Second cohort findings consistent with previously reported observations; independent statistical analysis planned following completion of all three patient cohorts
SAN DIEGO, July 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Aethlon Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: AEMD), a medical therapeutic company developing products to treat cancer and life-threatening viral infections, today announced that patients in the second cohort of its Australian oncology feasibility study demonstrated biological changes consistent with those previously observed in the first cohort following treatment with the investigational Hemopurifier®. Replicating these findings in a second group of patients strengthens the scientific rationale for the Company's ongoing clinical program and supports continued enrollment in the third and final cohort before an independent statistical analysis is conducted.
"We are encouraged to observe similar directional changes across multiple biomarkers in both the first and second patient cohorts," said James Frakes, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Aethlon Medical. " Observing these directional changes in a second patient cohort builds upon our initial observations and provides additional data as we advance toward completion of the third cohort. While these are preliminary findings from an early feasibility study, they represent an important milestone as we advance toward completion of the third cohort and an independent statistical analysis to determine whether these observations represent a dose-response to Hemopurifier treatment."
The Australian feasibility study is evaluating the safety, feasibility and dosing of the Hemopurifier® in patients with advanced solid tumors whose cancers have progressed despite treatment with anti-PD-1 immunotherapies.
The second cohort continued to show directional changes in several biomarkers that researchers believe are associated with tumor growth, immune suppression and response to immunotherapy, including:
Reductions in tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), platelet-derived EVs and PD-L1-positive EVs, with these changes appearing more consistently across all participants than in the first cohort and generally persisting through the eight-week follow-up period.
Reductions in two microRNAs that have been associated with tumor growth and cancer invasion.
Improvements in multiple immune-related laboratory ratios—including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII), monocyte-to-albumin ratio (MAR) and Lymphocyte Albumin Index (LAI)—that have been associated in published research with improved responses to immunotherapy.
Increases in total T cells, CD4 and CD8 T-cell populations, and tumor-specific CD137-positive T cells in all three participants, with these changes generally persisting through the eight-week follow-up period.