Positive preclinical tasquinimod data in myelofibrosis published in Blood Advances

Nov 24, 2025 09:30 (CET)

Lund, November 24, 2025 – Active Biotech (NASDAQ STOCKHOLM: ACTI) today announced that preclinical data with tasquinimod, a small molecule immunomodulator, in myelofibrosis has been published in the American Society of Hematology’s scientific journal Blood Advances.

The article, titled Preclinical efficacy of tasquinimod -based combinations in advanced myeloproliferative neoplasms in blastic phase, has been published in Blood Advances with Warren Fiskus, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, as lead author.

The article is the result of a collaboration between Active Biotech and a research group at MD Anderson led by Kapil Bhalla, M.D., professor of Leukemia, and aims to support the clinical development of tasquinimod in myelofibrosis. The data presented show that tasquinimod reduces the expression of, among others, S100A9 in disease cells in cell models of advanced myelofibrosis and thereby increases the mortality of these disease cells but not in normal cells.

Data also show that treatment with tasquinimod reduces leukemia burden and improves survival in advanced myelofibrosis models. Combination therapy with tasquinimod and ruxolitinib or a BET inhibitor further improved survival in these models.

”These findings clearly highlight the potential of tasquinimod as monotherapy and in combination with other drugs in the treatment of advanced myelofibrosis,” said Marie Törngren, VP R&D Active Biotech.

Clinical phase I/II studies of tasquinimod as monotherapy and in combination with JAK2 inhibitor in patients with myelofibrosis are ongoing in US and Europe.

Link to the article: Preclinical efficacy of tasquinimod-based combinations in advanced myeloproliferative neoplasms in blastic phase | Blood Advances | American Society of Hematology

For further information, please contact:

Helén Tuvesson, CEO, +46 46 19 21 56, helen.tuvesson@activebiotech.com
Hans Kolam, CFO, +46 46 19 20 44, hans.kolam@activebiotech.com

About Active Biotech

Active Biotech AB (publ) (NASDAQ Stockholm: ACTI) is a biotechnology company that develops first-in-class immunomodulatory treatments for oncology and immunology indications with a high unmet medical need and significant commercial potential. Active Biotech currently holds three projects in its portfolio, of which tasquinimod and laquinimod are wholly owned small molecule immunomodulators with a mode of action that includes modulation of myeloid immune cell function. The projects are in clinical development for hematological malignancies and inflammatory eye disorders, respectively. The company’s core focus is on the development of tasquinimod in myelofibrosis, a rare blood cancer, where clinical proof-of-concept studies have been initiated. A clinical Phase Ib/IIa study in multiple myeloma has been concluded. Laquinimod is in clinical development for the treatment of non-infectious uveitis. A clinical phase I program with a topical ophthalmic formulation has been performed to support phase II development together with a partner. The third pipeline project is naptumomab, a targeted anti-cancer immunotherapy, partnered to NeoTX Therapeutics, which is in a phase Ib/II clinical program in patients with advanced solid tumors. Please visit www.activebiotech.com for more information.

About tasquinimod

Tasquinimod is an orally active small molecule immunomodulator with a novel mode of action, blocking tumor supporting pathways in the bone marrow microenvironment. Tasquinimod is being developed as a new immunomodulatory treatment for hematological malignances. Tasquinimod has previously been studied as an anti-cancer agent in patients with solid cancers, including a phase III randomized trial in patients with metastatic prostate cancer. The tolerability of tasquinimod is well-characterized based on these previous experiences. Tasquinimod has demonstrated a clear therapeutic potential in preclinical models of multiple myeloma, when used as a single agent and in combination with standard multiple myeloma therapy. A clinical Phase Ib/IIa study with tasquinimod in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma has been concluded. Tasquinimod ameliorates disease development in preclinical models for myelofibrosis. Clinical proof-of-concept studies have been initiated in Europe and in the US.

About myelofibrosis

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a rare blood cancer belonging to a group of disorders called myeloproliferative neoplasms. The underlying cause of MF is unknown. The estimated annual incidence of MF is approximately 1.5 cases per 100,000 people in EU, US, UK, and Japan. Patients with MF have an abnormal production of blood-forming cells leading to the replacement of healthy bone marrow with scar tissue (fibrosis). Due to the lack of normal blood cell production patients typically present with laboratory value abnormalities such as anemia and changes in white blood cell counts and blood cell-differentiation. Later symptoms include enlargement of the spleen, an increased risk for infections, night sweats and fever. MF is associated with shortened survival and causes of death include bone marrow failure and transformation into acute leukemia. MF can be treated with bone marrow transplantation for eligible individuals, erythropoietin to manage anemia and JAK inhibitors to reduce spleen size. At present there are no approved therapies that would reverse bone marrow fibrosis in MF.

Attachments

Positive preclinical tasquinimod data in myelofibrosis published in Blood Advances