Cetuximab

The findings, which led to a provisional patent filing, suggest Converge Bio improved cetuximab bindings to the receptor, achieving 2x higher affinity using a single AI prompt, strengthening its ability to block cancer-driving signals in colorectal, head, and neck cancers BOSTON and TEL AVIV, Israel, May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Converge Bio, the Generative AI Lab for the Life Sciences, shares findings from a new study showing that ConvergeAB™, their antibody design and optimization solution, was able to improve cetuximab, a widely used cancer therapy, generating a sequence that was later filed as a provisional patent. Originally conducted as an internal test of the platform's capabilities, the experiment was successfully completed in just eight hours without any task-specific training, manual tuning, or dedicated R&D campaign. The Converge-designed antibody showed binding to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) at double the strength of both cetuximab and the competitor's antibody, suggesting it could more effectively block cancer-driving signals. Cetuximab is commonly used to treat solid tumors such as colorectal, head, and neck cancer by targeting the extracellular domain of EGFR. By binding to the receptor with high specificity, cetuximab prevents receptor activation and downstream signaling, slowing the cancer cells growth. Its effectiveness depends on how well it binds, and stronger binding can lead to better patient outcomes. To do that, Converge applied ConvergeAB™ in a zero-shot setting, using nothing but cetuximab's antibody and the target receptor sequence as inputs. From a single prompt, the platform generated 100,000 antibody candidates and identified a design that consistently outperformed them in experimental validation, including SPR (surface plasmon resonance) and kinetic characterization for precise KD determination, achieving an average binding affinity 2.1x stronger than cetuximab and 4.4x stronger than a competing antibody source. Converge's sequence contained six edits from the original sequence, distributed across both framework and CDR regions, highlighting the platform's ability to make targeted, high-impact changes in both sections. The findings suggest that AI can play a critical role in improving existing therapies. In this case, AI-powered ConvergeAB produced an upgraded version of an established cancer therapy without a human in the loop, and only 10 top sequences had to be tested in the lab, offering a more efficient path to refining existing drug offerings, with less reliance on traditional trial-and-error methods. The work reflects Converge Bio's broader vision of building a "computational lab of the future," where AI can simulate, test, and refine ideas digitally before they reach the lab. This would significantly reduce the time, cost, and experimental burden traditionally associated with drug discovery. "This work began as an internal experiment to see how far our platform could go, and our results reinforce what is possible in therapeutic development through AI," says Dov Gertz, CEO and Co-Founder of Converge Bio. "What stands out is both the quality of the results and the pace at which we were able to reach them. In just eight hours, we moved from a single prompt to a set of candidates that demonstrated meaningful improvements, giving a solid example of how AI can compress what has traditionally been a long and intensive process into a far shorter timeframe." About Converge Bio Converge Bio develops AI platforms that help biotech and pharmaceutical companies accelerate drug discovery and development. Founded in 2024, Converge Bio's 40-person team has deep expertise in machine learning, computational biology, and drug development; more than half hold advanced degrees in related fields. CEO Dov Gertz developed a machine-learning method for discovering novel CRISPR systems, leading to a U.S.-licensed patent and a scientific publication in collaboration with Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna. CSO Iddo Weiner holds a PhD in Bioinformatics and Biomedical Engineering, and has led the development of two drug programs through positive Phase 2 clinical readouts. CTO Oded Kalev previously led cybersecurity AI teams and has advised on large-scale generative AI applications across a range of organizations. For additional information about Converge Bio, please visit: . Contact information: Lior Hedvat [email protected] +972-054-6669857 SOURCE Converge Bio 21% more press release views with Request a Demo

PARIS and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NANOBIOTIX (Euronext: NANO –– NASDAQ: NBTX – the ‘‘Company’’), a late-stage clinical biotechnology company pioneering physics-based approaches to expand treatment possibilities for patients with cancer and other major diseases, today announced FDA acceptance of a protocol amendment to the ongoing pivotal NANORAY-312 study. This protocol amendment, submitted by NANORAY-312 global sponsor Johnson & Johnson, eliminates the previously planned interim analysis and modifies the final analysis to include fewer events than originally planned and to be conducted sooner. In Nanobiotix’s view, this decision could accelerate and expand the global registration pathway for JNJ-1900 (NBTXR3) in head and neck cancer, providing the opportunity for earlier increased revenue generation for the Company. Nanobiotix anticipates that the modified final analysis should readout in the same timeframe as the previously planned interim analysis. Exact timing will depend on when clinical events occur. Per the license agreement, Nanobiotix is eligible to receive hundreds of millions in aggregate payments in the next few years, subject to the achievement of remaining development and regulatory milestone events related to the first two programs evaluating JNJ-1900 (NBTXR3) in head and neck cancer and lung cancer. About JNJ-1900 (NBTXR3) JNJ-1900 (NBTXR3) is a novel, potentially first-in-class oncology product composed of functionalized hafnium oxide nanoparticles that is administered via one-time intratumoral injection and activated by radiotherapy. Its proof-of-concept was achieved in soft tissue sarcomas through a successful randomized Phase 2/3 study in 2018. The product candidate’s mechanism of action (MoA) is designed to induce significant tumor cell death in the injected tumor when activated by radiotherapy, subsequently triggering adaptive immune response and long-term anti-cancer memory. Given the physical MoA, Nanobiotix believes that JNJ-1900 (NBTXR3) could be scalable across any solid tumor that can be treated with radiotherapy and across any therapeutic combination, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors. Radiotherapy-activated JNJ-1900 (NBTXR3) is being evaluated across multiple solid tumor indications as a single agent or combination therapy. The program is led by NANORAY-312—a global, randomized Phase 3 study in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancers. In February 2020, the United States Food and Drug Administration granted regulatory Fast Track designation for the investigation of JNJ-1900 (NBTXR3) activated by radiation therapy, with or without cetuximab, for the treatment of patients with locally advanced HNSCC who are not eligible for platinum-based chemotherapy—the same population being evaluated in the Phase 3 study. Given the Company’s focus areas, and balanced against the scalable potential of NBTXR3, Nanobiotix has engaged in a collaboration strategy to expand development of the product candidate in parallel with its priority development pathways. Pursuant to this strategy, in 2019 Nanobiotix entered into a broad, comprehensive clinical research collaboration with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to sponsor several Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies evaluating JNJ-1900 (NBTXR3) across tumor types and therapeutic combinations. In 2023, Nanobiotix announced a license agreement for the global co-development and commercialization of JNJ-1900 (NBTXR3) with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, a Johnson & Johnson company. About NANOBIOTIX Nanobiotix is a late-stage clinical biotechnology company pioneering disruptive, physics-based therapeutic approaches to revolutionize treatment outcomes for millions of patients; supported by people committed to making a difference for humanity. The Company’s philosophy is rooted in the concept of pushing past the boundaries of what is known to expand possibilities for human life. Incorporated in 2003, Nanobiotix is headquartered in Paris, France and is listed on Euronext Paris since 2012 and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market in New York City since December 2020. The Company has subsidiary in Cambridge, Massachusetts (United States). Nanobiotix is the owner of more than 25 umbrella patents associated with three (3) nanotechnology platforms with applications in 1) oncology; 2) bioavailability and biodistribution; and 3) disorders of the central nervous system. For more information about Nanobiotix, visit us at www.nanobiotix.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter Cautionary Statement This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the advancement, timing of clinical trial data including, if any, analysis readouts and submission of regulatory filings in respect of NANORAY-312 and lung cancer, and the financial outcomes of the Janssen license Agreement. Words such as “anticipates,” “expects”, “intends”, “can”, “could”, “may”, “might”, “plan”, “potential”, “should” and “will” or the negative of these and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements which are based on the Company’ management’s current expectations and assumptions and on information currently available to management. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements, including risks related to Nanobiotix’s business and financial performance, which include the risk that milestone payments potentially due to the Company in respect of clinical trials are not reached at all or are affected by further timing changes controlled by Johnson & Johnson , as the sponsor of such trials. Further information on the risk factors that may affect company business and financial performance is included in Nanobiotix’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 31, 2026 under “Item 3.D. Risk Factors”, in Nanobiotix’s 2025 universal registration document filed with the AMF on March 31, 2026 under “chapter 1.5 Risk Factors”, and subsequent filings Nanobiotix makes with the SEC and AMF from time to time, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on the AMF's website at www.amf.org, The forward-looking statements included in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and except as required by law, Nanobiotix assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly. Contacts Attachment 2026-05-04 -- NBTX -- Protocol Amendment for Ph3 NANORAY-312 Trial -- FINAL