Phio Pharmaceuticals Announces "Nobel Prize Winning Science Takes on Skin Cancer" in a Fireside Chat with Force Family Office on Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Rhea-AI Summary
Phio Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: PHIO) announced a virtual fireside chat on April 15, 2026 with Force Family Office featuring CEO Robert Bitterman and Dr. R. Todd Plott to discuss INTASYL siRNA program and PH-762, an intratumoral PD-1–silencing candidate for skin cancers.
Phio reported that 22 patients completed Phase 1b treatment across five dose cohorts with no dose-limiting toxicities or serious adverse events, ~65% pathological response in cSCC overall and 85% response (6 of 7) at the highest dose. FDA engagement on next-stage development is targeted for Q2 2026. Cash is projected to sustain operations into H1 2027.
Positive
- 22 patients completed Phase 1b treatment
- No dose-limiting toxicities or serious adverse events reported
- Pathological response ~65% in cSCC across cohorts
- Highest-dose cohort pathological response 85% (6 of 7)
- FDA engagement targeted for Q2 2026
Negative
- Only 22 patients completed treatment across five cohorts
- Cash runway projected only into H1 2027
News Market Reaction – PHIO
In the Apr 13 session, PHIO gained 2.48%, reflecting a moderate positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 09 | Investor presentation | Positive | -3.9% | Announcement of Centri Capital Conference presentation on PH-762 progress. |
| Mar 30 | Manufacturing agreement | Positive | -4.8% | cGMP U.S. manufacturing deal plus Phase 1b PH-762 data and runway update. |
| Mar 23 | Clinical results update | Positive | +2.5% | AAD 2026 presentation featuring Phase 1b PH-762 skin cancer results. |
| Mar 16 | Fireside chat | Positive | +7.3% | Force Family Office chat on INTASYL approach and PH-762 Phase 1b data. |
| Mar 10 | Investor forum | Positive | +1.6% | Life Sciences Investor Forum presentation on INTASYL platform and PH-762. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Positive clinical and investor-relations news has more often led to gains, but there are notable instances of selloffs on seemingly constructive updates.
Over the last month, Phio has repeatedly highlighted progress for PH-762 through investor forums, fireside chats, and conference presentations, emphasizing Phase 1b safety and response data and a cash runway into H1 2027. Manufacturing readiness and an upcoming FDA engagement targeted for Q2 2026 have also been featured. Today’s fireside chat announcement continues this pattern of outreach around the same core clinical story, extending the company’s ongoing visibility campaign to life sciences investors.
Key Terms
sirna medical
immuno-oncology medical
intratumoral medical
cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma medical
merkel cell carcinoma medical
pathological response rate medical
pd-1 gene medical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Phio invites investors, advisors and analysts with an interest in the life sciences sector to attend this virtual event
R. Todd Plott, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Epiphany Dermatology will join Robert Bitterman, Phio Pharmaceuticals and Steven Saltzstein, Force Family Office
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2026) - Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. (NASDAQ: PHIO) is a clinical-stage siRNA biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics using its proprietary INTASYL® gene silencing technology to eliminate cancer. Phio announced today that Mr. Robert Bitterman, CEO and Chairman of the Board, Phio Pharmaceuticals will participate in a fireside chat with Steven Saltzstein, CEO, Force Family Office. Joining them will be Dr. R. Todd Plott, Chief Medical Officer, Epiphany Dermatology and former consultant to the FDA who will provide additional insight on PH-762, an INTASYL compound, that silences the PD-1 gene implicated in various forms of skin cancer.
"We are excited to hold this fireside chat with Force Family Office. Dr. Plott will discuss why the INTASYL siRNA program represents a differentiated approach to immuno-oncology," said Robert Bitterman, CEO and Chairman of Phio Pharmaceuticals.
DATE: Wednesday April 15, 2026
TIME: 12 PM EDT
REGISTRATION LINK: PHIO Pharma - Force Family Office
Recent Company Highlights
Phio's lead clinical candidate, PH-762, is being evaluated as an intratumoral therapy in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma. In its Phase 1b trial, Phio has reported that 22 patients completed treatment across five dose-escalation cohorts, with no dose-limiting toxicities or serious adverse events. The Company has also reported a pathological response rate in cSCC across all dosing cohorts of approximately
Phio has indicated that FDA engagement regarding next-stage clinical development is targeted for the second quarter of 2026 and has reported cash and cash equivalents projected to sustain operations into the first half of 2027.
About Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp.
Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. (NASDAQ: PHIO) is a clinical-stage siRNA biopharmaceutical company advancing its INTASYL® gene silencing technology focused on immuno-oncology therapeutics. Phio's INTASYL compounds are designed to enhance the body's immune cells to more effectively kill cancer cells. Phio's lead clinical program is an INTASYL compound, PH-762, that silences the PD-1 gene implicated in various forms of skin cancer. The Phase 1b trial (NCT# 06014086) is evaluating PH-762 for the treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma. PH-762 is a potential non-surgical treatment for skin cancers.
For additional information, visit the Company's website, www.phiopharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "intends," "believes," "anticipates," "indicates," "plans," "expects," "suggests," "may," "would," "should," "potential," "designed to," "will," "ongoing," "estimate," "forecast," "target," "predict," "could" and similar references, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements, which include statements regarding the anticipated benefits of our INTASYL™ RNAi platform, the results from our ongoing clinical trials, our expectations that our cash runway will extend into the first half of 2027, our expectations regarding timing of FDA submissions intended to propose and seek guidance for next steps in clinical study design for PH-762, details regarding our planned non-clinical toxicology study, and our ability to support ongoing clinical development, operational requirements and strategic initiatives with the capital we currently have on hand, are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of important factors, including, but not limited to, the impact to our business and operations by inflationary pressures, rising interest rates, recession fears, the development of our product candidates, results from our preclinical and clinical activities, our ability to execute on business strategies, our ability to develop our product candidates with collaboration partners, and the success of any such collaborations, the timeline and duration for advancing our product candidates into clinical development, the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, the success of our efforts to commercialize our product candidates if approved, our ability to manufacture and supply our product candidates for clinical activities, and for commercial use if approved, the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our technology platform, our ability to obtain future financing, market and other conditions and those risks identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q under the caption "Risk Factors" and in other filings the Company periodically makes with the SEC. Readers are urged to review these risk factors and to not act in reliance on any forward-looking statements, as actual results may differ from those contemplated by our forward-looking statements. Phio does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views, events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release, except as required by law.
About FORCE Family Office
FORCE works with Family Offices, Ultra High Net Worth Individuals, their Foundations, and Endowments by introducing them to leaders of privately held businesses at the capital acquisition stage and public companies looking for open market buyers. FORCE is constantly bringing unique opportunities and information to their community of investors. In addition, their elite peer-to-peer community brings family offices, UHNW individuals, endowments and foundations together, facilitating co-investment opportunities, information sharing, philanthropy, and networking.
CONTACTS:
Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp.
Jennifer Phillips: jphillips@phiopharma.com
Corporate Affairs
FORCE Family Office
Harvey Briggs
608-361-8092
forcefamilyoffice.com
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/292112