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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): August 10, 2026
TELOMIR
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
| Florida |
001-41952 |
|
87-2606031 |
| (State
or Other Jurisdiction |
|
(Commission |
|
(IRS
Employer |
| of
Incorporation) |
|
File
Number) |
|
Identification
No.) |
100
SE 2nd St, Suite 2000, #1009
Miami,
Florida 33131
(Address
of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code: (786) 396-6723
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 pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title
of each class |
|
Trading
Symbol |
|
Name
of each exchange on which registered |
| Common
Stock, no par value |
|
TELO |
|
The
Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
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 ☒
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
7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On
August 10, 2026, Telomir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing publication of a peer-reviewed
preclinical study titled “Telomir-Zn Modulates Intracellular Iron and Copper to Inhibit JmjC Histone Demethylases and Suppress
Tumor Growth in Prostate and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer” in the Journal of Oncology Research and Therapy, Volume 11, Issue 3.
The
publication demonstrated that Telomir-Zn inhibits histone demethylases (KDMs), which aggressive cancer cells overexpress, to silence
tumor-suppressor genes by depleting free intracellular iron. In TNBC cells, iron-rescue experiments proved the mechanism’s specificity.
In prostate and TNBC cancer models, the compound reduced primary tumor growth. In a prostate cancer model, Telomir-Zn enabled the reactivation
of silenced tumor-suppressor genes by the inhibition of DNA methylation. Notably, Telomir-Zn significantly reduced metastatic dissemination
in an HCC1806 TNBC model—a critical finding, as most TNBC patients die from metastatic spread. In TNBC models, Telomir-Zn combined
with paclitaxel showed synergistic tumor reduction, suggesting potential for combination approaches.
In
accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1 furnished
herewith, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, and shall not be incorporated by reference into
any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall
be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This
report contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These forward-looking statements generally may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “expect,”
“plan,” “can,” “could,” “would,” “may,” “will,” “believe,”
“estimate,” “forecast,” “goal,” “project,” “guidance,” “potential,”
“intend,” “seek,” “target” and other words of similar meaning, although not all forward-looking statements
include these words. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the therapeutic potential,
mechanism of action, development plans, regulatory pathway, safety profile, efficacy, anticipated clinical development, commercialization
prospects, market opportunity and future development of Telomir-Zn, including its potential applications in oncology and other disease
indications, and the Company’s other research and development programs.
These
forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections, as well as management’s current
beliefs and assumptions, and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, risks related to preclinical
and clinical development; the initiation, timing, progress and results of clinical trials and other studies; the ability to recruit and
enroll patients in clinical trials; the safety and efficacy of Telomir-Zn; the Company’s ability to obtain and maintain regulatory
approvals; the timing and outcome of regulatory submissions and interactions with regulatory authorities; reliance on third-party manufacturers,
contract research organizations and other service providers; intellectual property protection; the Company’s ability to obtain
additional financing; commercialization and market acceptance of the Company’s product candidates, if approved; competition; market
conditions; and the other risks identified under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in the Company’s Annual Report
on Form 10-K and the Company’s subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
Forward-looking
statements contained in this report speak only as of the date of this report, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise
these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable
law.
Investors
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Additional information regarding these and other risks
and uncertainties is contained in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings,
available at www.sec.gov and in the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.telomirpharma.com. Forward-looking
statements should be considered in light of these risks and uncertainties.
Item
9.01 Financial Statements and Other Exhibits.
(d)
Exhibits.
| Exhibit
No. |
|
Description |
| |
|
|
| 99.1 |
|
Press Release of Telomir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., dated August 10, 2026 |
| 104 |
|
Cover
Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURES
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.
| |
TELOMIR
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. |
| |
|
|
| Dated:
August 10, 2026 |
By: |
/s/
Erez Aminov |
| |
Name: |
Erez
Aminov |
| |
Title: |
Chief
Executive Officer |
Exhibit
99.1
Telomir
Announces Peer-Reviewed Publication Demonstrating Telomir-Zn Suppresses Tumor Growth in TNBC and Prostate Cancer Models
Iron-Rescue
Experiments Confirm Iron-Dependent Mechanism. Tumor Suppressor Gene Reactivation and Anti-Tumor and Anti-Metastatic Activity
Across Multiple Models.
MIAMI,
Aug. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Telomir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:TELO), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing small-molecule
therapeutics targeting epigenetic and metabolic drivers of cancer, today announced the peer-reviewed publication of preclinical data
of Telomir-Zn suppressing tumor growth in prostate and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) models through selective modulation of intracellular
iron and copper.
The
manuscript, titled “Telomir-Zn Modulates Intracellular Iron and Copper to Inhibit JmjC Histone Demethylases and Suppress Tumor
Growth in Prostate and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer,” has been published in the Journal of Oncology Research and Therapy, Volume
11, Issue 3. These preclinical findings provide the scientific foundation supporting advancement of Telomir-Zn toward the Company’s
planned Phase 1/2 clinical trial in TNBC.
Publication
Highlights
KDM
Inhibition: The Target at the Core
Histone
demethylases, or KDMs, specifically the KDM2, KDM5, and KDM6 families, are often overexpressed in aggressive cancers, where they can
promote tumorigenesis by either silencing tumor-suppressor genes or activating oncogenic programs, depending on their substrate specificity
and cellular context. Telomir-Zn targets these KDM enzymes by depleting the intracellular iron they require for catalytic activity. This
study demonstrates that this KDM-targeting approach translates to meaningful anti-cancer activity.
Iron-Dependent
Mechanism Proved
The
study’s most critical finding was direct proof that Telomir-Zn’s anti-cancer activity depends on iron depletion. When researchers
added iron back to treated TNBC cells, the compound’s killing effect was significantly reversed. This iron-rescue result eliminates
alternative explanations and demonstrates the mechanism is real and specific, not a general toxin or off-target effect.
Selective
Targeting of Cancer Over Normal Cells
Telomir-Zn
killed iron-dependent TNBC cancer cells at low concentrations while leaving normal cells unharmed at concentrations more than 50-fold
higher. This selectivity window demonstrates the compound preferentially targets cancer cells with elevated iron dependence, a hallmark
of aggressive malignancies like TNBC.
Tumor
Suppressor Gene Reactivation
In
a prostate cancer model, oral Telomir-Zn suppressed tumor growth and reactivated silenced tumor-suppressor genes (STAT1, GSTP1, RASSF1A,
CDKN2A, and MASPIN). In TNBC and prostate cancer, both elevated KDM activity and abnormal DNA methylation can silence tumor-suppressor
genes through distinct but complementary epigenetic mechanisms. The compound works through an upstream mechanism distinct from approved
drugs that target downstream epigenetic machinery.
Anti-Tumor
and Anti-Metastatic Activity
In
TNBC human xenograft models, Telomir-Zn reduced primary tumor size across several cell lines. In HCC1806 xenografts, the compound also
significantly reduced metastatic dissemination, a critical finding, as most TNBC patients die from spread disease, not the primary tumor.
In BT-549 xenografts, Telomir-Zn combined with paclitaxel produced significantly greater tumor reduction than either drug alone, a finding
that suggests potential for combination therapy approaches in the clinic and positions Telomir-Zn as both a monotherapy and a chemotherapy
partner. Notably, MDA-MB-231 xenografts did not respond, indicating heterogeneous sensitivity based on tumor-specific iron-metabolism
features. It tells us that in the future we could be able to stratify patients based on personalized iron-handling signatures and potentially
enrich for responders in future clinical development.
Why
This Matters for Clinical Development
Triple-negative
breast cancer remains a significant clinical challenge. Most patients receive chemotherapy as a backbone, with limited options for targeted
or precision-based approaches. Current approved therapies and those in development address symptoms of epigenetic dysregulation but do
not target the underlying metabolic drivers, specifically, the dysregulated iron homeostasis that fuels overactive KDM enzymes in iron-addicted
cancers.
This
publication establishes dysregulated KDM-driven epigenetic silencing as a fundamental cancer vulnerability that can be targeted through
selective iron modulation. Unlike conventional epigenetic drugs that broadly inhibit methylation-modifying enzymes (DNMT or HDAC inhibitors),
Telomir-Zn targets the upstream metabolic dependency, excess intracellular iron, that fuels KDM overactivity. By depleting labile iron
and disabling KDM enzymes, the compound disrupts epigenetic silencing at its root, enabling tumor-suppressor reactivation. This mechanistically
distinct approach addresses a therapeutic gap in the current TNBC treatment landscape.
The
iron-rescue experiments provide the strongest possible proof that this mechanism is real and specific, enabling clinical strategies for
patient selection based on iron-metabolism biomarkers. The preclinical anti-metastatic activity in HCC1806 xenografts is particularly
noteworthy, as it suggests potential to address both primary tumor control and disseminated disease, a key unmet need in TNBC.
Management
Commentary
“In
several cancer types, cancer cells silence critical tumor-suppressor genes through abnormal DNA methylation, essentially turning off
the cell’s brakes,” said Dr. Itzchak Angel, Chief Scientific Advisor of Telomir. “Overactive KDM enzymes also
play a role as important drivers of this epigenetic silencing. Current TNBC treatments address downstream consequences of this dysregulation
but do not target the KDM-driven mechanism itself. Our data implicates that by reversing the abnormal methylation and by KDM inhibition,
Telomir-Zn can reactivate these silenced tumor-suppressor genes, promoting cell killing. We’re seeing tumor suppression and, in
some models, reduced metastatic spread. This is a mechanistically different approach to TNBC, and we believe it addresses a fundamental
vulnerability that existing therapies don’t. We’re encouraged by the preclinical evidence and eager to test it in patients.”
“Triple-negative
breast cancer represents one of oncology’s most significant unmet needs,” said Erez Aminov, CEO of Telomir. “Most
patients with advanced disease have limited treatment options and poor survival outcomes. We’re excited to advance Telomir-Zn into
our Phase 1/2 program under our active IND to test whether this approach can meaningfully improve outcomes for TNBC patients.”
About
Telomir Pharmaceuticals
Telomir
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:TELO) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing small-molecule therapeutics targeting epigenetic
and metabolic pathways implicated in cancer. The Company’s lead program, Telomir-Zn, is designed to modulate intracellular metal
homeostasis and epigenetic regulation and has received Investigational New Drug (IND) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
for a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in patients with advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. For more information, please visit
https://telomirpharma.com/.
Forward-Looking
Statements
This
press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “expect,”
“plan,” “can,” “could,” “would,” “may,” “will,” “believe,”
“estimate,” “forecast,” “goal,” “project,” “guidance,” “potential,”
“intend,” “seek,” “target” and other words of similar meaning, although not all forward-looking statements
include these words.
Forward-looking
statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the therapeutic potential, mechanism of action, development plans,
regulatory pathway, safety profile, clinical utility, market opportunity, and future development of Telomir-1 (Telomir-Zn) and the Company’s
other product candidates. Forward-looking statements may also include statements regarding the significance of the published preclinical
findings, the relevance of such findings to the Company’s oncology development programs, the advancement of the Company’s
Phase 1/2 TNBC clinical trial, and the potential applicability of Telomir-Zn across multiple disease areas.
These
forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections, as well as management’s beliefs
and assumptions, and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, risks related to preclinical and clinical
development, the ability to obtain regulatory approvals, the outcome of future studies, reliance on third parties, intellectual property
protection, financing needs, market conditions, and the other risks identified under the heading “Risk Factors” contained
in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company’s other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”).
Forward-looking
statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise
such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
We
caution investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. You are encouraged to
read our filings with the SEC, available at the SEC website and in the “Investors” section of our website, for a discussion
of these and other risks and uncertainties.
Contact
Information
Krystina
Quintana
Email: info@telomirpharma.com
Phone:
(786) 396-6723
