Aptose Biosciences and Hanmi Pharmaceutical to Further Extend Loan Agreement to Continue Development of Tuspetinib in Frontline Triplet Therapy for AMLSAN DIEGO and TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aptose Biosciences Inc. (“Aptose” or the “Company”) (TSX: APS; OTC: APTOF) announced today that it has entered into an amended and restated arrangement agreement dated February 23, 2026 (the “Amended and Restated Arrangement Agreement”) amending and restating the arrangement agreement dated November 18, ...

Core Viewpoint - Aptose Biosciences Inc. has announced the rescheduling of its special meeting of shareholders originally set for January 16, 2026, to a later date, pending final clearance of the proxy statement from the SEC [1][2]. Group 1: Meeting Rescheduling - The special meeting will be held as soon as practicable in January 2026, with no changes to the record date of December 12, 2025, or the matters to be discussed, including the continuance under the ABCA and the acquisition by HS North America Ltd. [1][2] - The new date, time, and virtual details for the meeting will be announced after receiving SEC clearance [2]. Group 2: Transaction Details - The meeting will address the continuance of Aptose from the Canada Business Corporations Act to the ABCA and the acquisition by Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. through a statutory plan of arrangement [1][3]. - The board of directors recommends that shareholders vote in favor of the special resolutions for the continuance and the arrangement [3]. Group 3: Company Overview - Aptose Biosciences Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing precision medicines for oncology, particularly in hematology [4]. - The company's lead compound, tuspetinib (TUS), is an oral kinase inhibitor showing efficacy in treating relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is being developed for frontline therapy in newly diagnosed AML [4].

Core Insights - Aptose Biosciences Inc. presented clinical data for its lead compound tuspetinib (TUS) in combination with venetoclax (VEN) and azacitidine (AZA) at the 67th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, highlighting promising safety and antileukemic activity in treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML) [1][2][3] Group 1: Clinical Data and Efficacy - The TUSCANY trial showed a 100% clinical response rate (CR/CRh) at the higher doses of 80 mg and 120 mg TUS [5][6] - High-quality clinical responses were observed across various genetic subgroups, including FLT3 wildtype and those with adverse mutations such as TP53 and RAS [6][7] - Minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity was achieved in 78% of responding subjects, indicating effective treatment outcomes [6][7] Group 2: Safety and Tolerability - TUS+VEN+AZA therapy demonstrated a favorable safety profile with no dose-limiting toxicities reported across all evaluated TUS dose levels [6][7] - No drug-related deaths or significant adverse events such as differentiation syndrome or QTc prolongation were reported [6][7] - The therapy was well tolerated, with 8 out of 10 evaluable subjects achieving red cell and platelet transfusion independence for over 8 weeks after their best response [6][7] Group 3: Future Directions - The company has commenced treating patients at the highest dose level of 160 mg TUS, with early responses already observed [3][6] - The ongoing TUSCANY Phase 1/2 study aims to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of TUS in combination with standard therapies for newly diagnosed AML patients ineligible for induction chemotherapy [7][8]

Core Viewpoint - Aptose Biosciences Inc. presented promising clinical data for its lead compound tuspetinib (TUS) in combination with venetoclax (VEN) and azacitidine (AZA) at the 67th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, indicating its potential as a treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) [1][2][3] Group 1: Clinical Data and Efficacy - The TUSCANY trial showed a 100% clinical response rate (CR/CRh) at the higher doses of 80 mg and 120 mg of TUS [5][6] - The triplet therapy demonstrated high rates of efficacy and minimal residual disease (MRD)-negative remissions across diverse AML mutations, including FLT3 wildtype and adverse genetic subgroups [5][6] - Preliminary findings at the 160 mg dose level indicate early responses and blast clearance in patients [6][7] Group 2: Safety Profile - TUS-based therapies exhibited notable safety, with no dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) reported across all evaluable TUS dose levels [6][7] - No drug-related deaths, differentiation syndrome, QTc prolongation, or CPK elevation were observed, and febrile neutropenia was reported in only 16.7% of subjects [6][7] - 8 out of 10 evaluable subjects achieved red cell and platelet transfusion independence for over 8 weeks after their best response [6][7] Group 3: Mechanism and Development - Tuspetinib is an oral agent that targets multiple kinases associated with AML, including SYK, FLT3, and JAK1/2, while minimizing typical toxicity concerns [7][8] - The ongoing TUSCANY Phase 1/2 study aims to evaluate various doses and schedules of TUS in combination with standard therapies for newly diagnosed AML patients ineligible for induction chemotherapy [7][8]

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 1, 2025) - The following is a list of Upcoming Meeting Dates for Reporting Issuers in Canada. The data is supplied by Issuing Companies through the service of CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc.Company NameRecord DateMeeting DateType ANGKOR RESOURCES CORP December 19, 2025January 29, 2025AS  Aether Global Innovations CorpDecember 18, 2025February 5, 2025A  Agility Capital Holding Inc. December 15, 2025January 23, 2025AGS AnalytixInsight Inc. December 22, 2 ...

Core Viewpoint - Aptose Biosciences Inc. has entered into a definitive arrangement agreement with Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. for a "go private" transaction, where minority shareholders will receive C$2.41 in cash per share, representing a 28% premium over the 30-day volume-weighted average price (VWAP) of C$1.88 [1][2] Company Overview - Aptose is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing precision medicines for oncology, particularly in hematology, with its lead compound being tuspetinib (TUS) [19] - The company has been supported by Hanmi, which owns 19.93% of Aptose's outstanding shares and has provided over US$30 million in debt facilities for the development of TUS [2][19] Transaction Details - Under the arrangement agreement, Hanmi Purchaser will acquire all common shares not owned by Hanmi or its affiliates through a plan of arrangement [4] - Each common share will be exchanged for C$2.41 in cash, and options, restricted share units, and warrants will also be converted into cash based on the same valuation [5][6] - The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including court approval and shareholder approval [8][9] Shareholder Approval - The transaction requires approval from at least two-thirds of the votes cast by Aptose shareholders at a special meeting, which must occur by January 16, 2026 [9] - Voting support agreements have been established with Aptose's directors and officers to vote in favor of the transaction [10] Financial Valuation - Locust Walk Securities, LLC provided a formal valuation indicating that the fair market value of Aptose's common shares ranges from C$1.00 to C$5.23, affirming that the cash consideration is fair from a financial perspective [12][15] Strategic Implications - The transaction allows Aptose to continue developing TUS in combination with other treatments for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with promising early clinical data reported [3][17] - This marks Hanmi's entry into the North American market, establishing a strategic foothold for future partnerships and clinical expansion [3][18]

Core Insights - Aptose Biosciences Inc. reported promising clinical results for its tuspetinib-based triple drug therapy for newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML), demonstrating a complete response (CR) rate of 100% at higher dose levels [2][3] - The company announced a net loss of $5.1 million for Q3 2025, a decrease from $7.0 million in Q3 2024, indicating improved financial performance [8][12] - The ongoing TUSCANY trial data presented at the European School of Haematology highlighted the safety and efficacy of tuspetinib in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine [3][5] Clinical Development - Tuspetinib in combination with VEN+AZA has shown high activity and tolerability, with 100% CR/CRh responses in patients at 80 mg and 120 mg dose levels, exceeding the expected 66% response rate from VEN+AZA alone [2][3] - The TUSCANY trial data supports the use of tuspetinib across various AML populations, including those with adverse mutations [3][5] - The company is now dosing patients at the 160 mg level of tuspetinib and anticipates further updates at the upcoming ASH meeting [2][3] Financial Performance - For the three months ended September 30, 2025, total operating expenses were $4.9 million, down from $7.0 million in the same period in 2024 [8][12] - Research and development expenses decreased to $2.2 million for Q3 2025 from $4.7 million in Q3 2024, primarily due to reduced activity in the APTIVATE clinical trial [12][15] - The net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was $17.7 million, a decrease from $23.8 million in the same period in 2024 [8][12] Corporate Updates - The company’s abstract on the TUSCANY study has been accepted for poster presentation at the 67th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting scheduled for December 6-9, 2025 [3][4] - As of September 30, 2025, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $1.6 million, indicating a need for financing to support ongoing operations [10][14] - The company has discontinued further development of APTO-253, focusing resources on tuspetinib and luxeptinib [15][18]

Core Insights - Aptose Biosciences Inc. is developing a triple drug frontline therapy using tuspetinib (TUS) for newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients [1][4] - The TUSCANY study's abstract has been selected for poster presentation at the 67th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting scheduled for December 6-9, 2025 [1][2] Presentation Details - The poster presentation will focus on the safety and efficacy of tuspetinib combined with standard care venetoclax and azacitidine for AML patients ineligible for induction chemotherapy [2] - The session will take place on December 6, 2025, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the OCCC - West Halls B3-B4 [2] Company Overview - Aptose is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on precision medicines for oncology, particularly in hematology [4] - Tuspetinib has shown activity as both a monotherapy and in combination therapy for relapsed or refractory AML and is being developed as a frontline triplet therapy for newly diagnosed AML [4]

Core Insights - Aptose Biosciences is presenting promising data from the TUSCANY trial, which evaluates the safety and efficacy of the tuspetinib-based triplet therapy (TUS+VEN+AZA) for newly diagnosed AML patients ineligible for induction chemotherapy [1][2][3] Group 1: Clinical Trial Data - The TUSCANY trial has shown that the addition of tuspetinib to the standard treatment of venetoclax and azacitidine has resulted in complete remission (CR) or complete remission with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRh) in 100% of patients treated at higher doses of 80 mg and 120 mg [5][6] - Overall, 90% of patients in the trial have achieved CR/CRh responses, with 88% of FLT3 wildtype AML patients responding positively [6][8] - The therapy has demonstrated activity across diverse genetic subtypes, including those with unmutated FLT3, FLT3-ITD, NPM1c, biallelic TP53, RAS, and myelodysplasia-related mutations [3][14] Group 2: Safety Profile - The TUS+VEN+AZA combination has been well tolerated, with no significant safety concerns or dose-limiting toxicities reported, including no prolonged myelosuppression, differentiation syndrome, QTc prolongation, or treatment-related deaths [2][6] - Dosing has commenced at the 160 mg level, indicating ongoing escalation in the trial [5][14] Group 3: Trial Design and Objectives - The TUSCANY trial is a Phase 1/2 study being conducted at 10 leading U.S. clinical sites, aiming to establish a safe and effective frontline therapy for a broad range of newly diagnosed AML patients [9][11] - The trial is designed to test various doses and schedules of tuspetinib in combination with standard dosing of azacitidine and venetoclax, with an anticipated enrollment of 18-24 patients by the end of 2025 [9][10]

Core Insights - The TUSCANY trial is evaluating the safety and efficacy of a triplet therapy combining tuspetinib (TUS) with venetoclax (VEN) and azacitidine (AZA) for newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients who are ineligible for induction chemotherapy [1][8] - Initial results from 10 patients show promising clinical safety and antileukemic activity, with a high rate of complete remissions (CR) and minimal safety concerns [2][3] Summary by Sections Trial Overview - The TUSCANY Phase 1/2 trial is designed to test various doses of TUS in combination with standard dosing of AZA and VEN for AML patients [9] - The trial is being conducted at 10 leading U.S. clinical sites, with an expected enrollment of 18-24 patients by the end of 2025 [9] Safety and Efficacy - No significant safety concerns or dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) have been observed in the TUSCANY trial, including no prolonged myelosuppression or treatment-related deaths [2][6] - The addition of TUS to VEN+AZA achieved CR/CRh responses in 100% of patients treated at higher dose levels of 80 mg and 120 mg, exceeding the expected 66% response rate from VEN+AZA alone [5][6] Patient Responses - Out of 10 patients, 9 achieved complete remissions, with 7 demonstrating minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity [3][14] - The therapy has shown effectiveness across diverse genetic subtypes, including those with unmutated FLT3, FLT3-ITD, and TP53 mutations [3][14] Current Developments - Dosing has progressed to the 160 mg TUS level, with ongoing assessments of safety and efficacy [2][5][14] - The triplet therapy is being developed as a mutation-agnostic frontline treatment for AML, targeting a broad range of patient populations [2][8]