NeOnc Technologies Appoints Ali Alabedin to Its Board of Directors
NEO212’s UAE Phase 2 plans are supported by regulatory authorization but remain subject to ethics approvals and pre-enrollment conditions.
Sentiment and the balance of points
Rhea-AI Sentiment reads the wording of the document, how positive or negative its language is on a 1 to 5 scale. The balance of points shown with the takes weighs what the document actually discloses, so the two can disagree, for example when a trial that missed its main goal is described in upbeat language.
Rhea-AI Summary
NeOnc Technologies Holdings (NTHI) appointed Ali Alabedin to its Board of Directors, effective October 9, 2026, as it advances clinical development. Alabedin heads the Islamic Banking Group at First Abu Dhabi Bank and succeeds Dr. Steven L. Giannotta, who will remain on NeOnc’s Scientific Advisory Board.
The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi granted NEO212 investigational new drug authorization, supporting NeOnc’s planned Phase 2 development in the UAE. Required ethics approvals and other pre-enrollment conditions remain pending.
How this balance works
Rhea-AI gives every point it takes from this document a weight. Minor counts 1, Moderate 3 and Major 9, so one Major point outweighs several Minor ones. The bar adds up the weights on each side, and when neither side holds more than 65% of the total the balance reads Mixed.
It reads the document as published, with the same rules for every company, and it does not look at what the market expected or at how the stock traded, so a point can be objectively good on a day the stock falls.
Rhea-AI Sentiment measures something else, the tone of the wording.
Hollow bars mark forward-looking points. How the balance works
Positive
- Moderate pointNEO212 investigational new drug authorization granted by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi.
- Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Phase 2 development in the UAE is planned for NEO212.
Negative
- Minor pointRequired ethics approvals and other pre-enrollment conditions remain pending for NEO212’s UAE development.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Appointment strengthens financial governance and supports NeOnc’s clinical development and expansion in Abu Dhabi
CALABASAS, Calif., Oct. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NeOnc Technologies Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTHI) ("NeOnc" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapies for central nervous system cancers, today announced the appointment of Ali Alabedin to its Board of Directors, effective October 9, 2026. Mr. Alabedin is Head of Islamic Banking Group at First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the UAE’s largest bank and a major Gulf banking institution, with AED 1.41 trillion in total assets as of June 30, 2026.
The appointment brings senior banking and governance expertise to NeOnc’s Board as the Company advances its clinical programs and expands its development activities in Abu Dhabi. The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi has granted IND authorization for NEO212, supporting the Company’s plans for Phase 2 development in the UAE, subject to required ethics approvals and other pre-enrollment conditions.
“Ali’s appointment strengthens our Board as we advance our clinical programs and build our presence in Abu Dhabi,” said Amir Heshmatpour, Executive Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of NeOnc. “His experience in financial governance, regulatory engagement and international growth will help guide our next stage of development. We appreciate the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi’s support for our clinical expansion and share a commitment to bringing new treatment options to patients facing devastating brain cancers. I look forward to working with Ali to advance that mission and create long-term value for our shareholders.”
“NeOnc is working to develop treatments for cancers of the brain that remain among the most difficult to treat,” said Mr. Alabedin. “I am honored to join the Board and look forward to contributing my experience in governance and international growth as the Company advances its programs.”
Mr. Alabedin succeeds Dr. Steven L. Giannotta, who has graciously stepped down from the Board and will continue to serve on NeOnc’s Scientific Advisory Board. The Company thanks Dr. Giannotta for his Board service and continued scientific contributions.
About Ali Alabedin
Mr. Alabedin has more than three decades of international banking experience across the Middle East and Asia Pacific. Since 2022, he has served as FAB’s Head of Islamic Banking Group, leading its wholesale, investment, retail and private banking activities and international operations.
Previously, Mr. Alabedin held senior leadership roles at Standard Chartered Bank, ANZ Banking Group and Dubai Islamic Bank, spanning financial institutions, corporate banking, distribution and strategic relationships. He also founded Dubai Islamic Financial Services as Chief Executive Officer and subsequently served as an executive board member.
Mr. Alabedin holds a Master of International Business from the University of Wollongong in Australia and completed the Aspiring Directors Programme at INSEAD.
About NeOnc Technologies Holdings, Inc.
NeOnc Technologies Holdings, Inc. is a clinical-stage life sciences company focused on the development and commercialization of central nervous system therapeutics that are designed to address the persistent challenges in overcoming the blood-brain barrier. The company’s NEO™ drug development platform has produced a portfolio of novel drug candidates and delivery methods with patent protections extending to 2038. These proprietary chemotherapy agents have demonstrated positive effects in laboratory tests on various types of cancers and in clinical trials treating malignant gliomas. NeOnc’s NEO100™ and NEO212™ therapeutics are in clinical development. NEO212 has completed Phase 1 dose escalation and is advancing toward Phase 2 development. The company has exclusively licensed an extensive worldwide patent portfolio from the University of Southern California consisting of issued patents and pending applications related to NEO100, NEO212, and other products from the NeOnc patent family for multiple uses, including oncological and neurological conditions.
For more about NeOnc and its pioneering technology, visit https://neonc.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about the Company’s clinical development plans, activities in the United Arab Emirates and anticipated benefits of the Board appointment. These statements reflect current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including risks described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as required by law.
“NEO100” and “NEO212” are registered trademarks of NeOnc Technologies Holdings, Inc.
Contacts
Company Contact:
info@neonc.com
Investor Contact:
Jon Nugent
Jon Nugent Communications
jon@jonnugent.com
205-566-3026
This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Who joined NeOnc Technologies’ board and when did the appointment take effect?
Ali Alabedin joined NeOnc’s Board of Directors effective October 9, 2026. He succeeds Dr. Steven L. Giannotta, who continues to serve on the company’s Scientific Advisory Board.
What authorization did NeOnc receive for NEO212 in Abu Dhabi?
The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi granted investigational new drug authorization for NEO212, supporting planned Phase 2 development in the UAE. Required ethics approvals and other pre-enrollment conditions must still be met.