Fennec Pharmaceuticals Announces Clinical Research Collaboration with Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute

Rhea-AI Summary

Fennec Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:FENC) announced a clinical research collaboration with Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute to evaluate real-world use of sodium thiosulfate injection (PEDMARK®) for reducing cisplatin-related ototoxicity in adolescent, young adult (AYA) and adult patients with non-metastatic solid tumors.

The study will analyze clinical and audiology monitoring data; PEDMARK is approved for pediatric patients aged one month and older and has a NCCN 2A recommendation for AYA patients.

Positive

• Tampa General Hospital launching a real-world PEDMARK study
• Study includes audiology monitoring to assess ototoxicity outcomes
• PEDMARK approved for pediatric patients one month and older
• NCCN gives PEDMARK a 2A recommendation for AYA patients

Negative

• None.

Key Figures

Pediatric indication age: one month of age and older NCCN recommendation: 2A recommendation

2 metrics

Pediatric indication age one month of age and older Current U.S. approval for PEDMARK® in pediatric localized non-metastatic solid tumors

NCCN recommendation 2A recommendation National Comprehensive Cancer Network rating for AYA use of PEDMARK®

Market Reality Check

Price: $8.00 Vol: Volume 101,088 is below t...

normal vol

$8.00 Last Close

Volume Volume 101,088 is below the 20-day average of 118,788, indicating muted trading interest ahead of this news. normal

Technical Shares at $8.00 are trading below the 200-day MA of $8.27, reflecting a slightly weaker intermediate trend pre-announcement.

Peers on Argus

Biotech peers showed mixed but generally soft momentum, with Argus-tracked names...

1 Up 2 Down

Biotech peers showed mixed but generally soft momentum, with Argus-tracked names showing a median move of -1.1%. Two peers in the momentum set moved down while one moved up, indicating broader sector pressures rather than a purely stock-specific move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Feb 20 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Feb 20	Real-world PEDMARK data	Positive	-0.5%	Multi-institutional real-world data in adults with head and neck cancers.
Dec 26	Holder share disposal	Negative	-4.9%	Southpoint sold 1,000,000 shares, cutting its stake to about 8%.
Dec 09	New investigator trial	Positive	+1.3%	City of Hope launched Phase I trial of PEDMARK in metastatic testicular cancer.
Dec 02	Positive Japan trial data	Positive	-1.6%	Positive Phase 2/3 topline results for PEDMARK in Japan pediatric/AYA patients.
Nov 26	Conference participation	Neutral	-0.8%	Planned fireside chat at Piper Sandler healthcare conference.

Pattern Detected

Recent PEDMARK®-related updates, including positive data, have not consistently translated into positive next-day price moves, with several constructive announcements followed by modest declines.

Recent Company History

Over the past several months, Fennec has repeatedly highlighted PEDMARK® progress. On Nov 26, 2025, it flagged a healthcare conference appearance. Positive Japanese Phase 2/3 topline data were released on Dec 2, 2025, followed by an investigator-sponsored metastatic testicular cancer trial on Dec 9, 2025. Subsequent real-world adult head and neck cancer data arrived on Feb 20, 2026. Today’s collaboration adds another real-world usage stream to this sequence.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement extends PEDMARK®’s real-world evaluation into AYA and adult patients via a collabo...

Analysis

This announcement extends PEDMARK®’s real-world evaluation into AYA and adult patients via a collaboration with the Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute. It builds on earlier investigator-sponsored trials and real-world data, such as the Feb 20, 2026 adult head and neck cancer review. Investors may track upcoming data from this initiative, changes in guideline positioning like the NCCN 2A recommendation, and additional institutional adopters as future markers of clinical and commercial traction.

Key Terms

ototoxicity, real-world evidence, audiology, National Comprehensive Cancer Network

4 terms

ototoxicity medical

"in reducing the risk of ototoxicity in Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) and adult cancer patients"

Ototoxicity is damage to the inner ear caused by certain drugs or chemicals that can impair hearing and balance, ranging from temporary ringing to permanent hearing loss. Investors should care because ototoxic effects can limit a medical product’s marketability, trigger stricter safety testing, slow approvals, increase legal and treatment costs, and hurt sales—similar to a car defect that makes a model unsafe and forces recalls or redesigns.

real-world evidence technical

"“Real-world evidence plays a critical role in demonstrating the clinical utility of PEDMARK®"

Real-world evidence is information gathered from everyday sources like patient records, insurance claims, or everyday experiences, rather than controlled experiments or clinical trials. It helps investors understand how products or policies perform in real life, providing a more complete picture of their effectiveness and value beyond official tests. This type of evidence can influence decision-making by offering insights based on actual, everyday outcomes.

audiology medical

"This evaluation will examine real-world clinical data and audiology monitoring that will help"

Audiology is the medical field that diagnoses and treats hearing and balance problems, including hearing tests, fitting hearing devices, and managing related therapies. Investors care because audiology drives demand for medical devices, clinic services and related technology—think of it as routine maintenance and upgrades for people’s hearing—and is influenced by demographics, regulation, and insurance coverage, all of which affect revenue and growth potential.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network regulatory

"also recognized by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network with a 2A recommendation"

A coalition of major cancer centers and experts that develops widely used, evidence-based treatment guidelines for oncology care. Its recommendations act like a trusted rulebook or roadmap for doctors, insurers and hospitals, so updates can change which therapies get prescribed, reimbursed or adopted—making it an important influence on drug uptake, clinical trial value and healthcare company prospects.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Study is Real-World Evaluation of the Clinical Utility of Sodium Thiosulfate Injection (PEDMARK®) in Reducing the Risk of Ototoxicity in Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) and Adult Patients with Non-Metastatic Solid Tumors Receiving Cisplatin Chemotherapy

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., March 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:FENC; TSX: FRX), a specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that the Tampa General Hospital (TGH) Cancer Institute is initiating a study evaluating the real-world clinical utility of sodium thiosulfate injection (PEDMARK^®) in reducing the risk of ototoxicity in Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) and adult cancer patients receiving cisplatin-based treatment.

“The TGH Cancer Institute, in collaboration with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, is committed to better understanding and advancing otoprotective strategies aimed at preserving auditory function in patients receiving cisplatin chemotherapy,” said Gene A. Wetzstein, PharmD, BCOP, Director of Supportive Care Research & Scientific Affairs at the TGH Cancer Institute and principal investigator of the initiative. “This evaluation will examine real-world clinical data and audiology monitoring that will help inform future clinical research and quality efforts in assessing, preventing and managing ototoxicity.”

PEDMARK^® is currently approved for pediatric patients one month of age and older with localized non-metastatic solid tumors and is also recognized by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network with a 2A recommendation for use in AYA patients.

“Real-world evidence plays a critical role in demonstrating the clinical utility of PEDMARK^® across diverse patient populations and tumor types,” said Pierre S. Sayad, PhD, M.S., chief medical officer of Fennec Pharmaceuticals. “As more institutions generate data on its use outside of controlled trials, clinicians will gain a clearer picture of the important role of PEDMARK^® in providing hearing loss protection for patients receiving cisplatin.”

The following sections provide general background information and labeling approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for PEDMARK^® and are not intended to solicit participation in any research activity.

About Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity
Cisplatin and other platinum-based chemotherapies are widely used to treat solid tumors and have been vital in improving survival rates. Unfortunately, these life-saving treatments often result in permanent, irreversible hearing loss, also known as ototoxicity.¹

Hearing loss from cisplatin treatment is not rare. Studies show that between 60-90% of patients treated with cisplatin may develop hearing loss, depending upon the dose and duration of chemotherapy². Many of those treated with cisplatin will require lifelong hearing aids or cochlear implants, which can be helpful for some, but do not reverse the hearing loss and can be costly over time.³ Treatment-induced hearing loss can reduce quality of survivorship as it impacts many aspects of life, such as speech and language skills, academic performance, social-emotional development, career potential and the ability to live independently.^4,5 While audiologic monitoring is recommended to help manage ototoxicity, it is currently underutilized in certain cancer patient populations.

PEDMARK^® (sodium thiosulfate injection)
PEDMARK^® is the first and only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved therapy indicated to reduce the risk of ototoxicity associated with cisplatin treatment in pediatric patients 1 month of age and older with localized, non-metastatic, solid tumors. It is a unique formulation of sodium thiosulfate in single-dose, ready-to-use vials for intravenous use in pediatric patients. PEDMARK is also the first and only therapeutic agent with proven efficacy and safety data with an established dosing regimen, across two open-label, randomized Phase 3 clinical studies, the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) Protocol ACCL0431 and SIOPEL 6.

Additionally, PEDMARK is recommended for the adolescent and young adult (AYA) population by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, or NCCN, with a 2A endorsement.

Approximately 500,000 patients in the U.S. are diagnosed annually with cancers that could be treated with a platinum-based chemotherapy.⁶,⁷ The incidence of ototoxicity depends upon the dose and duration of chemotherapy, and many of those treated will require lifelong hearing aids. Until the FDA approval of PEDMARK, there were no preventative agents for this hearing loss. Patients with hearing loss resulting from cancer treatment have a statistically significant worse quality of life compared with peers who have no hearing loss.^8,9

PEDMARK has been studied by co-operative groups in two Phase 3 clinical studies of survival and reduction of ototoxicity, COG ACCL0431 and SIOPEL 6. Both studies have been completed. The COG ACCL0431 protocol enrolled childhood cancers typically treated with intensive cisplatin therapy for localized and disseminated disease, including newly diagnosed hepatoblastoma, germ cell tumor, osteosarcoma, neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma, and other solid tumors. SIOPEL 6 enrolled only hepatoblastoma patients with localized tumors.

Indications and Usage
PEDMARK^® (sodium thiosulfate injection) is indicated to reduce the risk of ototoxicity associated with cisplatin in pediatric patients 1 month of age and older with localized, non-metastatic solid tumors.

Limitations of Use
The safety and efficacy of PEDMARK have not been established when administered following cisplatin infusions longer than 6 hours. PEDMARK may not reduce the risk of ototoxicity when administered following longer cisplatin infusions, because irreversible ototoxicity may have already occurred.

Important Safety Information
PEDMARK is contraindicated in patients with history of a severe hypersensitivity to sodium thiosulfate or any of its components.

Hypersensitivity reactions occurred in 8% to 13% of patients in clinical trials. Monitor patients for hypersensitivity reactions. Immediately discontinue PEDMARK and institute appropriate care if a hypersensitivity reaction occurs. Administer antihistamines or glucocorticoids (if appropriate) before each subsequent administration of PEDMARK. PEDMARK may contain sodium sulfite; patients with sulfite sensitivity may have hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylactic symptoms and life-threatening or severe asthma episodes. Sulfite sensitivity is seen more frequently in people with asthma.

PEDMARK is not indicated for use in pediatric patients less than 1 month of age due to the increased risk of hypernatremia or in pediatric patients with metastatic cancers.

Hypernatremia occurred in 12% to 26% of patients in clinical trials, including a single Grade 3 case. Hypokalemia occurred in 15% to 27% of patients in clinical trials, with Grade 3 or 4 occurring in 9% to 27% of patients. Monitor serum sodium and potassium levels at baseline and as clinically indicated. Withhold PEDMARK in patients with baseline serum sodium greater than 145 mmol/L.

Monitor for signs and symptoms of hypernatremia and hypokalemia more closely if the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) falls below 60 mL/min/1.73m².

Administer antiemetics prior to each PEDMARK administration. Provide additional antiemetics and supportive care as appropriate.

The most common adverse reactions (≥25% with difference between arms of >5% compared to cisplatin alone) in SIOPEL 6 were vomiting, nausea, decreased hemoglobin, and hypernatremia. The most common adverse reaction (≥25% with difference between arms of >5% compared to cisplatin alone) in COG ACCL0431 was hypokalemia.

Please see full Prescribing Information for PEDMARK^® at: www.PEDMARK.com.

About Fennec Pharmaceuticals
Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company committed to the fight against ototoxicity in cancer patients who receive cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Fennec is focused on the commercialization of PEDMARK^® to reduce the risk of platinum-induced ototoxicity in cancer patients. PEDMARK received FDA approval in September 2022 and European Commission approval in June 2023 and United Kingdom (U.K.) approval in October 2023 under the brand name PEDMARQSI.

In March 2024, Fennec entered into an exclusive licensing agreement under which Norgine Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a leading European specialist pharmaceutical company, will commercialize PEDMARQSI^® in Europe, U.K., Australia and New Zealand. PEDMARQSI is now commercially available in the U.K. and Germany.

PEDMARK has received Orphan Drug Exclusivity in the U.S. and.; PEDMARQSI has received Pediatric Use Marketing Authorization in Europe, which includes eight years plus two years of data and market protection. Further, Fennec has patents providing protection for PEDMARK until 2039 in both the U.S. and internationally.

For more information, please visit www.fennecpharma.com and follow on LinkedIn.

ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL 
Tampa General Hospital, the Tampa Bay region’s only academic health system, is a 1,530-bed not-for-profit network of hospital and outpatient services spanning across Florida. As the only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care center serving 23 counties, Tampa General delivers world-class care. The system’s hospitals include Tampa General Hospital, Tampa General Rehabilitation Hospital, Tampa General Behavioral Health Hospital, all in Tampa; Tampa General Brooksville, Tampa General Spring Hill and Tampa General Crystal River. Tampa General is the highest-ranked hospital in Tampa Bay in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best Hospitals, with six medical specialties ranking among the top 50 in the nation and five additional medical specialties ranked among the top 10% best hospital programs in the United States. As the first hospital in Florida to open a clinical command center for real-time situational awareness, the academic health system has elevated its digital care coordination center to the next level by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and its analytics platform across inpatient and outpatient care to ensure patients receive leading-edge care as quickly and safely as possible. Tampa General’s commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by three prestigious Forbes magazine rankings — in the 2026 America's Best Large Employers ranked as the Tampa Bay region's #1 employer in the health care category for the sixth year in a row, and among the top five in the state of Florida, in the 2025 Best Employers by State and the 2023 America's Best Employers for Women.

Tampa General is the area’s safety-net hospital, caring for anyone regardless of ability to pay; in fiscal year 2024, Tampa General provided a net community benefit of approximately $289.1 million in the form of health care for underinsured patients, community education and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It is recognized as one of the adult solid organ transplant centers in the nation and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With five medical helicopters, Tampa General transports critically injured or ill patients from surrounding counties to receive the advanced care their conditions require. Tampa General has a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center and its 32-bed Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It is home to the Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH, the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive care unit and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General’s footprint includes TGH North, which consists of three hospitals and several outpatient locations in Citrus and Hernando counties; 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices; TGH Family Care Center Kennedy; two TGH outpatient centers; TGH Virtual Health; and 20 TGH Imaging outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Tampa Bay area residents receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care, powered by the Fast Track network of clinics. To see a medical care professional live anytime, anywhere on a smartphone, tablet or computer, visit Virtual Health | Tampa General Hospital (tgh.org). For more information, go to www.tgh.org.

ABOUT USF HEALTH
USF Health is dedicated to making life better through research, education and patient care. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine; the College of Nursing; the College of Public Health; the Taneja College of Pharmacy; the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; the Biomedical Sciences Graduate and Postdoctoral Programs; and USF Health’s multispecialty physicians group, the largest on the West Coast of Florida. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report ranked the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide for research. U.S. News also ranked the USF College of Public Health and the USF College of Nursing’s Master of Science program No. 1 in the state. Together with Tampa General Hospital, USF Health forms one of the nation’s premier academic health systems, with more than 1,000 physicians and providers caring for more than 1 million patients each year. USF Health is part of the University of South Florida, a top-ranked research university and member of the Association of American Universities (AAU). USF serves approximately 50,000 students and generates nearly $10 billion in annual economic impact for Florida. For more information, visit health.usf.edu.

Forward Looking Statements
Except for historical information described in this press release, all other statements are forward-looking. Words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” or the negative of those terms, and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements about our business strategy, timeline and other goals, plans and prospects, including our commercialization plans respecting PEDMARK^®/PEDMARQSI^®, the market opportunity for and market impact of PEDMARK^®/ PEDMARQSI^®, its potential impact on patients and anticipated benefits associated with its use, future commercial and regulatory milestone and royalty payments from Norgine, and potential access to further funding after the date of this release. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company’s business that could cause actual results to vary, including the risks and uncertainties that regulatory and guideline developments may change, scientific data and/or manufacturing capabilities may not be sufficient to meet regulatory standards or receipt of required regulatory clearances or approvals, clinical results may not be replicated in actual patient settings, unforeseen global instability, including political instability, or instability from an outbreak of pandemic or contagious disease, such as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), or surrounding the duration and severity of an outbreak, protection offered by the Company’s patents and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by its competitors, the available market for the Company’s products will not be as large as expected, the Company’s products will not be able to penetrate one or more targeted markets, revenues will not be sufficient to fund further development and clinical studies, our ability to obtain necessary capital when needed on acceptable terms or at all, the Company may not meet its future capital requirements in different countries and municipalities, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. Fennec disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law.

For a more detailed discussion of related risk factors, please refer to our public filings available at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com.

PEDMARK^® PEDMARQSI^® and Fennec^® are registered trademarks of Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc.

©2026 Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. All rights reserved. FEN-1604-v1

For further information, please contact:

Investors:
Robert Andrade
Chief Financial Officer
Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc.
+1 919-246-5299

Corporate and Media:
Lindsay Rocco
Elixir Health Public Relations
+1 862-596-1304
lrocco@elixirhealthpr.com

______________________________

¹ Rybak L. Mechanisms of Cisplatin Ototoxicity and Progress in Otoprotection. Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery. 2007, Vol. 15: 364-369.
² Langer T, am Zehnhoff-Dinnesen A, Radtke S, Meitert J, Zolk O. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2013;34(8):458-469
³ Landier W. Ototoxicity and Cancer Therapy. Cancer. June 2016 Vol. 122, No.11: 1647-1658.
⁴ Clemens E, van den Heuvel-Eibrink MM, Mulder RL, et al. Recommendations for ototoxicity surveillance for childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors: a report from the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group in collaboration with the PanCare Consortium. Lancet Oncol. 2019;20(1):e29-e41
⁵ . Bass JK, Knight KR, Yock TI, Chang KW, Cipkala D, Grewal SS. Evaluation and management of hearing loss in survivors of childhood and adolescent cancers: a report from the children’s oncology group. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2016;63(7):1152-1162.
⁶ Chattaraj A et al. Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity: A Concise Review of the Burden, Prevention, and Interception Strategies. JCO Oncol Pract. 2023;19
⁷ Freyer DR et al. Effects of sodium thiosulfate versus observation on development of cisplatin-induced hearing loss in children with cancer (ACCL0431): a multicentre, randomised, controlled, open-label, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2017;18(1):63-74.
⁸ Rajput K, Edwards L, Brock P, Abiodun A, Simpkin P, Al-Malky G. Ototoxicity-induced hearing loss and quality of life in survivors of paediatric cancer. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2020;138:110401. doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2020.110401
⁹ Bass JK, Knight KR, Yock TI, Chang KW, Cipkala D, Grewal SS. Evaluation and management of hearing loss in survivors of childhood and adolescent cancers: a report from the children’s oncology group. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2016;63(7):1152-1162.

FAQ

What is the Tampa General Hospital study announced by Fennec (FENC) on March 4, 2026?

It is a real-world evaluation of PEDMARK® to assess reduction of cisplatin ototoxicity in AYA and adult patients. According to the company, the study will analyze clinical records and audiology monitoring to inform future research and quality efforts.

Does PEDMARK® have regulatory approval for the patient groups mentioned in the Fennec (FENC) announcement?

Yes. According to the company, PEDMARK® is approved for pediatric patients one month and older for localized non-metastatic solid tumors. The announcement also notes an NCCN 2A recommendation for use in AYA patients.

What outcomes will the Fennec (FENC) collaborative study with TGH measure?

The study will measure clinical utility and ototoxicity outcomes using audiology monitoring and real-world clinical data. According to the company, results aim to inform prevention, assessment, and management of hearing loss from cisplatin.

How might real-world evidence from the Fennec (FENC) study affect clinical use of PEDMARK®?

Real-world data could clarify PEDMARK®'s utility across diverse patients and tumor types. According to the company, broader institutional data outside trials will help clinicians understand hearing protection in routine cisplatin care.

Which institutions are collaborating on the PEDMARK® study announced by Fennec (FENC)?

Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute is leading the study in collaboration with USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. According to the company, TGH investigators will oversee clinical and audiology data collection for the evaluation.

Will the Fennec (FENC) announcement solicit patient participation in the PEDMARK® study?

No recruitment is solicited in the announcement; it provides background and labeling information. According to the company, the release shares study intent and FDA-approved labeling but is not a call for research participation.