1stOncology™: Cancer Intelligence Service – Page 235 – 1stOncology is recognized as a Top 10 Global Pharma Analytic Provider

NÖK Therapeutics to Present Long-Term Clinical Data at the 11th Annual Innate Killer Summit

On March 23, 2026 NÖK Therapeutics, Inc. ("NÖK" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing autologous Natural Killer ("NK") cell immunotherapies, reported that its Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Robert Lewis, will participate as a featured speaker at the 11th Annual Innate Killer Summit, taking place March 24–25, 2026, in San Diego, California.

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 Innate Killer Summit is a leading global forum focused on advancing NK-cell therapies across oncology and autoimmune diseases, convening biotechnology leaders, investors, and academic experts to discuss clinical progress, innovation, and commercialization strategies.

Mr. Lewis will participate in the CEO Think Tank panel on March 24, addressing key inflection points in innate immunotherapy, including clinical development challenges, investment dynamics, and the future direction of NK-cell platforms.

In addition, Mr. Lewis will deliver a featured presentation titled:
"Durable Long-Term Survival Following Autologous NK-Cell Consolidation in Multiple Myeloma: Phase I Data with Extended Follow-Up."

The presentation will highlight:

Sustained long-term survival outcomes in ASCT-eligible multiple myeloma patients
Durable responses in high-risk patient populations
Advancement toward Phase II development, including multi-center expansion and combination strategies

These findings represent one of the longest follow-up datasets reported for autologous NK-cell therapy and support NK-cell consolidation as a differentiated approach in multiple myeloma.

NÖK’s platform is designed to address key challenges in cell therapy by enabling treatment without lymphodepleting chemotherapy, preserving host immune function, and supporting outpatient administration, with the goal of expanding patient access while maintaining durable clinical responses.

"We are pleased to present our long-term clinical data at the Innate Killer Summit," said Robert Lewis, CEO of NÖK Therapeutics. "Our results continue to support the potential for autologous NK-cell therapy to deliver durable outcomes with a favorable safety profile as we advance toward Phase II."

(Press release, NOK Therapeutics, MAR 23, 2026, View Source [SID1234663855])

Laigo Bio completes final close of oversubscribed seed financing of €17 million co-led by Biovance Capital and Kurma Partners to advance oncology and auto-immunity programs

On March 23, 2026 Laigo Bio ("Laigo"), a biotech company pioneering novel and highly differentiated therapies using its proprietary SureTACs precision membrane protein degradation platform, reported the successful completion of the second close of its seed financing round, securing an additional €5.5m, bringing the total raised to €17m. This latest investment comes from new co-lead investor Biovance Capital and existing co-lead investor Kurma Partners.

The proceeds of the seed financing will be used to accelerate the development of Laigo’s Surface Removal Targeting Chimeras (SureTACs) oncology programs towards the clinic, as well as advance its three candidate programs for selected autoimmune and immunology indications, and graft rejection.

Laigo’s proprietary SureTACs platform generates bispecific antibodies that pair the optimal E3 ligase with a disease-causing target protein to stimulate its ubiquitination and lysosomal degradation with a high degree of specificity. Laigo’s platform allows the development of first-in-class, dual targeted therapies that eliminate disease-driving membrane targets.

Dr. Matthew Baker, Chief Executive Officer of Laigo Bio, said: "The second close of our seed financing round further validates the potential of our SureTACs platform and its ability to identify first-in-class dual targeted therapies to redefine the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. The additional investment and support from new co-lead investor Biovance Capital, alongside further funding from our existing co-lead investor Kurma Partners, will accelerate our oncology programs towards the clinic and enhance our discovery efforts in auto-immunity and immunology. We welcome Dr. João Incio to the Board of Directors."

Dr. João Incio, General Partner at Biovance Capital, added: "Laigo Bio has shown that its SureTACs degradation technology results in remarkable in vivo and in vitro efficacy, with a high degree of selectivity and improved toxicity and safety. We at Biovance Capital see phenomenal potential in Laigo’s technology and support its commitment to exploring an ever-evolving universe of new targets, including those currently considered undruggable."

Laigo is backed by a strong syndicate of leading international investors: Kurma Partners, Biovance Capital, Curie Capital, Argobio Studio, Angelini Ventures, Eurazeo, Oncode Bridge Fund, ROM Utrecht Region, and Cancer Research Horizons. Laigo completed the initial close of its seed financing round in December 2025.

(Press release, Laigo Bio, MAR 23, 2026, View Source [SID1234663853])

ORYZON Announces U.S. Patent Grant Covering Iadademstat Combinations with Venetoclax

On March 23, 2026 Oryzon Genomics, S.A. (ISIN Code: ES0167733015, ORY), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company and global leader in epigenetics, reported that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted U.S. patent US12,564,559 B2, relating to therapeutic combinations of iadademstat, Oryzon’s potent and selective LSD1 inhibitor currently in clinical development in oncology and hematology.

The granted patent includes claims covering methods of treating neoplastic diseases, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), using combinations comprising iadademstat and other therapeutic agents, notably including venetoclax, a backbone therapy in the current standard of care for first-line acute myeloid leukemia.

The patent is expected to expire in January 2039, including 681 days of patent term adjustment (PTA) granted by the USPTO to compensate for delays during patent prosecution. This does not include any potential patent term extension related to regulatory review, which could further extend the patent term.

Iadademstat is currently being evaluated in seven ongoing oncology clinical trials, including the Phase Ib ALICE-2 study in first-line AML in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine. Highly encouraging preliminary data from this trial were presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) 2025 Annual Meeting, showing a 100% overall response rate (ORR) and a 90% strict complete remission (CR) rate. The trial continues to enroll rapidly, and updated data from approximately 15-16 patients (around 75% of the planned enrollment), are expected to be presented at the European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) Annual Congress (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) in June 2026.

"This U.S. patent grant represents a significant addition to our growing IP portfolio for iadademstat," said Neus Virgili, Oryzon’s Chief IP Officer. "This patent covers combinations with venetoclax, the current standard of care in first-line AML, and provides protection extending into 2039, strengthening the long-term value of our clinical programs."

In addition to this U.S. patent, Oryzon has obtained patent protection for combinations of iadademstat with venetoclax, or their use in the treatment of cancer, in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Europe, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, and Russia. Additional patent applications are pending in other jurisdictions. Oryzon also holds granted patents covering combinations of iadademstat with other AML therapies, including azacitidine and decitabine, in the United States and other countries.

(Press release, Oryzon, MAR 23, 2026, View Source [SID1234663852])

Senti Biosciences to Present Clinical and Translational Data on SENTI-202 at the 11th Annual Innate Killer Conference

On March 23, 2026 Senti Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNTI) ("Senti Bio"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation cell and gene therapies using its proprietary Gene Circuit platform, reported upcoming presentations featuring clinical and translational data from its SENTI-202 program at the 11th Annual Innate Killer Conference, taking place March 24–25, 2026 in San Diego, California.

The presentations will include data from the ongoing Phase I clinical trial of SENTI-202, a first-in-class, off-the-shelf, logic-gated CAR NK cell therapy designed to selectively target CD33 and/or FLT3 while sparing EMCN-expressing healthy cells in adults with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

The presentations details are as follows:

Clinical Data Presentation
Rochelle Emery, MD, Medical Director at Senti Bio, will present:
"Promising Phase I Clinical Trial Results from SENTI-202-101, a First-in-Class, CD33 and/or FLT3 & not EMCN, Selective Off-the-Shelf Logic Gated CAR NK Cell Therapy in Adults with R/R AML"

The presentation will highlight clinical data from the ongoing study evaluating the safety and preliminary anti-leukemic activity of SENTI-202.

Translational and Correlative Data Presentation
Enping Hong, PhD, Associate Director of Preclinical and Translational Science, will present:
"Promising Phase I Correlative SENTI-202 Data is Consistent with Clinical Activity & Unique Logic Gated Mechanism of Action"

The presentation will provide correlative analyses supporting observed clinical activity and the therapy’s logic-gated mechanism of action.

Workshop Participation
Brian Garrison, PhD, Vice President of Research and Translational Science, will lead a workshop titled:
"Harnessing Biomarker Discovery & Translational Tools to Accelerate NK Therapy Clinical Success"

The workshop will focus on strategies to advance NK cell therapy development through biomarker discovery and translational approaches.

(Press release, Senti Biosciences, MAR 23, 2026, View Source [SID1234663851])

Trinity Biotech Announces Successful Clinical Results for Its Enhanced EpiCapture™ Prostate Cancer Test

On March 23, 2026 Trinity Biotech plc (Nasdaq: TRIB), a global diagnostics company, reported successful results from a clinical study of a new, enhanced version of its EpiCapture prostate cancer test, engineered to deliver higher precision risk prediction of aggressive prostate cancer.

This next-generation version of EpiCapture utilizes machine learning tools that integrate additional patient features, including patient ethnicity in conjunction with the DNA biomarkers, enabling the test to generate more accurate, individualized risk prediction scores. This enhanced approach addresses a well-documented challenge in oncology diagnostics: meaningful performance variation across different demographic and ethnic groups, particularly in prostate cancer where incidence and severity differ significantly among populations.

A Less Invasive, More Accessible Diagnostic Pathway

EpiCapture, as a urine liquid biopsy test, offers a simpler and more accessible alternative to traditional diagnostic methods for assessing high-grade prostate cancer risk. Current approaches — including high resolution MRI scans, which are often costly and limited in availability, and needle biopsies, which may expose patients to infection risk and other complications — present significant barriers to early and accessible detection.

Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer among men in the U.S., with about 1 in 8 men diagnosed during their lifetime and U.S. national expenditures for prostate cancer care recently estimated to be over $20 billion annually1. The ability to accurately monitor prostate cancer progression is critical, as the disease can often be slow-growing, and unnecessary invasive interventions, such as prostate biopsies, can lead to significant complications.

Clinical Validation Across 750 Patient Samples

The performance of the upgraded test was evaluated in a comprehensive clinical study involving approximately 750 patient samples, representing a substantially larger and more ethnically diverse cohort than EpiCapture’s earlier studies. The study was conducted independently by a specialist bioinformatics research partner, to ensure rigorous and independent validation of the diagnostic performance obtained with the next-generation EpiCapture algorithm.

Results from this latest study indicate that the new version of the EpiCapture test delivers clinical accuracy (Area Under the Curve, AUC) of 85%—a level considered strong and clinically useful within the oncology diagnostics field. These data underscore the potential of EpiCapture to improve early identification of patients at risk of aggressive prostate cancer, enabling more informed clinical decision making and personalized care pathways.

These findings will now be submitted for publication in a peer reviewed oncology journal.

Commercialization Pathway

Trinity Biotech plans to commercialize the EpiCapture test as a proprietary Laboratory Developed Test (LDT) through its New York State Department of Health certified diagnostics reference laboratory. This strategy allows for the rapid roll-out of this precision oncology testing service to patients across the U.S.

A Strategic Entry into Oncology and Precision Medicine

EpiCapture marks Trinity Biotech’s first entry into the precision oncology diagnostics market, representing a significant milestone in the Company’s strategic evolution toward precision medicine applications. The development of the enhanced EpiCapture test reflects Trinity Biotech’s commitment to leveraging its scientific expertise, bioinformatics capabilities, and clinical infrastructure to address unmet needs in high burden disease areas.

John Gillard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Trinity Biotech, commented:
"The enhanced EpiCapture test represents a major step forward for prostate cancer risk prediction and underscores further significant progress in our broader innovation agenda. This is a strong example of how we are expanding into precision medicine and building a portfolio of advanced, multimodal, data driven diagnostics, including expanding the innovation capabilities of our New York reference laboratory."

Dr Antoinette Perry, Associate Professor in Cell & Molecular Biology, University College Dublin, commented:
"The results of this multi-centre study demonstrate strong performance and establish the technology as a first-in-field biomarker test to incorporate ethnicity as a key variable within its predictive algorithm. Prostate cancer incidence and outcomes vary significantly across different geographic and ethnic populations, yet the biological drivers underlying these differences remain incompletely understood."

(Press release, Trinity Biotech, MAR 23, 2026, View Source [SID1234663850])