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Dxcover Highlights Liquid Biopsy Platform Performance in Multiple Settings

On April 2, 2026 Dxcover, a global leader in AI-enabled technologies, reported the presentation of multiple studies at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting taking place in San Diego, California this month.

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The company will present data as part of key sessions focused on Early Detection Approaches – specifically Stage I and II cancers, which can be treated when detected, but are elusive to other screening protocols. Matthew Baker, PhD, CEO & co-Founder of Dxcover, commented: "Cancer is detected too late because early signals are invisible to current clinical tools. The Dxcover approach analyzes the body’s earliest reactions to malignancy – a perfect complement to existing high specificity diagnostics."

Data presented at the conference represent results from studies designed to investigate the Dxcover platform’s clinical feasibility and performance capabilities:

90+% sensitivity reported consistently across stage I-IV colorectal (CRC), pancreatic, and ovarian cancers
Integration, comparative performance and considerations of CRC biomarkers and screening modalities
"It’s exciting to share our latest findings at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) conference," says James Cameron, PhD, Dxcover Clinical Program Manager and co-author on each presentation. "These data demonstrate our commitment to improving patient outcomes with continued progress toward earlier cancer detection."

Dxcover AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) presentations: #5115, #5116, #7616, #7617

(Press release, Dxcover, APR 2, 2026, View Source [SID1234664163])

Palleon Pharmaceuticals to Present on Development of HLX316/E-688 at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting

On April 2, 2026 Palleon Pharmaceuticals, a company developing engineered enzyme therapies that remove excessive sialic acid to treat autoimmune diseases and cancer, reported upcoming presentations at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, taking place in San Diego from April 17 – 22. Palleon will make an oral presentation during the "New Drugs on the Horizon" series on Sunday, April 19 and will present a poster on Wednesday, April 22.

Details of Palleon’s Presentations:

American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting
Title: A First-in-Class Human Sialidase-Armed Anti-B7-H3 Antibody that Enhances Innate and Adaptive Antitumor Immune Responses
Abstract ID: 7158
Oral Presentation Session Date and Time: Sunday, April 19 from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM PT
Poster Presentation Session Date and Time: Wednesday, April 22 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM PT
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Session Title: Overcoming Microenvironmental and Delivery Barriers in Cancer Therapy

HLX316/E-688 is a first-in-class investigational treatment developed from Palleon’s EAGLE (Enzyme-Antibody Glycan-Editing) Platform. Palleon’s HLX316/E-688 is being developed in China by Shanghai Henlius Biotech and is designed to address key mechanisms of immune evasion by enhancing the desialylation of tumor cells that express B7-H3 to help restore both innate and adaptive anti-tumor responses in the tumor microenvironment. The China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has cleared Henlius’ Investigational New Drug (IND) application for a Phase 1 clinical trial of HLX316/E-688 in China for the treatment of advanced or metastatic solid tumors.

The presentations will be made available on the Glycobiology Education section of Palleon Pharmaceuticals’ website.

(Press release, Palleon Pharmaceuticals, APR 2, 2026, View Source [SID1234664162])

CanWell Pharma Announces FDA Clearance of the IND for CAN016, a Dual-Payload ADC Targeting HER2, for ADC Pre-Treated Solid Tumors

On April 2, 2026 CanWell Pharma Inc. reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for CAN016, a HER2-targeting dual-payload ADC. The company will initiate a Phase I clinical study to evaluate CAN016 in solid tumor patients who have experienced disease progression following prior ADC therapies.

About CAN016

CAN016 is an ADC in development by CanWell Pharma Inc. for ADC pre-treated solid tumors. Developed using CanWell’s StarLinker platform, CAN016 is distinguished by its integration of two distinct MoA cytotoxic agents within a single antibody construct, leading to enhanced anti-tumor activity through complementary mechanisms. This design is expected to counter the resistance mechanisms that limit the efficacy of conventional single payload ADCs.

In preclinical studies, CAN016 effectively delivered dual cytotoxic payloads into tumor cells leading to synergistic tumor cell killing, inhibition of proliferation, and apoptosis. CAN016 has demonstrated potent anti-tumor activity in multiple CDX and PDX models, including those resistant to currently approved HER2-targeted ADC therapies.

The Phase I study will assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of CAN016, determine the recommended dose for subsequent clinical development, and explore preliminary anti-tumor efficacy across a range of HER2-expressing ADC pre-treated solid tumors.

(Press release, Canwell Pharma, APR 2, 2026, View Source [SID1234664161])

Caris Life Sciences Announces Launch of Caris ChromoSeq, the World’s First Whole Genome and Whole Transcriptome Tumor Profiling Assay for Myeloid Malignancies

On April 2, 2026 Caris Life Sciences (NASDAQ: CAI), a leading, patient-centric, next-generation AI TechBio company and precision medicine pioneer, reported the launch of Caris ChromoSeq, a Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and Whole Transcriptome (WTS) assay designed to support the comprehensive clinical genomic evaluation of myeloid malignancies. The test is intended for use in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), as well as in patients with suspected myeloid malignancies characterized by unexplained cytopenia persisting for more than four months, where other potential causes have been reasonably excluded.

Myeloid malignancies are among the most genetically complex cancers, often requiring multiple tests to identify clinically relevant mutations, structural variants and chromosomal abnormalities. This fragmented approach can delay critical treatment decisions and miss detection of important genomic alterations used for diagnosis and risk stratification.

Caris ChromoSeq can replace the multiple test protocols of the myeloid diagnostic workflow, complementing the clinician’s overall clinical and pathological evaluation. Building on this foundation, the test delivers approximately 250x read depth across the genome with 40 million transcriptome reads, enabling enhanced genomic resolution from a bone marrow aspirate or peripheral blood collection. Results are synthesized into a single, easy‑to‑interpret, actionable report to support confident, timely clinical decision‑making, with an expected seven-day turnaround time.

"The Caris ChromoSeq launch provides an unprecedented amount of genomic and transcriptomic data per patient, enabling a complete diagnostic evaluation in a single test. Never before have patients and physicians had access to a technology with the depth and breadth provided by Caris ChromoSeq," said Matthew Oberley, MD, PhD, Senior Vice President, Chief Clinical Officer and Pathologist-in-Chief at Caris. "This launch reflects our commitment to delivering a single, integrated genomic solution for patients with hematological cancers that fits into real‑world clinical workflows and provides results fast enough to inform patient care."

The launch of Caris ChromoSeq underscores Caris Life Sciences’ ongoing focus on advancing precision medicine through innovative molecular profiling technologies that simplify complexity and support clinicians across the cancer care continuum.

(Press release, Caris Life Sciences, APR 2, 2026, View Source [SID1234664160])

AvenCell Therapeutics Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase I QUADvance Study with AVC-203, a Novel Allogeneic CD19/CD20 Dual-Targeting CAR-T Investigational Therapy for the Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory B-Cell Malignancies

On April 2, 2026 AvenCell Therapeutics, Inc., a leading clinical-stage cell therapy company focused on advancing both switchable and allogeneic CAR-T cell therapies, reported that it has dosed the first patient in the Phase I QUADvance study (AVC-203-01; NCT07284433) with AVC-203 for the treatment of relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies.

AVC-203 is a CRISPR-engineered allogeneic CAR-T candidate designed to simultaneously target and eliminate cells expressing receptors CD19 and/or CD20, which are known to be expressed in nearly all B-cell malignancies, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The product incorporates a novel, dimerized receptor construct combining constitutive CD19/CD20 dual-targeting with AvenCell’s proprietary RevCAR switchable receptor, enabling future indication flexibility and target expansion beyond CD19/CD20 through bi- or tri-specific bridging proteins.

"Patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies who have exhausted currently available treatment options, including approved autologous CAR-T therapies, have limited alternatives and a poor prognosis," said Professor Martin Wermke, Head of the Early Clinical Trial Unit at the National Cancer Center Dresden, Germany. "AvenCell’s allogeneic approach, combined with its innovative dual-targeting and switchable technology, represents a promising new therapeutic strategy for these patients."

"Dosing the first patient with AVC-203 is a significant milestone for AvenCell and for the field of allogeneic cell therapy," said Andrew Schiermeier, AvenCell’s President & CEO. "We are excited to build on the promising safety and activity observed in our ongoing allogeneic CAR-T clinical program in AML (AVC-201-01) by now entering B-cell lymphoma with what we believe to be the most scientifically compelling allogeneic technology in the industry. AvenCell remains focused on ensuring that any patient who can benefit from CAR-T therapy can receive it, through the massive scaling of supply and dramatic reductions in cost of goods."

The AVC-203 program is supported by a grant of up to $40 million from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development ("AMED") (Project Name: "Strengthening Program for Pharmaceutical Startup Ecosystem" R&D Project Title: "Clinical development of bispecific allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy for CD19/CD20-positive relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma"), underscoring the global significance of AvenCell’s allogeneic CAR-T platform. The AMED grant will support the advancement of AVC-203 toward clinical development in Japan, with the goal of bringing this innovative therapy to patients across the Asia-Pacific region.

AvenCell received both FDA IND clearance and EMA approval of its Clinical Trial Application (CTA) for the QUADvance study on first submission in late 2025, enabling trial initiation at multiple sites in the US and Europe.

About AVC-203

AVC-203 is a CRISPR-engineered allogeneic CAR-T therapy incorporating four key innovations:

Dual antigen targeting: AVC-203 CAR-T cells express a proprietary receptor that simultaneously targets CD19 and CD20.
Immune evasion: AvenCell implements a unique, differentiated, and proprietary sequence of CRISPR/Cas9 engineering to enable the use of healthy donor cell (versus the patient’s own cells) to avoid both Graft-versus-Host Disease (GvHD) and rejection by the patient’s immune system.
Improved T-cell fitness and off-the-shelf availability: A proprietary manufacturing process leverages the highly consistent T-cell fitness of healthy donors to eliminate the cost, variability, and complexity of patient-specific production, enabling immediate, massively-scalable treatment.
Switchable targeting: A RevCAR receptor dimerized to the CD19/CD20 CAR enables flexible targeting of additional tumor antigens through bi- or tri-specific bridging proteins, allowing future target expansion beyond CD19/CD20.
About AVC-203 Clinical Program

The QUADvance study (AVC-203-01) is a Phase I/II trial evaluating the safety, tolerability, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of AVC-203 in adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies. The study is being conducted at multiple sites in the US and Europe, with planned expansion to Japan..

About B-Cell Malignancies

B-cell malignancies — including non-Hodgkin lymphomas, multiple myeloma, and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) — account for the majority of blood cancers. Approximately 120,000 and 150,000 new cases are diagnosed annually in the United States and Europe, respectively. While approved autologous CAR-T therapies have demonstrated meaningful clinical activity in certain B-cell malignancies, significant challenges remain, including lengthy manufacturing timelines, high costs, and limited accessibility. Allogeneic CAR-T therapies such as AVC-203 aim to address these limitations through off-the-shelf availability, consistent product quality, and scalable manufacturing.

(Press release, AvenCell Therapeutics, APR 2, 2026, View Source [SID1234664159])