NeOnc Technologies shares rise after positive Phase 2a data for brain cancer drug NEO100

What happened

On August 13, 2026, NeOnc Technologies Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTHI) announced positive topline results from its Phase 2a study of NEO100 in patients with recurrent IDH1-mutant high-grade glioma, a type of brain cancer. The company reported that the study met its primary endpoint, with a six-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate of 48.9% versus a pre-specified benchmark of 20%.

According to the company's press release, the study also showed a median overall survival of 26.09 months and a disease control rate of 66.7%. NeOnc said it plans to hold a Type B meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to discuss a potential registrational trial.

The stock rose 5.33% on the day, closing at $4.94, after earlier reports indicated a jump of 11.7%.

Company context

NeOnc Technologies is a clinical-stage life sciences company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for central nervous system diseases, including brain cancer. NEO100 is an intranasal formulation of perillyl alcohol, designed to deliver the drug directly to the brain via the nasal pathway, bypassing the blood-brain barrier.

The company's lead asset, NEO100, is being studied as a potential treatment for recurrent high-grade glioma, a form of brain cancer with high unmet need. The positive Phase 2a results are seen as de-risking the path to pivotal trials.

What this means

The Phase 2a study was a mid-stage clinical trial designed to assess the efficacy and safety of NEO100. The primary endpoint, six-month PFS, measures the percentage of patients alive and without disease progression six months after treatment. The 48.9% result exceeded the 20% benchmark, which is typically set based on historical data for this patient population.

Median overall survival of 26.09 months is the time at which half of the patients in the study had died, a key measure of the drug's potential benefit. A Type B meeting with the FDA is a formal meeting request to discuss specific aspects of a drug development program, often used to align on the design of a registrational trial, which would be the final study needed to support a marketing application.

The stock price increase reflects investor optimism about the drug's prospects, but future development and regulatory approval remain uncertain.