NeOnc Technologies (Nasdaq: NTHI) Announces AI-Driven Findings Showing Ultrasound Enhances the Potency of an Already Effective NEO100 in Treating Primary and Metastatic Brain Tumors

Rhea-AI Summary

NeOnc Technologies (Nasdaq: NTHI) announced preclinical findings from a University of Southern California collaboration showing focused ultrasound enhances NEO100’s antitumor potency across primary and metastatic brain tumor models.

Researchers used an AI-driven positive–unlabeled neural network trained on >200 molecular descriptors and a rapid magnetic 3D bioprinting NAM (US Patent 11,788,057) to predict and validate NEO100 as a leading sonodynamic agent. Validation on patient-derived organoids and spheroids — including glioblastoma, pediatric medulloblastoma, high-grade meningioma, and breast- and lung-to-brain metastases — showed markedly enhanced tumor-killing when NEO100 was combined with focused ultrasound. The results support advancing NEO100 plus focused ultrasound into future clinical trials across multiple brain tumor types.

Positive

• AI screening identified NEO100 as a leading sonosensitizer
• Validation across multiple tumor types including glioblastoma
• Rapid 3D bioprinting platform shortens organoid generation to hours
• Supports advancing NEO100 plus ultrasound into clinical trials

Negative

• Findings are preclinical and not yet demonstrated in humans
• No quantitative efficacy metrics disclosed for tumor-killing
• Clinical translation and safety with focused ultrasound remain unproven

News Market Reaction

-4.69%

4 alerts

-4.69% News Effect

-$9M Valuation Impact

$178M Market Cap

0.3x Rel. Volume

On the day this news was published, NTHI declined 4.69%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction. Our momentum scanner triggered 4 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. This price movement removed approximately $9M from the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $178M at that time.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Molecular descriptors: over 200 descriptors Patent number: US Patent 11,788,057

2 metrics

Molecular descriptors over 200 descriptors AI-driven positive–unlabeled neural network training set

Patent number US Patent 11,788,057 Rapid magnetic 3D bioprinting NAM platform

Market Reality Check

Price: $9.13 Vol: Volume 39,454 vs 20-day a...

low vol

$9.13 Last Close

Volume Volume 39,454 vs 20-day average 73,309 (relative volume 0.54x), so interest was not elevated. low

Technical Price 9.37 trades above 200-day MA of 7.68, yet remains 62.52% below 52-week high 25 and 192.81% above 52-week low 3.2.

Peers on Argus

NTHI was up 5.47% while peers showed mixed, smaller moves (e.g., ELTX and KYTX u...

NTHI was up 5.47% while peers showed mixed, smaller moves (e.g., ELTX and KYTX up 3.21%, IPHA and CCCC down modestly), indicating a stock-specific reaction rather than a broad biotech move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Dec 01 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 01	AI preclinical data	Positive	-4.7%	AI-driven preclinical data showing ultrasound enhances NEO100 antitumor potency.
Nov 14	Earnings and update	Neutral	-12.3%	Q3 2025 results with large net loss but new funding and trial progress.
Nov 13	Trial enrollment	Positive	-24.1%	Completion of patient enrollment in pivotal NEO100 Phase 2a trial.
Nov 12	Clinical results	Positive	+3.6%	Updated NEO100 Phase 1/2a and compassionate-use data with strong outcomes.
Nov 07	Conference call	Neutral	+2.7%	Announcement of investor call to present NEO100-1 and compassionate use data.

Pattern Detected

Recent history shows several positive clinical and strategic updates followed by negative or modest price reactions, suggesting a tendency for the stock to sometimes sell off or underreact on good news.

Recent Company History

Over the last month, NeOnc reported updated NEO100 Phase 1/2a data with encouraging response and survival signals, completed enrollment in a pivotal Phase 2a trial, and issued Q3 2025 results highlighting a $50.0 million partnership and an $8.6 million quarterly net loss. Earlier clinical and conference updates around Nov 7–12, 2025 produced mixed but generally modest price gains. Today’s AI-driven preclinical findings on ultrasound-enhanced NEO100 extend the company’s CNS oncology narrative beyond existing clinical programs.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights AI-driven preclinical work showing focused ultrasound enhanced NEO100’s...

Analysis

This announcement highlights AI-driven preclinical work showing focused ultrasound enhanced NEO100’s antitumor activity across several primary and metastatic brain tumor models using a patented 3D bioprinting NAM platform. It complements recent clinical data and enrollment milestones for NEO100 in high-grade glioma. Investors may watch for translation of these findings into formal clinical trials, along with progress on existing NEO100 and NEO212 studies and updates on the company’s funding position from recent SEC filings.

Key Terms

sonodynamic therapy, 3D-bioprinted, New Approach Methodology (NAM), blood–brain barrier, +3 more

7 terms

sonodynamic therapy medical

"identified NEO100 as a leading sonodynamic therapy agent."

Sonodynamic therapy is a medical treatment that uses sound waves to activate a drug inside the body so it selectively damages targeted tissue, much like shining a flashlight to trigger a light-sensitive switch. Investors care because success in trials, regulatory approval, or strong intellectual property can create new commercial markets for companies developing the drugs, devices, or delivery systems that make this targeted, noninvasive approach possible.

3D-bioprinted technical

"Utilizing an AI-driven, 3D-bioprinted New Approach Methodology (NAM)"

3D‑bioprinted describes tissues or structures made by layering living cells and supportive materials with a specialized printer, similar to building a model by stacking tiny, bio‑compatible Lego pieces. Investors care because the approach aims to create transplantable tissue, drug‑testing models, or lab-grown products at scale, offering potential new markets but also facing scientific, manufacturing and regulatory hurdles that affect commercial timing and risk.

New Approach Methodology (NAM) technical

"3D-bioprinted New Approach Methodology (NAM), researchers at USC"

New approach methodology (NAM) describes modern testing tools and strategies—such as cell-based experiments, computer models, and high-speed biochemical screens—that assess safety and biological effects without traditional animal testing. For investors, NAMs can shorten development timelines, lower testing costs, and influence whether regulators accept data for approvals or labeling, much like using a virtual crash test to speed car design decisions instead of building many physical prototypes.

blood–brain barrier medical

"most likely to respond to focused ultrasound, penetrate the blood–brain barrier"

A protective network of cells and blood vessels that controls which substances in the blood can enter the brain, keeping out many toxins and large molecules while allowing oxygen and nutrients through. For investors, the barrier matters because it determines whether drugs, imaging agents or biologic therapies can reach brain tissue—acting like a security gate that can make development harder, increase costs and regulatory risk, and therefore influence a company’s prospects and valuation.

focused ultrasound medical

"most likely to respond to focused ultrasound, penetrate the blood–brain barrier"

Focused ultrasound is a medical technology that directs concentrated sound waves to a precise spot inside the body to heat, destroy, or stimulate tissue without cutting the skin — like using a magnifying glass to focus sunlight on a single point. It matters to investors because its success depends on clinical effectiveness, regulatory approval, and insurance coverage, which determine how widely the treatment can be adopted and how much revenue devices and service providers can generate.

neural network technical

"An AI-driven positive–unlabeled neural network, trained on over 200"

A neural network is a computer model that learns to recognize patterns from data by adjusting many simple processing units, similar to how a crowd of people each offers a small opinion that together forms a decision. Investors care because these models can power faster products, automate decisions, cut costs, and create new services — all of which can boost growth or create risks around accuracy, regulation, and competitive advantage.

organoids medical

"rapid generation of physiologically relevant patient-derived tumor organoids within hours"

Miniaturized, simplified versions of human organs grown in the lab from stem cells that mimic key structure and function of real tissues. Like scale models used by architects, organoids let researchers test drugs, study disease and predict how human tissues will respond without using whole patients, which can speed development, reduce costs and lower risk for investors evaluating biotech pipelines and therapies.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

CALABASAS, Calif., Dec. 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NeOnc Technologies Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTHI), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing brain-penetrant therapeutics for central nervous system (CNS) cancers, today announced newly published preclinical findings from a research collaboration at the University of Southern California (USC). The study, now available on bioRxiv (https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.25.690556v1), demonstrates that ultrasound further enhances and amplifies NEO100’s therapeutic potency, driving strong antitumor effects across multiple primary and metastatic brain tumor types.

Utilizing an AI-driven, 3D-bioprinted New Approach Methodology (NAM), researchers at USC, led by Dr. Josh Neman—Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery and Chief Clinical Officer of NTHI—identified NEO100 as a leading sonodynamic therapy agent. This NAM platform—built on NTHI-patented rapid magnetic 3D bioprinting technology (US Patent 11,788,057)—facilitates the rapid generation of physiologically relevant patient-derived tumor organoids within hours, rather than the weeks typically required by conventional methods, thereby significantly accelerating biomedical research and aligning with NIH objectives to minimize animal testing.

An AI-driven positive–unlabeled neural network, trained on over 200 molecular descriptors, was employed to predict compounds most likely to respond to focused ultrasound, penetrate the blood–brain barrier, and exhibit potent sonodynamic therapeutic activity. Throughout this extensive AI screening initiative, the platform consistently identified NEO100 as a leading predicted sonosensitizer. Validation studies on rapidly bioprinted tumor spheroids—including glioblastoma, pediatric medulloblastoma, high-grade meningioma, and breast- and lung-to-brain metastases—demonstrated that NEO100 displayed markedly enhanced tumor-killing activity when combined with focused ultrasound parameters. Together, these results support moving NEO100 combined with focused ultrasound into future clinical trials for a wide range of primary and metastatic brain tumors. 

“This breakthrough provides strong external validation for NEO100’s potential as a first-in-class, noninvasive sonodynamic therapeutic. The integration of AI, 3D bioprinting, and ultrasound significantly expands NEO100’s commercial and clinical opportunity beyond current indications,” said Amir Heshmatpour, Executive Chairman and President of NTHI.

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 Phase II human clinical trials and are advancing under FDA Fast-Track and Investigational New Drug (IND) status. 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 neonc.com.

Important Cautions Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “intend,” “expect,” “plan,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “evaluating,” or similar words. Statements that contain these words should be read carefully, as they discuss our future expectations, projections of future results of operations or financial condition, or other forward-looking information.

Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding whether a definitive agreement will be reached with Quazar. These statements reflect our current expectations based on information available at this time, but future events may differ materially from those anticipated.

The “Risk Factors” section of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, along with other cautionary language in that report or in our subsequent filings, outlines important risks and uncertainties. These may cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements herein, including but not limited to the failure to finalize the agreement with Quazar, modifications to its terms, or alternative uses of proceeds.

We assume no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws and regulations.

“NEO100” and NEO “212” are registered trademarks of NeOnc Technologies Holdings, Inc.

Company Contact:
info@neonc.com

Investor Contact:
James Carbonara
Hayden IR
(646)-755-7412
James@haydenir.com

FAQ

What did NeOnc (NTHI) announce on December 1, 2025 about NEO100?

NeOnc announced preclinical USC findings showing focused ultrasound enhances NEO100’s antitumor potency across multiple brain tumor models.

How was NEO100 identified as a sonodynamic therapy agent in the NTHI study?

An AI-driven positive–unlabeled neural network trained on over 200 molecular descriptors predicted NEO100 as a leading sonosensitizer, then validated in 3D bioprinted tumor models.

Which brain tumor types showed response to NEO100 plus focused ultrasound in the NTHI research?

Validated models included glioblastoma, pediatric medulloblastoma, high-grade meningioma, and breast- and lung-to-brain metastases.

Does the December 1, 2025 announcement mean NEO100 is in clinical trials with ultrasound now?

No; the announcement reports preclinical validation and states the results support moving NEO100 plus focused ultrasound into future clinical trials.

What proprietary technology did NeOnc use in the NEO100 study (NTHI)?

The study used a rapid magnetic 3D bioprinting NAM built on a patented platform (US Patent 11,788,057) to create patient-derived tumor organoids within hours.