Percheron Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:PER, OTC:PERCF) has received a $700,000 Research and Development Tax Incentive rebate for the 2026 financial year, providing additional funding for the clinical development of its lead oncology asset HMBD-002.
The rebate relates to eligible research and development expenditure undertaken in Australia and overseas, with the proceeds to be directed toward Percheron’s clinical development plans.
The funding comes as the company prepares to advance HMBD-002, also known as minperstobart, through a new investigator-sponsored study in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in collaboration with Vanderbilt Health in the US.
Vanderbilt trial targeted for fourth quarter
The multi-centre study will assess HMBD-002 in combination with standard-of-care therapies azacitidine and venetoclax in up to 38 patients with recurrent or newly diagnosed high-risk AML/MDS.
Start-up activities are expected to begin shortly, with patient recruitment targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026.
Vanderbilt Health will lead the trial design and execution and take primary responsibility for interactions with the US Food and Drug Administration. Percheron will provide funding, study drug and technical assistance while retaining full access to the resulting data.
HMBD-002 is a monoclonal antibody targeting the immune checkpoint VISTA, which Percheron noted is highly expressed in AML and associated with disease recurrence and treatment resistance.
Final results from a 48-patient Phase 1 study presented in April 2026 showed HMBD-002 was generally safe and well tolerated, alongside signals of potential clinical efficacy.
Percheron is also assessing further opportunities to study HMBD-002 in combination with established therapies across additional cancer indications.