Medicenna to Present MDNA11 Trial Update at Sachs 10th Oncology Innovation Forum

May 22, 2024 -- Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. ("Medicenna" or the "Company") (TSX: MDNA, OTCQB: MDNAF), a clinical-stage immunotherapy firm specializing in Superkines, announced its upcoming presentation at the Sachs 10th Annual Oncology Innovation Forum. Scheduled for Friday, May 31, 2024, the forum is part of the broader clinical partnering and investment activities at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology ("ASCO") Annual Meeting, which will be held in Chicago from May 31 to June 4, 2024.

On the opening day of the ASCO Annual Meeting, Medicenna will reveal updated data from its Phase 1/2 ABILITY-1 Study. This presentation will cover various aspects such as anti-tumor activity, safety, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic data related to MDNA11. MDNA11 stands out as the only long-acting, 'beta-enhanced not-alpha' interleukin-2 (IL-2) super-agonist currently in clinical development. It is being explored both as a standalone treatment and in combination with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) for patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors.

Dr. Fahar Merchant, President and CEO of Medicenna, will lead the presentation. He will also be available for one-on-one meetings both at the Sachs 10th Annual Oncology Innovation Forum and during the ASCO Annual Meeting. The presentation details are as follows:

- Date: May 31, 2024
- Time: 1:40 PM CT (2:40 PM ET)
- Venue: Waldorf Astoria Chicago Hotel, Faulkner Room

Post-presentation, the webcast and replay information will be accessible on Medicenna's Investor Relations webpage.

The Sachs Oncology Innovation Forum is a key event that brings together leading figures from cancer research institutions, patient advocacy groups, the pharmaceutical industry, biotech firms, and financial investors. Participants will have the chance to attend live presentations and engage in private meetings with executives from biotech companies, pharmaceutical licensing teams, and financial investors.

In addition to its MDNA11 presentation, Medicenna will also be presenting new data analyses for bizaxofusp (previously MDNA55), a Phase-3 ready immunotherapy for recurrent glioblastoma, in a poster at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting.

MDNA11 is a long-acting 'beta-enhanced not-alpha' interleukin-2 (IL-2) Superkine designed to address the limitations of aldesleukin and other IL-2 variants. It achieves this by selectively activating immune effector cells (CD4+ T, CD8+ T, and NK cells) that kill cancer cells while minimizing the activation of immunosuppressive Tregs. This is accomplished through seven specific mutations and its genetic fusion to a recombinant human albumin scaffold, enhancing its pharmacokinetic profile and pharmacological activity due to albumin's ability to accumulate in vascularized sites, particularly tumors and tumor-draining lymph nodes. MDNA11 is currently being tested in the Phase 1/2 ABILITY-1 study as both a standalone therapy and in combination with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®).

The ABILITY-1 study (NCT05086692) is a global, multi-center, open-label study evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and anti-tumor activity of MDNA11 alone or in combination with pembrolizumab. During the dose escalation phase of the Phase 2 study, 6-12 patients will receive ascending doses of MDNA11 intravenously every two weeks alongside pembrolizumab. This segment includes patients with a variety of solid tumors susceptible to immune-modulating treatments. Upon defining an appropriate dose regimen, the study will advance to a combination dose expansion cohort.

Medicenna is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company committed to developing highly selective IL-2, IL-4, and IL-13 Superkines and first-in-class Empowered Superkines. MDNA11, its long-acting IL-2 Superkine, shows superior affinity for CD122 (IL-2 receptor beta) and does not bind to CD25 (IL-2 receptor alpha), thereby preferentially stimulating effector T cells and NK cells that kill cancer. Bizaxofusp (previously MDNA55), an IL-4 Empowered Superkine, has undergone five clinical trials with over 130 patients, including a Phase 2b trial for recurrent glioblastoma. Bizaxofusp has received FastTrack and Orphan Drug status from the FDA and EMA. The company's early-stage BiSKITs™ (Bifunctional SuperKine ImmunoTherapies) and T-MASK™ (Targeted Metalloprotease Activated SuperKine) programs aim to enhance Superkines' effectiveness against immunologically "cold" tumors.

KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.

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