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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
September 28, 2026
TRANSCODE
THERAPEUTICS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its
charter)
| Delaware |
|
001-40363 |
|
81-1065054 |
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation) |
|
(Commission
File Number) |
|
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
TransCode
Therapeutics, Inc.
6
Liberty Square, #2382
Boston, Massachusetts
02109
(Address
of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(857)
837-3099
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed
Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K
filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ¨ |
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
|
| ¨ |
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ¨ |
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b)) |
| ¨ |
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.
| Title of each class |
|
Trading symbol(s) |
|
Name of each exchange on which
registered |
| Common
Stock, par value $0.0001 per share |
|
RNAZ |
|
The Nasdaq
Capital Market |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging
growth company x
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check
mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting
standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On September 28, 2026, TransCode Therapeutics,
Inc. (“TransCode”) issued a press release announcing updated clinical data from its Phase 1a dose clinical trial of TTX-MC138.
A copy of this press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit No. |
Description |
| |
|
| 99.1 |
Press Release, dated September 28, 2026 |
| |
|
| 104 |
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
duly authorized.
| |
TransCode Therapeutics, Inc. |
| |
|
|
| Date: September 28, 2026 |
By: |
/s/ Philippe P.
Calais |
| |
|
Philippe P. Calais |
| |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 99.1
TransCode Reports
Continued Disease Stabilization and Extended Treatment Duration with TTX-MC138 in Ongoing Phase 1a Clinical Trial Follow-Up
Updated clinical
data reinforces evidence of antitumor activity in heavily pretreated patients with advanced solid tumors
| · | In the 14 efficacy-evaluable patients: |
| o | 71.4% stable disease rate |
| o | 57.1% of patients had disease control through three months of therapy |
| o | 36.7% maintained disease control through six months of therapy |
| o | Three efficacy-evaluable patients remain progression-free at one year |
| · | Exploratory blood RNA-sequencing showed treatment-associated antitumor immune
activation and biological features associated with stable disease. |
| · | The primary endpoint of the study was met |
| o | No dose-limiting toxicities were reported across the evaluated dose levels |
BOSTON, MA, September 28, 2026 – TransCode Therapeutics, Inc.
(NASDAQ: RNAZ), a clinical stage company pioneering immuno-oncology and RNA-based therapeutics for the treatment of high risk and advanced
cancers, today announced updated clinical data from its Phase 1a clinical trial of TTX-MC138, its novel anti-miR-10b therapeutic candidate,
in patients with relapsed or refractory, unresectable locally advanced, or metastatic solid tumors.
At the data cutoff date of September 1, 2026, 10 of 14 efficacy-evaluable
patients, or 71.4%, achieved stable disease as their best overall response by investigator assessment. In the context of a first-in-human,
dose-escalation study enrolling patients with advanced, heavily pretreated cancers,
the Company believes the consistency, breadth, and durability of disease
control observed thus far are promising and warrant continued clinical evaluation.
The disease control rate was 57.1% (95% confidence interval, 28.9% to 82.3%) at Cycle 3 Day 1 and 35.7% (95% confidence interval, 12.8%
to 64.9%) at Cycle 6 Day 1.
The durability of responses was also notable. Six of 14 efficacy-evaluable
patients were progression-free at three months, three of 14 at six months, and three of 14 at nine and 12 months. Together, these findings
show that the efficacy signal was not limited to a single assessment and included prolonged disease control in a subset of patients.
As of the September 1, 2026, a total 98 doses have been administered.
In this pre-specified data snapshot, TTX-MC138 demonstrated an acceptable tolerability profile in subjects with advanced solid tumors.
No dose-limiting toxicities were reported, no treatment-emergent adverse events led to treatment discontinuation, including the highest
evaluated dose level of 4.8 mg/kg. Of note, administration of TTX-MC138 for over a year was well tolerated and not associated with any
dose-limiting toxicities.
Figure 1. Swimmer Plot (Safety Population)

“The updated efficacy findings are highly positive and clinically
meaningful for an early dose-escalation study in a heavily pretreated, heterogeneous advanced solid-tumor population,” said Daniel
Vlock, M.D., Medical Consultant for TransCode Therapeutics. “A 71% stable disease rate, disease control extending through six months,
and three patients remaining progression-free at twelve months collectively demonstrate a compelling and durable signal of antitumor activity.
Importantly, these efficacy findings were observed alongside continued tolerability and no reported dose-limiting toxicities, supporting
further evaluation of TTX-MC138.”
Post-hoc Growth Modulation Index (GMI) Analysis Further Supports
Clinical Benefit
The Growth Modulation Index (GMI) was calculated to further document
the activity of TTX-MC138. GMI compares the progression-free survival achieved on study treatment to that achieved on the patient’s
most recent prior systemic anticancer therapy. A GMI greater than 1.3 is generally considered evidence of meaningful clinical benefit.
In this analysis, 6 of 15 evaluable patients (40%) achieved a GMI greater than 1.3, indicating that treatment with TTX-MC138 resulted
in at least a 30% longer progression-free interval than that achieved with the patient’s immediately preceding therapy. Notably,
several patients demonstrated substantially greater extensions of disease control relative to prior treatment, providing additional evidence
of antitumor activity in this heavily pretreated population.
Exploratory Biomarker Findings Support Biological Activity
Exploratory RNA-sequencing analysis of peripheral blood identified
treatment-associated, target-specific immune effects without major dysregulation of the global immune landscape. The analysis showed encouraging
on-treatment increases in an antitumor cytokine signature and dose-dependent immune effects, including cytotoxic effector activity and
increased monocyte and M1-associated inflammatory activity. Patients with stable disease showed higher B-cell and monocyte fractions and
enrichment of cytotoxic, phagocytic, and Type I interferon programs compared with patients with progressive disease. These exploratory
findings provide orthogonal biological support for the clinical efficacy observations and are consistent with TTX-MC138 engaging antitumor
immune pathways. Given the small sample size, the biomarker findings are hypothesis-generating and require confirmation in larger studies.
“The alignment between the highly positive clinical disease-control findings and the exploratory transcriptomic evidence is particularly
encouraging,” said Zdravka Medarova, Ph.D., Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of TransCode Therapeutics. “The data show
treatment-associated activation of multiple arms of antitumor immunity and biological features that distinguish patients with stable disease
from those with progressive disease. This convergence of clinical and biomarker evidence strengthens the mechanistic rationale for targeting
miR-10b and supports advancement of TTX-MC138.”
“These updated findings substantially strengthen our confidence
in TTX-MC138,” said Philippe P. Calais, Pharm.D., Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TransCode Therapeutics. “The
breadth and durability of disease control, together with an acceptable tolerability profile and supportive evidence of biological activity,
provide a strong foundation for the next stage of development. We are evaluating dose-expansion strategies designed to confirm activity
in selected cancers and molecularly defined patient populations.”
TransCode expects to incorporate the updated clinical findings into
a clinical study report addendum and to continue evaluating safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and antitumor activity.
About TransCode Therapeutics
TransCode Therapeutics
is an immuno-oncology and targeted cancer therapy company with a focus on treating advanced malignancy. The Company’s lead therapeutic
candidate, TTX-MC138, is focused on treating metastatic tumors that overexpress microRNA-10b, a unique, well-documented biomarker of metastasis.
In addition, TransCode has a portfolio of other first-in-class therapeutic candidates designed to mobilize the immune system to
recognize and destroy cancer cells.
About TTX-MC138
TTX-MC138 is a first-in-class therapeutic
candidate designed to inhibit microRNA-10b, or miR-10b, a microRNA widely believed to be critical to the emergence and progression of
many metastatic cancers. TransCode’s Phase 1a first-in-human clinical trial achieved its primary safety endpoint and is
currently being evaluated in a Phase 2a clinical trial targeting ctDNA-positive colorectal cancer patients following curative-intent
treatment.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, statements
concerning the timing, conduct and results of TransCode’s Phase 1a and Phase 2a clinical trials, statements concerning the therapeutic
potential, consistency, breadth, durability of disease control of and responses to TransCode’s TTX-MC138 and other therapeutic candidates.
Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management’s current expectations of future events and are subject
to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied
by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risks associated with drug discovery
and development; the risk that the results of clinical trials will not be consistent with TransCode’s preclinical studies or expectations
or with results from previous clinical trials; risks associated with the conduct of clinical trials; risks associated with TransCode’s
financial condition and its need to obtain additional funding to support its business activities, including TransCode’s ability
to continue as a going concern; risks associated with the timing and outcome of TransCode’s planned regulatory submissions; risks
associated with obtaining, maintaining and protecting intellectual property; risks associated with TransCode’s ability to enforce
its patents against infringers and defend its patent portfolio against challenges from third parties; risks of competition from other
companies developing products for similar uses; risks associated with TransCode’s dependence on third parties; and risks associated
with geopolitical events and pandemics. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any
of which could cause TransCode’s actual results to differ from those contained in or implied by the forward-looking statements,
see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in TransCode’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2025, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties and other important factors in any subsequent TransCode filings with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this press release is as of the date of this release; TransCode undertakes
no duty to update this information except as required by applicable law.
For more information and partnering
opportunities, please contact:
TransCode Therapeutics, Inc.
Tania Montgomery, VP of Business Development
tania.montgomery@transcodetherapeutics.com