Alaunos Reports Preclinical ALN1003 Data Showing Effects on Insulin-Resistance-Related Biomarkers and Liver Histology in Diet-Induced Obesity Models Findings from non-GLP DIO[...]

Alaunos Reports Preclinical ALN1003 Data Showing Effects on Insulin-Resistance-Related Biomarkers and Liver Histology in Diet-Induced Obesity Models

Findings from non-GLP DIO mouse studies show effects on insulin-resistance-related biomarkers, adipose endocrine signaling, and qualitative liver histology findings consistent with lower hepatic steatosis

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, May 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alaunos Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: TCRT) today announced updated preclinical data from non-GLP diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse studies evaluating ALN1003, the Company's investigational oral metabolic therapeutic candidate. Across selected biomarker and liver histology assessments, ALN1003 showed effects on insulin-resistance-related measures, adipose endocrine markers, and qualitative liver pathology findings relevant to metabolic syndrome biology. These findings support continued preclinical development of ALN1003 in metabolic syndrome and related conditions, including obesity, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and insulin resistance.

Metabolic syndrome is increasingly understood not as a collection of independent risk factors, but as a multi-organ, adiposity-associated disease state characterized by insulin resistance, dysfunctional adipose tissue, chronic low-grade inflammation, and hepatic lipid accumulation. Emerging research suggests that the biological quality and endocrine function of adipose tissue, rather than fat mass alone, plays a central role in disease progression. Within this framework, the preclinical profile of ALN1003 is notable in that it appears to engage several of these interconnected systems simultaneously.

In the longer-duration 48-day DIO model, ALN1003 was associated with significantly lower fasting insulin and significantly lower Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), a calculated index derived from fasting glucose and insulin. ALN1003-treated animals had significantly lower HOMA-IR scores compared with controls after adjustment for percentage body fat in a standard ANCOVA analysis (p=.0006), with the same conclusion confirmed using heteroscedasticity-robust HC3 standard errors as a sensitivity analysis (p=0.0014). ALN1003 was also associated with numerically lower leptin, significantly higher adiponectin, and a significantly higher adiponectin-to-leptin ratio. Together, these findings are consistent with improved insulin-resistance-related biomarkers and favorable adipose endocrine signaling in this preclinical model.

Liver histology findings provided additional supportive evidence relevant to the liver component of metabolic syndrome. In a blinded pathology review of selected liver samples from the 48-day

and 18-day DIO studies (3 control and 3 treatment samples from each study, selecting the high dose group from the 18-day study), H&E-stained whole-slide images were evaluated for steatosis, lobular inflammation, ballooning degeneration, and NAS components, while Masson's trichrome-stained sections were used to assess fibrosis. ALN1003-treated animals showed qualitative findings consistent with lower hepatic steatosis relative to controls, along with lower mean NAS scores. Control samples evaluated in the selected pathology set had NAS scores of 5, consistent with more active steatotic liver disease-like histology, while ALN1003-treated samples had lower mean NAS scores of 2.7 and 1.3 in the 48-day and 18-day studies, respectively. These limited pilot pathology findings do not establish MASLD resolution, fibrosis reversal, inflammation improvement, or clinical efficacy, but are consistent with a qualitative anti-steatotic effect in this preclinical model.

Taken together, these findings suggest that ALN1003 may influence multiple components of metabolic syndrome biology in DIO mouse models, including insulin-resistance-related biomarkers, adipose endocrine signaling, and hepatic lipid accumulation. This multi-axis preclinical profile may be relevant to a therapeutic landscape increasingly focused on metabolic health beyond body weight alone, including liver health, cardiometabolic risk, and preservation of lean mass.

"We are encouraged by the consistency of signals across insulin-resistance-related biomarkers, adipose endocrine markers, and liver histology while acknowledging these findings are early and preclinical," said Holger Weis, CEO of Alaunos. "The data support continued investigation of ALN1003 as a potential oral, non-hormonal approach for metabolic syndrome and related conditions." The Company noted that the current treatment landscape for metabolic syndrome is evolving rapidly beyond weight loss alone. The Company believes that the emerging target product framework increasingly emphasizes liver health, metabolic stability, cardiovascular risk reduction, convenience, and preservation of lean mass, alongside weight and glucose control. The Company believes ALN1003's early preclinical profile may align with this broader therapeutic direction.

The Company plans to continue advancing ALN1003 through additional preclinical studies focused on dose optimization, exposure-response relationships, expanded metabolic phenotyping, and further characterization of liver pathology and underlying mechanisms.

These findings are based on non-GLP preclinical studies and should be interpreted with appropriate caution. Limitations include limited sample sizes, histological analysis limited to a sample of available livers, single-timepoint biomarker assessments, known constraints of HOMA-IR interpretation in rodent models, and qualitative/semi-quantitative pathology scoring. ALN1003 has not been evaluated in human clinical trials, and its safety and efficacy in humans has not been established.

As of March 31, 2026, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $0.354 million. The Company's current cash runway extends into the second quarter of 2026. The Company intends to pursue additional financing to support continued operations and advancement of its preclinical obesity and metabolic disorders program.

About ALN1003

ALN1003 is an investigational oral metabolic therapeutic being developed to target multiple drivers of metabolic dysfunction, including insulin resistance, adipose tissue signaling, and hepatic

lipid metabolism. Preclinical studies to date suggest potential relevance across metabolic syndrome and related conditions.

About Alaunos Therapeutics

Alaunos Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing novel therapeutics. The Company's obesity and metabolic disorders program is advancing ALN1003, an oral small-molecule candidate designed to offer a differentiated, non-hormonal approach compared with currently available therapies.