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Immunitas Therapeutics to Present Clinical Data Supporting Monotherapy and Combination Treatment Potential of IMT-009 at the AACR 2026 Annual Meeting

On March 17, 2026 Immunitas Therapeutics ("Immunitas"), a clinical stage precision immunotherapy company committed to discovering and developing novel, antibody-based therapeutics for patients with autoimmune diseases and cancer, reported it will present clinical data from its Phase 1/2a trial of first-in-class anti-CD161 antibody, IMT-009, at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, held April 17-22, 2026 in San Diego, California. Data to be presented support continued development of IMT-009 as a novel cancer immunotherapy for treatment of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.

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Presentation Details
Title: A first-in-human, dose escalation (DE) and biomarker cohort expansion (BCE) of IMT-009 (IMT) in advanced cancer and Phase 1b (Ph1b) combination with fruquintinib (F) in microsatellite stable colorectal cancer (MSS CRC)
Presenting Author: Susanna V. Ulahannan, M.D., The University of Oklahoma, Stephenson Cancer Center/SCRI
Abstract Number: CT048
Session: First-in-Human Phase I Clinical Trials
Location: Poster Section 50
Date & Time: Monday, April 20, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT

About IMT-009
IMT-009 is a fully human, Fc-attenuated IgG1 monoclonal antibody that binds to CD161 and blocks its interaction with its ligand, CLEC2D. Preclinical data confirm that CD161 blockade with IMT-009 results in enhanced anti-tumor activity. IMT-009 is under evaluation in a Phase 1/2a clinical trial for use as a monotherapy and combination treatment for solid tumor and hematological malignancies. The Phase 1 study is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacodynamic biomarkers, and preliminary efficacy of IMT-009 as well as identify the Recommended Phase 2 Dose (RP2D).

(Press release, Immunitas Therapeutics, MAR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234663639])

GV20 Therapeutics Announces Late-Breaking Oral Presentation of GV20-0251 Translational Findings at the AACR Annual Meeting 2026

On March 17, 2026 GV20 Therapeutics (GV20), a clinical-stage AI-powered biotherapeutics company, reported that it has been selected to deliver a late-breaking oral presentation highlighting translational data of GV20-0251 at the American Association of Cancer Research 2026 Annual Meeting, taking place in San Diego on April 17- 22, 2026.

This presentation at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) builds on previously presented clinical data of the novel immune checkpoint IGSF8 inhibitor GV20-0251 (Wentzel et al, ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2025) and will report the translational findings, including pharmacodynamic and potential predictive biomarkers data, from the monotherapy dose escalation portion of the ongoing Phase 1/2 trial evaluating GV20-0251 in patients with advanced solid tumors resistant to anti-PD(L)1 and other standard therapies (NCT05669430).

Presentation details (Abstract CT001):

Title: Evaluation of pharmacodynamic and potential predictive biomarkers for GV20-0251, an anti-IGSF8 antibody, as monotherapy from ongoing Phase 1/2a study
Session Title: Updates in Anticancer Immunotherapies
Session Type: Oral Clinical Trial Minisymposium
Session Date/Time: Saturday April 18, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM PDT

(Press release, GV20 Therapeutics, MAR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234663638])

Nuvalent to Present New Preclinical and Clinical Data for Zidesamtinib, an Investigational ROS1-Selective Inhibitor, at AACR Annual Meeting 2026

On March 17, 2026 Nuvalent, Inc. (Nasdaq: NUVL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on creating precisely targeted therapies for clinically proven kinase targets in cancer, reported the presentation of new data for zidesamtinib, an investigational ROS1-selective inhibitor, during two poster presentations at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026, being held April 17-22 in San Diego. The posters will highlight clinical data from a subset of TKI pre-treated patients with ROS1-positive NSCLC treated in the ARROS-1 Phase 1/2 clinical trial and preclinical data further characterizing zidesamtinib’s brain penetrance and intracranial activity.

Details of the poster presentations are as follows:

Title: Zidesamtinib in Patients with ROS1+ NSCLC Previously Treated with Repotrectinib or Taletrectinib
Presenting Author: Geoffrey Liu, M.Sc., M.D.1
Abstract Number: CT248
Session Title: Phase II Clinical Trials
Session Date and Time: Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 2:00-5:00 p.m. PT
Location: Poster Section 50
Poster Board Number: 13

Title: Zidesamtinib Has Differentiated Preclinical Brain Penetrance and Intracranial Activity Compared to Other ROS1 Inhibitors
Presenting Author: Anupong Tangpeerachaikul, Ph.D.2
Abstract Number: LB366
Session Title: Late-Breaking Research: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics 3
Session Date and Time: Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 2:00-5:00 p.m. PT
Location: Poster Section 53
Poster Board Number: 23

1 Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; 2 Nuvalent, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA

About Zidesamtinib
Zidesamtinib is an investigational, brain-penetrant, ROS1-selective inhibitor created with the aim to overcome limitations observed with currently available ROS1 inhibitors. Zidesamtinib is designed to remain active in tumors that have developed resistance to currently available ROS1 inhibitors, including tumors with treatment-emergent ROS1 mutations such as G2032R. In addition, zidesamtinib is designed for central nervous system (CNS) penetrance to improve treatment options for patients with brain metastases, and to avoid inhibition of the structurally related tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) family. Together, these characteristics have the potential to avoid TRK-related CNS adverse events seen with dual TRK/ROS1 inhibitors and to drive deep, durable responses for patients across all lines of therapy.

Based on results for tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) pre-treated patients with advanced ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) enrolled in the global registrational ARROS-1 Phase 1/2 clinical trial, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for filing Nuvalent’s NDA submission for zidesamtinib for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic ROS1-positive NSCLC who received at least 1 prior ROS1 TKI. The application has been assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of September 18, 2026. Zidesamtinib has received breakthrough therapy designation for the treatment of patients with ROS1-positive metastatic NSCLC who have been previously treated with 2 or more ROS1 TKIs and orphan drug designation for ROS1-positive NSCLC.

(Press release, Nuvalent, MAR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234663637])

Pixelgen Technologies and Andreas Lundqvist’s Research Group at Karolinska Institutet Collaborate to Identify Novel Biomarkers for Cancer Immunotherapy

On March 17, 2026 Pixelgen Technologies reported a research collaboration with Andreas Lundqvist’s Group at the Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, to discover novel biomarkers for cancer immunotherapy response using Pixelgen’s Proximity Network Assay (PNA). The project will explore the spatial distribution and abundance of more than 150 cell surface proteins in patients with non-small lung cancer who undergo immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

"Pixelgen’s Proximity Network Assay has the potential to bring new insights into the organization and interactions of cell surface proteins, which could aid in the discovery of new biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibition response and consequently inform treatment regimens for patients," Prof. Andreas Lundqvist said. "While other tools provide protein abundance analysis, Pixelgen’s PNA brings a new dimension of understanding to the spatial organization and interactions of cell surface proteins that may prove useful for patient stratification."

The collaboration combines the tumor immunology and biology expertise from Prof. Lundqvist’s group and Pixelgen’s technology and experience in cell surface protein interactomics. The team aims to submit results from the project to a scientific journal for peer-reviewed publication, and the research will lay the groundwork for future collaborations.

"We’re very excited to embark on this collaboration with Prof. Lundqvist’s group, which has made significant contributions to tumor immunology, particularly in the areas of immune escape and advancing cell-based therapeutic approaches," said Pixelgen Chief Business Development Officer Erik Pettersson. "Our hope is that this research will contribute to the understanding of the role single-cell protein interactions have in disease, identify biomarkers for immunotherapy response, and ultimately lead to the development of improved immunotherapies for cancer patients."

Pixelgen’s PNA delivers nanoscale spatial analysis of immune cell proteins at scale, as part of the company’s Pixelgen Proxiome Kit. The technology is used by researchers looking for new avenues for drug and biomarker discovery and diagnostics in immunology, immuno-oncology, hematology, and cell therapy.

(Press release, Karolinska Institutet, MAR 17, 2026, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pixelgen-technologies-and-andreas-lundqvists-research-group-at-karolinska-institutet-collaborate-to-identify-novel-biomarkers-for-cancer-immunotherapy-302715490.html [SID1234663636])

Whitehawk Therapeutics to Highlight its Next-Generation ADC Portfolio at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2026

On March 17, 2026 Whitehawk Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: WHWK), a clinical-stage oncology therapeutics company applying advanced technologies to established tumor biology to efficiently deliver improved antibody drug conjugate (ADC) cancer treatments, reported it will present three preclinical abstracts, including an oral minisymposium and two posters, highlighting its next-generation antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) portfolio at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2026, taking place April 17–22, 2026, in San Diego, CA.

"For the first time, we will present comprehensive preclinical proof-of-concept for our three ADC programs, HWK-007, HWK-016 and HWK-206," said David Dornan, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Whitehawk Therapeutics. "These data will highlight the optimized ADC design features aimed at delivering a differentiated ADC profile with the goal of improving outcomes for cancer patients."

Whitehawk’s comprehensive preclinical abstracts demonstrate a potential best-in-class therapeutic index among next-generation TOP1i-based ADCs. These data showed high potency with tumor regressions in xenograft studies at low single-digit mg/kg doses, and in non-human primate studies, Whitehawk’s ADCs demonstrated a high tolerability with a highest non-severely toxic dose (HNSTD) of 60 mg/kg. Underpinning these results is one of the lowest reported free payload in circulation, driven by Whitehawk’s proprietary "carbon-bridge cysteine repairing" linker-payload.

Presentation details:

HWK-016 – MUC16-Targeted ADC (Minisymposium Oral Presentation)
Title: Preclinical assessment of HWK-016, a next-generation, MUC16-targeting ADC with novel bioconjugation and linker–payload technology
Presenter: David Dornan, PhD, CSO, Whitehawk Therapeutics
Session: Advanced Antibody, Conjugate, and Targeted Therapeutic Platforms
Presentation Number: 1324
Date & Time: April 19, 2026, 3:00 – 5:00 pm

HWK-007 – PTK7-Targeted ADC (Poster Presentation)
Title: Preclinical assessment of HWK-007, a next-generation, PTK7-targeting ADC with novel bioconjugation and linker–payload technology
Presenter: Kathleen S. Keegan, PhD, VP of R&D, Whitehawk Therapeutics
Section 12: Antibody-Drug Conjugates and Linker Engineering 3
Poster Number: 4439
Date & Time: April 21, 2026, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

HWK-206 – SEZ6-Targeted ADC (Poster Presentation)
Title: Preclinical assessment of HWK-206, a next-generation, biparatopic, SEZ6-targeting ADC with novel bioconjugation and linker–payload technology
Presenter: Kathleen S. Keegan, PhD, VP of R&D, Whitehawk Therapeutics
Section 12: Antibody-Drug Conjugates and Linker Engineering 3
Poster Number: 4440
Date & Time: April 21, 2026, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

These abstracts are currently available on the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2026 meeting website, and the presentation and posters will be accessible on the Presentations page of the Investors & News section of the Company’s website at www.whitehawktx.com.

(Press release, Whitehawk Therapeutics, MAR 17, 2026, View Source [SID1234663635])