Exhibit
99.1

Oncotelic
Therapeutics Reports FY 2025 Results Highlighting $249M Net Income and JV Pipeline Progress
AGOURA
HILLS, Calif., April 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oncotelic Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB:OTLC) (“Oncotelic”, the “Company”
or “We”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing drugs for the treatment of orphan oncology indications, as
well as antisense and small molecule injectable drugs for the treatment of cancer, today announced its financial results for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2025 (“FY 2025”), as compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (“FY 2024”).
The financial results are based on the 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Form 10-K”) as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”) on April 15, 2026. The Company recorded net income after tax of approximately $249.0 million, compared
to a net loss of approximately $4.8 million in the prior year. The net income was primarily driven by a non-cash increase in the estimated
fair value of the Company’s investment in GMP Biotechnology Limited (“GMP Bio”), its joint venture (“JV”),
of approximately $365.4 million, as determined by an independent third-party ASC-compliant valuation, partially offset by a deferred
income tax provision of approximately $111.6 million.
Highlights
for FY 2025 and thereafter:
2025
marked a transformational year for Oncotelic, highlighted by the successful completion of its first combination immunotherapy trial,
the formalization of Sapu Bio and Sapu Nano, subsidiaries of GMP Bio, in which the Company has 45% equity interests. Additional achievements
included dedicated development platforms, expansion of the Company’s AI-enabled research capabilities, and continued advancement
of its joint venture programs.
Joint
Venture Valuation and Investment
In
November 2025, the Company recorded a non-cash increase in the fair value of its investment in GMP Biotechnology Limited based on an
independent third-party valuation, resulting in a gain of approximately $365.4 million and a carrying value of approximately $388.0 million.
This increase reflects estimated development progress and market-based assumptions and does not represent product revenue or cash received.
A corresponding deferred income tax liability of approximately $111.6 million was recorded.
Sapu
Bio and Sapu Nano: Dual-Platform Strategy
During
2025, GMP Bio formalized its two primary subsidiaries. Sapu Bio concentrates on OT-101 (TGFβ2 antisense) clinical development, regulatory
advancement, and biomarker-driven positioning. Sapu Nano serves as the dedicated nanomedicine arm of the JV, advancing the Deciparticle™
platform into clinical-stage assets, partnerships, and commercialization. Together they form a diversified and scalable development platform.
Deciparticle™
Nanoparticle Platform
The
Deciparticle™ platform utilizes ultra-small amphiphilic constructs (below ~20 nanometers) enabling enhanced tumor penetration and
distribution. The JV is advancing six candidates: Sapu-001 (paclitaxel), Sapu-003 (everolimus), Sapu-004 (carboplatin), Sapu-005 (palbociclib),
and Sapu-006 (docetaxel), in addition to OT-101. Everolimus formulation development is complete with a global clinical trial enrolling
in Australia. Palbociclib and docetaxel INDs are expected in 2026. The platform is protected by more than 15 patent families.

OT-101
Clinical Program
In
March 2025, we completed a Phase 1 clinical trial (NCT04862767) evaluating OT-101 in combination with IL-2 in Seoul, South Korea for
advanced or metastatic solid tumors. The combination showed a tolerable safety profile with no unexpected safety signals. The JV plans
to advance OT-101 plus IL-2 into further studies exploring synergies with checkpoint inhibitors such as PD-1 blockers. Separately, the
JV initiated a Phase 2/3 trial for OT-101 in pancreatic cancer and is actively enrolling participants. Over ten patent families have
been filed related to TGFβ2 as a prognostic indicator for cancer survival.
PDAOAI
(“AI”) Platform
PDAOAI,
the Company’s proprietary AI-enabled knowledge platform, was significantly expanded during 2025 into a core infrastructure layer
supporting research, biomarker discovery, and regulatory documentation. By late 2025, PDAOAI evolved into a large-scale knowledge platform
built around a TGF-β-centric biomedical corpus of over 100,000 curated abstracts with semantic retrieval and cross-referencing capabilities.
PDAOAI contributed to at least seven peer-reviewed publications during 2025 across biomarker discovery, tumor microenvironment analysis,
nanoparticle drug delivery, and clinical outcome correlations — spanning ovarian, breast, pancreatic, hepatocellular, and glioblastoma
tumor types. Notably, the Company identified a novel biomarker signature (High RICTOR / Low RPTOR) predictive of sensitivity to intravenous
everolimus based on analysis of over 9,000 tumor samples.
GMP
Manufacturing Facility
The
JV’s GMP manufacturing facility in San Diego continued full-scale operations during 2025 under its Drug Manufacturing License from
the State of California. The facility utilizes a streamlined “one-pot” manufacturing process for bulk drug production through
to finished product, with capabilities for both nonclinical and Phase 1 clinical trial material production. In early 2025, the Company
partnered with Shanghai Medicilon, Inc. to access its rapid IND development platform supporting up to 20 IND projects.
Results
of Operations
Below
is a presentation of our financial results comparing FY 2025 to FY 2024 and based on our results published in our Form 10-K filed with
the SEC on April 15, 2026.

FY
2025 compared to FY 2024 Financial Results Overview
ONCOTELIC
THERAPEUTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
| | |
For the Year Ended December 31, | |
| | |
2025 | | |
2024 | |
| | |
| | |
| |
| Operating expenses: | |
| | | |
| | |
| Research and development | |
$ | 4,357 | | |
$ | - | |
| General and administrative | |
| 3,182,242 | | |
| 376,013 | |
| Goodwill impairment (See note 2 and 3) | |
| - | | |
| 3,200,000 | |
| Total operating expenses | |
| 3,186,599 | | |
| 3,576,013 | |
| | |
| | | |
| | |
| Income/(Loss) from operations | |
| (3,186,599 | ) | |
| (3,576,013 | ) |
| Other income (expense): | |
| | | |
| | |
| Change in fair value of investment in GMP Bio | |
| 365,346,775 | | |
| - | |
| Interest expense, net | |
| (885,488 | ) | |
| (857,723 | ) |
| Reimbursement for expenses - related party | |
| - | | |
| 22,937 | |
| Change in fair value of derivative on debt | |
| 353,572 | | |
| (280,402 | ) |
| Loss on debt conversion | |
| (1,058,976 | ) | |
| (88,258 | ) |
| Miscellaneous income | |
| 5,631 | | |
| - | |
| Total other income (expense) | |
| 363,761,514 | | |
| (1,203,446 | ) |
| Net income (loss) before income taxes | |
| 360,574,915 | | |
| (4,779,459 | ) |
| Provision for income taxes | |
| (111,550,000 | ) | |
| - | |
| Net income (loss) after income taxes | |
| 249,024,915 | | |
| (4,779,459 | ) |
| Net income (loss) before non-controlling interests | |
| 249,024,915 | | |
| (4,779,459 | ) |
| | |
| | | |
| | |
| Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests | |
| (254,917 | ) | |
| (255,527 | ) |
| Net income (loss) attributable to Oncotelic Therapeutics, Inc. | |
$ | 249,279,832 | | |
$ | (4,523,932 | ) |
| | |
| | | |
| | |
| Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to common stock | |
$ | 0.59 | | |
$ | (0.01 | ) |
| Basic weighted average common stock outstanding | |
| 421,045,524 | | |
| 404,396,473 | |
| | |
| | | |
| | |
| Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to common stock | |
$ | 0.59 | | |
$ | (0.01 | ) |
| Basic and diluted weighted average common stock outstanding | |
| 422,234,747 | | |
| 404,396,473 | |
We
recorded a higher net income per basic share of $0.59 for the year ended December 31, 2025, as compared to net loss per basic share of
$0.01 for the year ended December 31, 2024. The Company had no product revenue for either period. We recorded net income of approximately
$249.3 million attributable to Oncotelic Therapeutics, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to a net loss of approximately
$4.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The higher net income was primarily due to recording a non-cash increase in the estimated
fair value of our investment in GMP Bio of approximately $365.3 million, based on an independent third-party ASC-compliant valuation.
This non-cash gain was partially offset by a provision for deferred income taxes of approximately $111.6 million, higher general and
administrative expenses of approximately $2.8 million primarily driven by stock-based compensation of approximately $2.4 million incurred
for common stock and preferred stock issued in connection with services and approximately $0.2 million to settle litigation related to
an ex-employee, higher loss on conversion of debt of approximately $1.0 million, partially offset by a favorable change in the value
of derivatives on debt of approximately $0.6 million and lower interest expense of approximately $28 thousand. All operational costs
associated with OT-101 and the nanoparticle platform are substantially covered by the JV, significantly reducing our direct financial
burden until such time we make a determination to commence development of our own compounds.
“The
independent third-party valuation of our JV’s pipeline represents a significant milestone for the Company and validates the strategic
investments we have made since forming the joint venture in 2022. With the successful completion of our Phase 1 OT-101/IL-2 combination
trial, the advancement of six Deciparticle™ nanoparticle candidates into various stages of development, and the continued expansion
of our PDAOAI platform which contributed to seven peer-reviewed publications this year, the underlying value drivers are tangible and
progressing. We are now focused on the next phase of value realization — advancing the JV toward a potential Hong Kong IPO, pursuing
a national exchange uplisting for the Company, and converting our pipeline progress into clinical and commercial milestones,”
said Vuong Trieu, CEO of Oncotelic.

“The
progress made by the Company, through GMP Bio, the joint venture with Dragon, over such a short period of time is very impressive. We
expect to continue to see significant progress and shareholder value creation by the Company through our ownership in GMP Bio,”
said Amit Shah, CFO of Oncotelic.
About
Oncotelic
Oncotelic
(f/k/a Mateon Therapeutics, Inc.), was formed in the State of New York in 1988 as OXiGENE, Inc., was reincorporated in the State of Delaware
in 1992, and changed its name to Mateon Therapeutics, Inc. in 2016, and Oncotelic Therapeutics, Inc. in November 2020. Oncotelic conducts
business activities through Oncotelic and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Oncotelic, Inc., a Delaware corporation, PointR Data, Inc. (“PointR”),
a Delaware corporation, Pet2DAO, Inc., a Delaware corporation; and EdgePoint AI, Inc. (“Edgepoint”), a Delaware Corporation
for which there are non-controlling interests, (Oncotelic, Oncotelic Inc., PointR, Pet2DAO and Edgepoint are collectively called the
Company). The Company is currently developing OT-101, in addition to five additional compounds, for various cancers and COVID-19 through
its joint venture GMP Bio, with Dragon, Artemisinin for COVID-19 and AI technologies for clinical development and manufacturing. In addition,
GMP Bio is developing 5 additional nanoparticle compounds in the JV, which has the potential of significant revenues and value. The Company
also acquired apomorphine for Parkinson’s Disease, erectile dysfunction and female sexual dysfunction. In addition, the Company
is evaluating the further development of its product candidates OXi4503, as a treatment for acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic
syndromes, and CA4P, in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor for the treatment of advanced metastatic melanoma. The Company is also
planning to address the animal health industry through Pet2DAO. Our principal corporate office is in the United States at 29397 Agoura
Road, Suite 107, Agoura Hills, CA 91301 (telephone: 650-635-7000). Our internet address is www.oncotelic.com.
Oncotelic’s
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
Any
statements contained in this Press Release that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. In some cases,
you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,”
“intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,”
“potential,” “continue,” “assumption” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.
Statements concerning: our expectations on the timing, success of the JV’s product approvals, commercialization of the JVs products
and results of operations of the JV: our expectations on the timing, success, or valuation our JV’s planned initial public offering;
the timing, success or continuing valuation of our equity interest in the JV; our ability to secure future debt or equity financing needed
to meet operating costs; the timing, costs and other limitations involved in obtaining regulatory approval for any product candidate;
the expected efficacy of our product candidates compared to competitive products; anticipated results of our research and development
programs as well as preclinical and clinical trials; expected market size, market acceptance for our product candidates; our ability
to enter into future partnerships, joint ventures or other corporate transactions, ability of us being able to obtain additional resources,
including debt or equity funding, and the expected benefits to be derived from those transactions; the anticipated impact of regulatory
and legislative changes in the United States and foreign countries on our product candidates and operations; anticipated trends in revenues,
operating expenses or financial position and results of operations; and our estimates regarding anticipated operating income or losses,
future performance, future revenues and projected expense; are all forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect current
views about future events and are based on our currently available financial, economic and competitive data and on current business plans.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and our actual results may differ significantly from the results
discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, the
factors included in “Risk Factors,” in our Form 10K and the other registration statements and reports that we file with the
SEC. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future
developments and their potential effects on us. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward- looking statements, whether
as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. You should consider
the inherent limitations on, and risks associated with, forward-looking statements and not unduly rely on the accuracy of predictions
contained in such forward-looking statements. This press release may also include market data related to our business and industry. These
market data may include projections that are based on a number of assumptions. While we believe these assumptions to be reasonable and
sound as of the date of this press release, if these assumptions turn out to be incorrect, actual results may materially differ from
the projections based on these assumptions. As a result, the markets for our product candidates may not grow at the rates projected by
these data, or at all. The failure of these markets to grow at these projected rates may have a material adverse effect on our business,
results of operations, financial condition and the market price of our common stock.

In
addition, the Company expects to remeasure the fair value of its investment in GMP Biotechnology Limited on a quarterly basis in accordance
with applicable accounting standards, including Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820, Fair Value Measurement.
Such remeasurements are based on significant estimates and assumptions, including clinical development progress, regulatory milestones,
market conditions, and comparable company data. As a result, the value of this investment, and the corresponding impact on the Company’s
financial statements, may fluctuate materially from period to period, including based on the success or failure of drug development activities
within the joint venture pipeline. These fluctuations are non-cash in nature and may not be indicative of the Company’s underlying
operating performance or future cash flows.
Investor
& Media Contact
Oncotelic Therapeutics, Inc.
Investor Relations
ir@oncotelic.com
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