Novastra Therapeutics to Present OAP-101 Phase 1 Data at ESMO 2026

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., October 13, 2026

Phase 1 Poster to Present Initial Clinical Findings

The OAP-101 presentation is scheduled as a poster in the Investigational Immunotherapy session on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. Central European Summer Time. The poster, titled “OAP-101 autologous whole-tumor antigen system-level immune reprogramming therapy in anti–PD-1–refractory advanced melanoma,” will be presented by Junling Guo, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Novastra Therapeutics. The presentation number is 2000P. The study investigates OAP-101 in patients with advanced metastatic melanoma who have experienced resistance to multiple lines of currently available treatments, including anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibition. The initial data are intended to provide an early clinical look at the platform in a challenging treatment setting. The full abstract is scheduled to become available at 12:05 a.m. CEST on October 19 through the ESMO Congress 2026 online programme and the Annals of Oncology Abstract Book supplement. Detailed interpretation of the candidate’s clinical activity and safety will depend on the data disclosed at the congress.

OmniAntigen Platform Targets Immune Recognition Challenges

Novastra’s OmniAntigen Platform is designed to coordinate tumor-antigen presentation with innate immune activation, with the aim of priming tumor-directed immune responses. Its XIRT approach is being developed to address a central challenge in immunotherapy: some solid tumors remain poorly recognized by the immune system and may therefore respond inadequately to existing treatments. The company describes its platform as supporting both autologous approaches, which use material associated with an individual patient’s tumor, and off-the-shelf in situ approaches. In the autologous setting, OAP is designed to preserve a broad repertoire of tumor-cell antigens and encapsulate them rapidly using a supramolecular nanocloak. This structure is intended to help present tumor antigens to the immune system while providing innate immune stimulation. The platform is also designed to activate the cGAS-STING pathway, which links innate immune sensing with adaptive immune responses. These mechanisms represent the company’s proposed approach to encouraging immune recognition of tumors that have resisted existing therapies; their clinical significance remains subject to ongoing investigation.

Potential Applications Across Resistant Solid Tumors

Beyond OAP-101, Novastra is developing its platform for potential use across a range of refractory solid tumors. For in situ applications, the company is designing a system in which the nanocloak self-assembles within a tumor and captures tumor-derived antigens released during treatment with antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The intended strategy is to combine antigen delivery with innate immune stimulation and potentially complement existing cancer treatments. Novastra envisions XIRT as an immune-amplification approach that could be investigated alongside these therapies, particularly where resistance limits treatment options. However, these applications remain under development, and the announcement does not establish that the platform overcomes checkpoint-inhibitor resistance or improves patient outcomes. OAP-101 is an investigational candidate supported by preclinical evidence and initial results from an investigator-initiated Phase 1 study. Further clinical data will be needed to characterize its safety, tolerability and potential efficacy. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with an operations hub in Shanghai, Novastra Therapeutics is advancing autologous and off-the-shelf in situ programs based on its proprietary OAP technology.

Source::Novastra Therapeutics press release