The Phase 1/2 ABILITY-1 Clinical Trial is evaluating MDNA11 in expansion cohorts comprised of patients with advanced and metastatic gastrointestinal, endometrial, and melanoma cancers

Selected as one of the Top 150 Abstracts at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 2026 Annual Meeting

TORONTO and HOUSTON, Oct. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. ("Medicenna" or the "Company") (TSX: MDNA, OTCQX: MDNAF), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing Superkines for targeting cancer and autoimmune disease, today announced that an abstract reporting topline data from the Phase 1/2 study of MDNA11 has been selected for oral presentation at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 2026 Annual Meeting.

Details of the oral presentation are as follows:
Abstract Number: 517
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Presentation Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
Presentation Time: 4:30-4:45 p.m. MST
Session: Oral Session 3, 3:30-4:50 p.m. MST
Location: Phoenix Convention Center, Room 301D, Phoenix, Arizona

Title:“MDNA11 Demonstrates Clinical Activity as Monotherapy and in Combination with Pembrolizumab in Biomarker-Enriched Gastrointestinal Malignancies, Including ICI-Refractory Disease.”

About Medicenna Therapeutics
Medicenna is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing engineered cytokine therapies designed to selectively engage the immune system to treat cancer. The Company’s most advanced program, bizaxofusp (formerly MDNA55), is a targeted IL-4 Empowered Superkine that has been evaluated in more than 130 patients across five clinical trials, including a Phase 2b study in recurrent glioblastoma. Bizaxofusp has received Fast Track designation from the FDA and Orphan Drug designation in the United States and Europe. Medicenna is also advancing MDNA11, a long-acting IL-2 Superkine designed to selectively activate cancer-fighting immune cells, which is currently being evaluated in the Phase 1/2 ABILITY-1 study and the Phase 1b NEO-CYT study. The Company is also developing MDNA113, a targeted PD-1 x IL-2 bifunctional immunotherapy for solid tumors, and MDNA209, an antagonist of CD122 blocking IL-2/IL-15 signaling, using its proprietary BiSKIT and T-MASK platforms.

For more information, please visit www.medicenna.com, and follow us on X and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, express or implied statements regarding the future operations of the Company, estimates, plans, strategic ambitions, partnership activities and opportunities, objectives, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance, outlook or other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as “will”, “may”, “should”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “believe”, “seek”, “potentially” and similar expressions. and are subject to risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include the risks detailed in the latest annual information form of the Company and in other filings made by the Company with the applicable securities regulators from time to time in Canada.

The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and except as required by law, we do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements.

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Investor and Company Contact
Daniel Scarr
Director, Corporate Development
Medicenna Therapeutics
ir@medicenna.com