Oncotelic (OTLC) highlights Sapu Nano Deciparticle platform, Phase 1 cancer trials
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Oncotelic Therapeutics, Inc. reported that its minority-owned company Sapu Nano will introduce its Deciparticle™ nanomedicine platform and present its clinical pipeline at BIO-Europe Spring 2026 on March 25, 2026. Sapu Nano has been selected as a Presenting Company at the conference.
The session will feature Deciparticle, a sub-20 nm drug delivery platform designed to optimize tissue distribution, improve pharmacokinetics, and reduce formulation-related toxicities for hydrophobic oncology drugs. Two lead candidates include an intravenous everolimus formulation in Phase 1 clinical trials and an advanced docetaxel formulation entering Phase 1.
The disclosure also reiterates Oncotelic’s broader oncology strategy, including rare pediatric cancer designations through its 45% joint venture GMP Bio and programs such as OT-101, CA4P, OXi 4503, and AL-101 for neurological and sexual health indications, while emphasizing extensive forward-looking statement cautions.
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Insights
Oncotelic highlights Sapu Nano’s Deciparticle platform entering early clinical stages.
Oncotelic uses this update to spotlight Sapu Nano’s Deciparticle™ nanomedicine platform and its selection as a Presenting Company at BIO-Europe Spring 2026 on March 25, 2026. The platform targets improved delivery of highly hydrophobic oncology agents via sub-20 nm particles.
Two assets anchor the story: an intravenous everolimus formulation already in Phase 1 clinical trials and a Deciparticle-based docetaxel formulation entering Phase 1. Both remain early-stage, so clinical risk is high and timelines are long, with no efficacy or safety data disclosed here.
The company also reminds readers of its broader oncology and neurology pipeline, rare pediatric designations and AI capabilities. Overall, this is a strategic and scientific positioning update rather than a financial event; its ultimate importance depends on future clinical results and partnering progress that are not detailed in this communication.
8-K Event Classification
Key Figures
Key Terms
Deciparticle™ technical
nanomedicine technical
therapeutic index medical
Phase 1 clinical trials medical
rare pediatric designation regulatory
forward-looking statements regulatory
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Current Report
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Item 8.01 Other Events.
On March 24, 2026, Oncotelic Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) announced that Sapu Nano, in which the Company has a minority interest, will introduce its Deciparticle™ nanomedicine platform and its advancing clinical pipeline (“Press Release”) at the Bio-Europe Spring 2026 on March 25, 2026. A copy of the Press Release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Disclaimer.
The information in Section 8.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including the information set forth in 99.1, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), nor be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
| Exhibit No. | Description | |
| 99.1 | Press Release | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Oncotelic Therapeutics, Inc. | ||
| Date: March 30, 2026 | By: | /s/ Vuong Trieu |
| Vuong Trieu, Ph. D., CEO | ||
Exhibit 99.1
Sapu Nano to Launch Deciparticle™ Platform and Present Clinical Pipeline at BIO-Europe Spring 2026
AGOURA HILLS, Calif., March 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oncotelic Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB:OTLC) (“Oncotelic”, the “Company” or “We” or “Our”), a leader in RNA-based therapeutics, announced today that its subsidiary Sapu Nano will formally introduce its Deciparticle™ nanomedicine platform and present its advancing clinical pipeline at BIO-Europe Spring 2026, where the company has been selected as a Presenting Company.
The presentation will take place at:
| ● | Event: BIO-Europe Spring 2026 | |
| ● | Session: Presenting Company | |
| ● | Location: Theater A | |
| ● | Date: March 25, 2026 |
During the session, Sapu Nano will unveil its proprietary Deciparticle™ platform, a next-generation drug delivery technology engineered to optimize tissue distribution, enhance therapeutic index, and enable intravenous delivery of highly hydrophobic oncology agents.
The company will highlight two lead clinical candidates:
| ● | Sapu003 (Everolimus for Injection) |
| ○ | Intravenous formulation of everolimus | |
| ○ | Designed to overcome limitations of oral exposure and tissue variability | |
| ○ | Currently in Phase 1 clinical trials |
| ● | Sapu006 (Docetaxel for Injection) |
| ○ | Advanced formulation of docetaxel leveraging Deciparticle™ technology | |
| ○ | Aimed at improving safety and efficacy versus conventional docetaxel formulations | |
| ○ | Entering Phase 1 clinical trials |
“Our Deciparticle™ platform represents a major step forward in controlling drug distribution at the tissue level,” said Dr. Vuong Trieu, Chief Executive Officer of Sapu Nano. “With Sapu003 and Sapu006 entering Phase 1, we are translating this platform into clinical-stage assets with the potential to significantly improve outcomes in oncology.”
The presentation will emphasize:
| ● | Platform-level advantages of Deciparticle™ in sub-20 nm nanomedicine design | |
| ● | Improved pharmacokinetics and tissue targeting capabilities | |
| ● | Reduction of formulation-related toxicities associated with conventional excipients | |
| ● | Broad applicability across multiple hydrophobic drug classes |
BIO-Europe Spring is one of the premier global partnering conferences for the life sciences industry, bringing together biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and investment leaders to foster strategic collaborations and advance innovative therapeutics.
Sapu Nano is actively seeking strategic partnerships, co-development opportunities, and regional collaborations to accelerate the clinical development and commercialization of its Deciparticle™ pipeline.
About Sapu Nano
Sapu Nano is a biotechnology company developing next-generation nanomedicine platforms to improve drug delivery, enhance therapeutic index, and unlock new clinical potential for established and novel therapeutics, with a primary focus in oncology.
About Oncotelic
Oncotelic (f/k/a Mateon Therapeutics, Inc.), was formed in the State of New York in 1988 as OXiGENE, Inc., was reincorporated in the State of Delaware in 1992, and changed its name to Mateon Therapeutics, Inc. in 2016, and Oncotelic Therapeutics, Inc. in November 2020. Oncotelic is seeking to leverage its deep expertise in oncology drug development to improve treatment outcomes and survival of cancer patients with a special emphasis on rare pediatric cancers. Oncotelic has rare pediatric designation for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (“DIPG”) through OT-101 through its 45% joint venture, GMP Bio, melanoma (through CA4P) and its wholly owned subsidiary Sapu, and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (“AML” through OXi 4503). Oncotelic also acquired PointR Data Inc. in November 2019 to build an AI driven biotechnology company. Further, Oncotelic acquired AL-101, during the 4th quarter of 2021, for the intranasal delivery of apomorphine. We intend to develop AL-101 for the treatment of Parkinson Disease, erectile dysfunction, female sexual disorder and hypoactive sexual desire disorder. All these ailments have a very large population suffering from them and there is a need for treatments for each. For more information on AL-101, refer to our 2024 Annual Report on form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 15, 2025.
Oncotelic’s Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this communication regarding strategy, future operations, future financial position, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. Words such as “may”, “expect”, “anticipate” “hope”, “vision”, “optimism”, “design”, “exciting”, “promising”, “will”, “conviction”, “estimate,” “intend,” “believe”, “quest for a cure of cancer”, “innovation-driven”, “paradigm-shift”, “high scientific merit”, “impact potential” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements about future plans related to the operations of the JV, taking the JV into an initial public offering or the success thereof, the progress, timing of clinical development, scope and success of future clinical trials, the reporting of clinical data for the company’s product candidates and the potential use of the company’s product candidates to treat various cancer indications as well as obtaining required regulatory approval to conduct clinical trials and upon granting of approval by the regulatory agencies, the successful marketing of the products; building and the success of our nanoparticle platform and the related success of launching the platform, the success of the launch of a company with a DAO infrastructure, the success of the entity and the plans surrounding the pet and animal health, the ability for the Company to register the tokens of Pet2DAO, the actual filing of a registration statement and approval of the PDAO, or any other tokens that we may launch, as registrable securities with the SEC through a registration statement, the ability of the tokens to be tradable or any value such tokens may have if they become tradable.. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements or may not occur at all. Many factors may cause differences between current expectations and actual results, including unexpected safety or efficacy data observed during preclinical or clinical studies, clinical trial site activation or enrollment rates that are lower than expected, changes in expected or existing competition, changes in the regulatory environment, failure of collaborators to support or advance collaborations or product candidates and unexpected litigation or other disputes, taking the Company or its affiliates through initial public offerings. These risks are not exhaustive, the Company faces known and unknown risks, including the risk factors described in the Company’s 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 15, 2025 and in the company’s other periodic filings. Forward-looking statements are based on expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in expectations, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Contact Information:
For Oncotelic Therapeutics, Inc.:
Investor Relations
ir@oncotelic.com
