with outcomes in the broader patient population, the study found that quantitative HER2-related assays provided more granular predictive information in several matched biomarker sub-cohorts. In those sub-cohorts, traditional IHC classification often showed limited predictive value compared with quantitative approaches. Ignite’s Reverse Phase Protein Array (RPPA) platform, the only commercially available multiplex assay in the study, was one of the quantitative methods that demonstrated meaningful predictive value for patient outcomes.

T-DXd is an approved treatment option for a broad population of patients with metastatic breast cancer, yet there is currently no reliable way to predict which patients will respond.

"According to several studies, approximately 40% of cancers do not respond to the FDA approved therapy at front line in a metastatic setting," said Jeff Busch, Chief Executive Officer of Ignite Proteomics. In oncology, published research and institutional analyses have shown that approved therapies often fail to benefit a substantial portion of the patients who receive them. A 2017 study published in the BMJ reported that 57% of cancer drug indications approved by the European Medicines Agency entered the market without evidence of improved survival or quality-of-life benefit. MIT researchers have noted that targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors typically work for only 40% to 80% of patients expected to respond. Johns Hopkins has reported that only 15% to 20% of patients achieve durable results with immunotherapy.

Ignite’s RPPA platform measures multiple protein biomarkers, including pathway activation and payload-relevant markers, from a single tumor sample. In the Dana-Farber study, Ignite’s platform was the only commercially available multiplex assay evaluated and demonstrated predictive value in matched biomarker cohorts where conventional HER2 IHC showed limitations. Notably, the study found that TOPO1 expression, the target of T-DXd’s cytotoxic payload, was detectable by Ignite’s platform in certain HER2-negative patients, highlighting the potential value of measuring tumor biology beyond HER2 expression alone. Ignite’s assay is CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited, listed on the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule under AMA CPT code PLA 0249U, and orderable today on standard biopsy tissue.

"Cancer therapy has made extraordinary progress, but oncology still has a treatment-selection problem," added Busch. "Too many patients receive therapies without enough information about whether those therapies are likely to work for their tumor biology. That is not an indictment of the drugs. These are powerful therapies. The issue is that cancer is complex, and single-marker testing often does not capture the functional biology that drives response or resistance. Ignite’s RPPA platform was built to address that gap by measuring multiple proteins, pathway activation, and payload-relevant biology from the same tumor sample. In this study, one of the world’s leading breast cancer research teams evaluated our platform alongside standard testing, and our platform demonstrated predictive value where conventional testing had limitations. That is the opportunity: better data, better treatment selection, and fewer patients receiving therapies that were never likely to help them."

"This publication represents an important milestone for our subsidiary Ignite and reflects the strength of Aditxt’s model of advancing and scaling impactful health innovations," said Amro Albanna, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Aditxt. "Peer-reviewed clinical evidence from one of the world’s leading cancer research institutions is key to accelerating the commercialization of this platform and expanding access to it for millions of patients making treatment decisions without clear guidance on what will work. Our goal is to help ensure that more patients receive the right therapy at the right time, with the potential to improve outcomes and make a meaningful difference in people’s lives."

The full study is available open access at: View Source

(Press release, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, APR 20, 2026, View Source [SID1234664575])