Pembrolizumab

TORONTO and HOUSTON, April 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. (“Medicenna” or the “Company”) (TSX: MDNA, OTCQX: MDNAF), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company focused on the development of Superkines targeting cancer and autoimmune diseases, today announced the appointment of Dr. Nageatte Ibrahim, MD, as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Ibrahim will serve in a fractional capacity, bringing extensive clinical development and oncology expertise to support the advancement of the Company’s pipeline. Dr. Ibrahim, former Chief Medical Officer of Oncology at Innovent Biologics USA, brings more than two decades of experience spanning oncology drug development, including over 12 years at Merck and GSK, and 9 years in academia where she held faculty and clinical appointments at Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Ibrahim to Medicenna at this pivotal stage of our clinical development,” said Dr. Fahar Merchant, President and Chief Executive Officer of Medicenna. “Her deep expertise in global oncology drug development, including leadership on multiple landmark immunotherapy programs, will be instrumental as we advance our IL-2 superagonist platform and expand our clinical pipeline with our first-in-class antiPD1-IL-2 bifunctional program. Trained as a physician and scientist, she played a pivotal role in the development of the world’s best selling oncology drug, pembrolizumab, an anti-PD1 immunotherapy that has changed the treatment landscape for many cancers. Nageatte is a natural fit for Medicenna’s superkine immunotherapy pipeline, especially development of anti-PD1 bispecifics and the cancer indications being pursued by Medicenna in the MDNA11 ABILITY-1 trial. We are honored to work with Nageatte who has helped bring anti-PD1 immunotherapy to patients around the world, changing the treatment paradigm for melanoma and other difficult-to-treat cancers.” “I am excited to partner with Medicenna and contribute to the advancement of its innovative cytokine-based immunotherapies,” said Dr. Ibrahim. “The Company’s IL-2 superagonist programs, MDNA11 and MDNA113, hold promise to improve outcomes for patients with various solid tumors with bizaxofusp (MDNA55) demonstrating compelling evidence of efficacy in patients with glioblastoma, one of the most challenging cancers with significant unmet needs. I look forward to working with the team to accelerate the clinical development of these therapies.” Dr. Ibrahim most recently served as Chief Medical Officer of Oncology at Innovent Biologics USA, where she established and led a global clinical development organization and played a key role in building the company’s U.S. presence. Prior to Innovent, she spent over a decade at Merck, where she advanced to Vice President of Global Clinical Development, Oncology. In that role, she led the strategic direction and execution of clinical programs for pembrolizumab across multiple tumor types and combination regimens. During her tenure at Merck, Dr. Ibrahim led pivotal global registration studies supporting approvals of pembrolizumab in frontline metastatic and resectable advanced melanoma, and contributed to numerous additional global approvals across indications including Merkel cell carcinoma, gastric cancer, biliary tract cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and pediatric neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1). Her work also supported tumor-agnostic approvals such as MSI-H/dMMR and TMB-H indications. Earlier in her career at GSK, she contributed to the development of the dabrafenib and trametinib combination therapy, which received global approvals in melanoma. Dr. Ibrahim is widely recognized for her leadership in building high-performing clinical teams and fostering collaborative, growth-oriented environments. She has also served as a Scientific Advisor to the Melanoma Research Alliance. In addition, she is the founder and CEO of Arc Nouvel Clinical Development Consulting, a firm focused on advancing innovative therapeutics through all stages of clinical development, and their team of experts were the pioneers in bringing pembrolizumab to patients across many indications in oncology. About Medicenna Therapeutics Medicenna is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company focused on developing novel, highly selective versions of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-13 Superkines and first-in-class Empowered Superkines. Medicenna’s long-acting IL-2 Superkine, MDNA11, is a next-generation IL-2 with superior affinity toward CD122 (IL-2 receptor beta) and no CD25 (IL-2 receptor alpha) binding, thereby preferentially stimulating cancer-killing effector T cells and NK cells. Medicenna’s first-in-class targeted and tumor anchored PD-1 x IL-2 bifunctional program, MDNA113, is in development for solid tumors and was designed using the Company’s proprietary BiSKITs™ (Bifunctional SuperKine ImmunoTherapies) and T-MASK™ (Targeted Metalloprotease Activated SuperKine) platforms. Medicenna’s IL-4 Empowered Superkine, bizaxofusp (formerly MDNA55), has been studied in 5 clinical trials enrolling over 130 patients, including a Phase 2b trial for recurrent GBM, the most common and uniformly fatal form of brain cancer. Bizaxofusp has obtained FastTrack and Orphan Drug status from the FDA and FDA/EMA, respectively. For more information, please visit , and follow us on X and LinkedIn . Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, express or implied statements regarding the future operations of the Company, estimates, plans, strategic ambitions, partnership activities and opportunities, objectives, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance, outlook or other statements that are not historical facts, such as statements on the therapeutic treatment potential and safety pro MDNA11 (both as monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab) and MDNA113, additional milestones, the timing and/or release of any additional clinical updates, cash runway and financing plans, the bizaxofusp potential and partnering efforts and discussions and strategic priorities. Drug development and commercialization involve a high degree of risk, and only a small number of research and development programs result in commercialization of a product. Results in early-stage pre-clinical or clinical studies may not be indicative of full results or results from later stage or larger scale clinical studies and do not ensure regulatory approval. You should not place undue reliance on these statements, or the scientific data presented. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as “will”, “may”, “should”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “believe”, “seek”, “potentially” and similar expressions. and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions believed by the Company to be reasonable at the date of this news release. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and may be based on assumptions that could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include the risks detailed in the latest annual information form of the Company and in other filings made by the Company with the applicable securities regulators from time to time in Canada. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated or implied in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and except as required by law, we do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements. This news release contains hyperlinks to information that is not deemed to be incorporated by reference in this new release. Investor and Company Contact: Shushu Feng Investor Relations, Medicenna Therapeutics (416) 964-5442 ir@medicenna.com

First patient dosed in France, expanding the DOMISOL study beyond Australia DT ‑ 7012 is being evaluated as monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab in a global clinical development program MONTREAL and STRASBOURG, France and BOSTON, April 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kainova Therapeutics (“the Company”), a key player for breakthrough treatments in immuno-oncology and inflammation, today announced dosing of the first patient in the European expansion of its DOMISOL Phase I/II clinical trial evaluating DT‑7012, a proprietary Treg‑depleting anti‑CCR8 monoclonal antibody, in patients with advanced solid tumors. This dosing follows the initiation of the DOMISOL Phase I/II study in Australia, announced in October 2025 , marking a significant milestone in the global clinical development of DT-7012, Kainova Therapeutics’ lead immuno-oncology program. The European expansion ( NCT06819735 ) includes leading oncology centers in France, led by renowned early-phase clinical investigators, including Dr Lauriane Eberst at Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Professor Antoine Italiano at Institut Gustave Roussy in Paris, and Dr Maxime Brunet at Institut Bergonié Bordeaux. Professor Antoine Italiano, MD PhD, Head of Precision Medicine at Institut Gustave Roussy and member of Kainova Therapeutics’ Scientific Advisory Board, said: “This study brings together strong clinical expertise and advanced translational capabilities, creating an important opportunity to explore how targeted Treg depletion may translate into meaningful benefit for patients with advanced solid tumors. DT‑7012 offers a novel, differentiated approach to precisely address CCR8 biology and reshape the tumor microenvironment.” Dr Jean ‑ Marie Cuillerot, Chief Medical Officer of Kainova Therapeutics, commented: “Dosing of the first patient in Europe marks an important step in the clinical maturation of our flagship program, DT‑7012. The DOMISOL study has been designed to generate a comprehensive clinical and biological pro DT‑7012 across both monotherapy and combination settings, including paired biopsies to directly assess the intra tumoral Treg depletion. These data will be essential to inform dose selection and support the next phases of development.” The Phase I/II multicenter, open‑label DOMISOL clinical study is evaluating DT‑7012 as monotherapy in a Phase I dose-escalation, in combination with the immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab in a Phase Ib dose-escalation in patients with advanced solid tumors, and in selected tumor types in a Phase II component focused on clinical efficacy. The primary objectives include determining the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) or maximum administered dose (MAD) of DT‑7012 as monotherapy and assessing the safety and tolerability of DT‑7012 in combination with pembrolizumab. The study also includes a translational research program with paired tumor biopsies to evaluate intratumoral Treg depletion induced by DT‑7012, providing a direct demonstration of DT-7012’s mechanism of action to turn the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment into an immunocompetent one. Sean A. MacDonald, Chief Executive Officer of Kainova Therapeutics, added: “As our flagship program, DT‑7012 is central to Kainova Therapeutics’ strategy and reflects our commitment to advancing breakthrough GPCR‑modulating therapies in immuno‑oncology and inflammation. With multiple high‑value milestones ahead, 2026 is a pivotal year for Kainova Therapeutics. We are excited to expand the DOMISOL trial into Europe and we look forward to sharing compelling data in the coming quarters.” For more information, please contact: Optimum Strategic Communications Zoe Bolt, Elena Bates, Nellie Stephens +44 (0) 203 882 9621 Kainova@optimumcomms.com For French media: communication@kainovatx.com About Kainova Therapeutics Kainova Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, headquartered in Montreal, Canada, driving a robust pipeline of breakthrough therapies that precisely modulate G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) with a focus on immuno-oncology and inflammation. Kainova Therapeutics’ key programs include a unique clinical-stage Treg-depleting anti-CCR8 antibody with differentiated competitive features and a first-in-modality pre-IND stage biased negative allosteric modulator of PAR2. By unlocking challenging and unexploited GPCR targets through its integrated discovery-to-clinic approach that integrates deep biological knowledge, Kainova Therapeutics delivers highly differentiated therapies grounded in rigorous science and designed to improve therapeutic efficacy. Recognized for a solid track record of collaborations with major pharma, physicians and KOLs worldwide, Kainova Therapeutics brings scientific excellence to the development of GPCR-modulating therapies. Operating in North America, France, and Australia, Kainova Therapeutics applies smart trial designs, capital efficiency, and operational rigor across its programs. As GPCRs gain renewed attention as next-generation drug targets, Kainova Therapeutics is uniquely positioned to lead this evolving field. For more information, please visit About DT-7012 DT-7012 is a clinical-stage, differentiated immunotherapy candidate designed to selectively deplete highly immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs) within the tumor microenvironment (TME) by targeting CCR8 through potent ADCC and ADCP mechanisms. CCR8 has emerged as a highly compelling target in immuno‑oncology due to its predominant expression on intratumoral Tregs, and DT-7012 is designed to exploit its biology with best-in-class properties, offering a potential new treatment option for patients unresponsive to existing immunotherapies. Distinct from other CCR8-targeting therapies in clinical development, DT-7012 binds a broader range of CCR8 receptor variants and maintains depletion efficiency even in CCL1-rich environments by preventing ligand-induced receptor internalization. This enables sustained Treg depletion in challenging TMEs and supports restoration of immune competence. DT-7012 is currently being evaluated in the global Phase I/II DOMISOL study in patients with advanced solid tumors.