Luxeptinib

TUS+VEN+HMA Triplet Protocol in Frontline Therapy for Newly Diagnosed AML was Reviewed by the FDA and Allowed to Proceed Abstract Supporting Exploration of the TUS+VEN+AZA Triplet in Frontline Therapy for Newly Diagnosed AML has been Submitted to the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) SAN DIEGO and TORONTO, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aptose Biosciences Inc. (“Aptose” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: APTO, TSX: APS), a clinical-stage precision oncology company developing highly differentiated oral targeted agents to treat hematologic malignancies, today announced financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2024, and provided a corporate update. “We are pleased that our triplet protocol of tuspetinib with venetoclax and azacitidine (TUS+VEN+AZA) has been allowed to proceed at the 40 mg dose of tuspetinib, a dose that as a single agent and in doublet therapy has been shown to be safe and active,” said William G. Rice, Ph.D., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aptose. “We – along with our board and outside scientific advisors – strongly believe tuspetinib is an ideal drug for frontline triplet therapy and we remain committed to securing financing to pursue its development for the newly diagnosed AML patient population in desperate need of an improved frontline therapy.” Key Corporate Highlights Tuspetinib Protocol Now Ready for Triplet Therapy Study – Aptose’s company-sponsored phase 1/2 TUS+VEN+AZA triplet study is designed to test tuspetinib in combination with standard of care dosing of azacitidine and venetoclax as frontline therapy in newly diagnosed AML patients unfit for chemotherapy. The planned study will dose VEN-naïve, FLT3i-naïve, and HMA-naïve patients, a group expected to be highly responsive to the TUS+VEN+HZA triplet regimen. Current triplet therapies containing kinase inhibitors can be limited by toxicities often requiring dose reductions of all three agents and may not be effective in the larger FLT3-unmutated AML population. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed TUS to be administered as part of the triplet at 40 mg daily, at an initial dose shown active as a single agent in relapsed or refractory AML patients. ASH Abstract – On July 31, 2024, Aptose submitted an abstract for presentation at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in December 2024. Lead author Navel Daver, MD, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX and research team explore the safety and efficacy results that support the upcoming combination study of TUS+VEN+AZA as a triplet drug combination frontline therapy in newly diagnosed AML patients ineligible for intensive chemotherapy, independent of FLT3 mutation status, which is an important differentiator for tuspetinib. Nasdaq – On July 19, 2024, Aptose announced that it had received a deficiency letter (the “Deficiency Letter”) from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) notifying the Company that, for the last thirty (30) consecutive business days, the closing bid price for the Company's common shares had been below the minimum $1.00 per share required for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Minimum Bid Price Requirement”). The Deficiency Letter has no immediate effect on the listing of the Company's common shares, and its common shares will continue to trade on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “APTO” at this time. The Company's common shares continue to trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) under the symbol “APS”. The Company's listing on the TSX is independent and will not be affected by the Nasdaq listing status. In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the Company has been given one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days, or until January 10, 2025, to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement. If at any time before January 10, 2025, the bid price of the Company's common shares closes at $1.00 per share or more for a minimum of ten (10) consecutive business days, the Staff will provide written confirmation that the Company has achieved compliance. If the Company does not regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement by January 10, 2025, the Company may be afforded a second one hundred and eighty (180) calendar day period to regain compliance. The Company intends to monitor the closing bid price of its common shares and may, if appropriate, consider available options to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement or will otherwise be in compliance with other Nasdaq Listing Rules. Multiple Planned Value-creating Milestones Ahead Frontline therapy triplet pilot dose initiation planned in newly diagnosed (ND) AML: 2H 2024Triplet pilot dose escalation planned with early data in ND AML: ASH 2024Triplet pilot completed with CR/MRD data and dose selection: EHA 2025Triplet Ph2/Ph3 pivotal program planned initiation: 2H 2025 FINANCIAL RESULTS OF OPERATIONSAptose Biosciences Inc.Statements of Operations Data(unaudited)($ in thousands, except per share data) Three months ended June 30, Six months endedJune 30, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Expenses: Research and development$4,413 $10,582 $10,858 $19,393 General and administrative 2,932 3,870 6,247 9,155 Operating expenses 7,345 14,452 17,105 28,548 Other income, net 93 323 213 743 Net loss$(7,252) $(14,129) $(16,892) $(27,805) Net Loss per share, Basic and diluted$(0.43) $(2.27) $(1.13) $(4.47) Weighted average number of commonshares outstanding used in computingnet loss per share, basic and diluted(in thousands) 16,755 6,234 14,944 6,219 Net loss for the three-month period ended June 30, 2024 decreased by $6.9 million to $7.3 million, as compared to $14.1 million for the comparable period in 2023. Net loss for the six-month period ended June 30, 2024 decreased by $10.9 million to $16.9 million, as compared to $27.8 million for the comparable period in 2023. Components of net loss are presented below: Aptose Biosciences Inc.Balance Sheet Data(unaudited)($ in thousands) June 30,2024 December 31,2023 Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments$8,330 $9,252 Working capital (2,552) (3,375) Total assets 10,949 12,989 Long-term liabilities 414 621 Accumulated deficit (532,429) (515,537) Stockholders’ equity (2,176) (2,901) Total cash and cash equivalents and investments as of June 30, 2024, were $8.3 million. Based on current operations, the Company expects that cash on hand and available capital provides the Company with sufficient resources to fund planned Company operations including research and development through August of 2024. As of August 8, 2024, we had 18,109,393 Common Shares issued and outstanding. In addition, there were 1,347,002 Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options and there were 18,341,491 Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of the outstanding warrants. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES The research and development expenses for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2024, and 2023 were as follows: Three months endedJune 30, Six months endedJune 30, (in thousands)2024 2023 2024 2023 Program costs – Tuspetinib$2,666 $8,070 $6,589 $12,845 Program costs – Luxeptinib 304 706 512 1,995 Program costs – APTO-253 (9) 19 13 26 Personnel related expenses 1,379 1,506 3,333 3,584 Stock-based compensation 70 271 398 924 Depreciation of equipment 3 10 13 19 Total$4,413 $10,582 $10,858 $19,393 Research and development expenses decreased by $6.2 million to $4.4 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $10.6 million for the comparative period in 2023. Changes to the components of our research and development expenses presented in the table above are primarily as a result of the following events: Program costs for tuspetinib were $2.7 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2024, compared with $8.1 million for the comparative period in 2023. The lower program costs for tuspetinib in the current period represent the reduction of activity in our APTIVATE clinical trial, reduced manufacturing costs, and related expenses. In the comparative period in 2023, tuspetinib program costs included the healthy volunteer study, which was completed in 2023. Program costs for luxeptinib decreased by approximately $402 thousand, primarily due to lower clinical trial and manufacturing activities. Program costs for APTO-253 decreased by approximately $28 thousand. The Company discontinued further clinical development of APTO-253. Personnel-related expenses decreased by $127 thousand, related to fewer employees in the current three-month period, partially offset by salary increases. Stock-based compensation decreased by approximately $201 thousand in the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023, primarily due to stock options granted with lower grant date fair values in the current period. Research and development expenses decreased by $8.5 million to $10.9 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $19.4 million for the comparative period in 2023. Changes to the components of our research and development expenses presented in the table above are primarily as a result of the following events: Program costs for tuspetinib were $6.6 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2024, a decrease of $6.3 million compared with $12.8 million for the comparative period in 2023. The lower program costs for tuspetinib in the current period represent the reduction of activity in our APTIVATE clinical trial, reduced manufacturing costs, and related expenses. In the comparative period in 2023, tuspetinib program costs included the healthy volunteer study, which was completed in 2023. Program costs for luxeptinib decreased by approximately $1.5 million to $512 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $2.0 million in the comparative period, primarily due to lower clinical trial and manufacturing activities. Program costs for APTO-253 decreased by approximately $13 thousand, due to the Company’s decision on December 20, 2021 to discontinue further clinical development of APTO-253. Personnel-related expenses decreased by $251 thousand, related to fewer employees in the current six-month period and partially offset by salary increases. Stock-based compensation decreased by approximately $526 thousand in the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023, primarily due to stock options granted with lower grant date fair values, in the current period. About Aptose Aptose Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to developing precision medicines addressing unmet medical needs in oncology, with an initial focus on hematology. The Company's small molecule cancer therapeutics pipeline includes products designed to provide single agent efficacy and to enhance the efficacy of other anti-cancer therapies and regimens without overlapping toxicities. The Company’s lead clinical-stage compound tuspetinib (TUS), is an oral kinase inhibitor that has demonstrated activity as a monotherapy and in combination therapy in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is being developed as a frontline triplet therapy in newly diagnosed AML. For more information, please visit www.aptose.com. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian and U.S. securities laws, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s clinical development plans, the clinical potential, anti-cancer activity, therapeutic potential and applications and safety profile of tuspetinib, clinical trials, the enrollment in clinical trials and the data therefrom, the submission of a compliance plan to Nasdaq and available options to regain compliance, upcoming milestones, financing activities, expectations regarding capital available to the Company to fund planned Company operations, maintenance of the Nasdaq and TSX listings and statements relating to the Company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements including words such as “continue”, “expect”, “intend”, “will”, “hope” “should”, “would”, “may”, “potential” and other similar expressions. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements described in this press release. Such factors could include, among others: our ability to obtain the capital required for research and operations; the inherent risks in early stage drug development including demonstrating efficacy; development time/cost and the regulatory approval process; the progress of our clinical trials; our ability to find and enter into agreements with potential partners; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; changing market and economic conditions; unexpected manufacturing defects and other risks detailed from time-to-time in our ongoing current reports, quarterly filings, annual information forms, annual reports and annual filings with Canadian securities regulators and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the assumptions set out in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our filings with Canadian securities regulators and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission underlying those forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and we do not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. We cannot assure you that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. For further information, please contact: Aptose Biosciences Inc.Susan PietropaoloCorporate Communications & Investor Relations201-923-2049spietropaolo@aptose.com

TUS+VEN+HMA Triplet Protocol in 1L Therapy for Newly Diagnosed AML was Submitted to the FDA During Q1 and is Now Being Activated at Clinical Sites TUS+VEN+HMA Triplet 1L Therapy for Newly Diagnosed AML is Supported by Extensive TUS and TUS+VEN Data from Completed Trials with R/R AML Conference Call and Webcast at 5:00 pm ET Today SAN DIEGO and TORONTO, May 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aptose Biosciences Inc. (“Aptose” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: APTO, TSX: APS), a clinical-stage precision oncology company developing highly differentiated oral targeted agents to treat hematologic malignancies, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024. The Company will provide a corporate update webcast at 5:00 pm ET today, which will include slides focused on the new triplet pilot study expected to deliver clinical data in the second half of this year. “Tuspetinib (TUS) has now moved to triplet frontline (1L) treatment for newly diagnosed (ND) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients who need a superior 1L therapy. The introduction of venetoclax (VEN) to establish the venetoclax/hypomethylating agent (VEN+HMA) doublet was a major advancement in the frontline treatment of ND AML, but response rates still remain too low and survival too short in 1L therapy. Even more concerning, patients who fail a VEN-containing regimen respond poorly to subsequent salvage therapies in the relapsed or refractory (R/R) setting and have a dismal prognosis,” said William G. Rice, Ph.D., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aptose. “Our solution is the addition of TUS to VEN-HMA to increase response rates, prolong survival, safely improve quality of life, treat a broad spectrum of AML genetic subpopulations, and prevent ND AML patients from becoming resistant to VEN. We’re delighted to have an active protocol to initiate this pilot clinical study and look forward to sharing initial TUS+VEN+HMA triplet data before year-end.” Key Corporate Highlights Tuspetinib Advancement to TUS+VEN+HMA Triplet Therapy Supported by Extensive Dose Exploration as TUS Single Agent and TUS+VEN Doublet – Tuspetinib, a convenient once daily oral agent that potently targets SYK, FLT3, mutated KIT, JAK1/2, and RSK2 kinases, is being developed for the treatment of patients with ND AML. Tuspetinib avoids many typical toxicities observed with other agents, showing no treatment related QTc prolongation or CPK elevations; no differentiation syndrome; and no drug-related myelosuppression during remission with no drug-related discontinuations or deaths. In the APTIVATE trial, Tuspetinib achieved broad activity across AML patients with a diversity of adverse genetics as a single agent (TUS) and in combination with venetoclax (TUS+VEN) in very ill relapsed/refractory (R/R) and heavily pre-treated AML populations. Blast reductions and responses were observed in patients with Prior-VEN, Prior-FLT3 inhibitor (FLT3i), and Prior-HSCT therapies, those with highly adverse genetics, including mutations in TP53 and RAS genes, and those with mutated or unmutated FLT3 genes. Patients naïve to VEN therapy achieved higher response rates. Tuspetinib Protocol Now Ready for Triplet Therapy Pilot Study; Clinical Sites Being Activated – Tuspetinib is the ideal third agent for a 1L triplet because of its distinctly favorable safety profile. Tuspetinib enhances antileukemic activity when combined with VEN or HMA in pre-clinical models, Tuspetinib has demonstrated a broad scope of activity across genetic subgroups of AML, and Tuspetinib mechanistically cooperates with VEN to thwart drug resistance. The protocol was submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Q1, more than 45 days ago, and is currently being activated at clinical sites to initiate the TUS+VEN+AZA triplet pilot study. The new study will enroll ND AML patients who are ineligible to receive intensive induction chemotherapy due to age or co-morbidity. By definition, study participants will be VEN-naïve, FLT3i-naïve, and HMA-naïve, a group that has been shown to be highly responsive to triplet regimens. However, current triplet therapies containing kinase inhibitors can be limited by toxicities often requiring dose reductions of all three agents and are not being pursued in the larger FLT3-unmutated AML population. Clinical sites are now preparing to open the TUS+VEN+HMA triplet study, which is expected to commence enrollment early next quarter. Initial data are expected in the fourth quarter of this year. Tuspetinib Abstract Accepted for Poster Presentation at EHA – Aptose will deliver a clinical poster presentation at the European Hematology Association (EHA) 2024 Hybrid Congress in Madrid, Spain (Poster ID # P557) that describes the safety and efficacy of tuspetinib (TUS) monotherapy and the TUS+VEN doublet in the APTIVATE Phase 1/2 trial with R/R AML patients. The data illustrate the safety and breadth of activity of TUS and TUS+VEN and support our launch of the TUS+VEN+HMA triplet frontline therapy in newly diagnosed AML. A separate preclinical abstract, which has been accepted for e-poster publication, demonstrates that TUS retains nanomolar potency against AML cells engineered to express the NRAS-G12D mutation or selected for resistance to venetoclax (Poster ID # P1756). Tuspetinib Preclinical Studies Elucidate Mechanistic Cooperativity Among TUS and VEN – Aptose continues to investigate the mechanisms underlying the complementary activity between TUS and VEN. In addition to targeting certain VEN resistance mechanisms, TUS retains activity against VEN-resistant AML cell lines. Likewise, resistance to TUS creates a synthetic lethality for VEN with a 2000-fold increase in sensitivity to VEN. Other studies demonstrate TUS retains potent antitumor activity in preclinical models of human AML resistant to the gilteritinib FLT3 inhibitor (FLT3i), a finding that is clinically validated by response rates to TUS in R/R AML study participants with prior FLT3i treatment. Nasdaq – On February 29, 2024, Aptose received a deficiency letter from the Listings Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) regarding the previously announced private placement with Hanmi Pharmaceutical, Inc. (“Hanmi”) which closed in January 2024. In response to the deficiency letter, Aptose submitted a plan to Nasdaq to regain compliance. On April 25, 2024, the Company received confirmation from Nasdaq that the Company had regained compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d) and determined that the matter is now closed. Pursuant to the Company’s plan to regain compliance, on April 26, 2024, the Company announced that it had amended the terms of the warrant agreement with Hanmi to prohibit the exercise of the warrants if such exercise would result in Hanmi owning more than 19.99% of the issued and outstanding shares of Aptose, unless shareholder approval is first obtained. On April 2, 2024, Aptose received a second Notification Letter from Nasdaq stating that the Company was not in compliance with Nasdaq’s listing rules because the stockholders’ equity as of December 31, 2023, was below the minimum requirement of $2.5 million. The shareholder’s equity as of December 31, 2023 was negative $2.9 million. As of March 31, 2024, the shareholder’s equity is $137,000, positive. Aptose intends to submit a compliance plan on or before May 17, 2024, to monitor stockholders’ equity and, if appropriate, consider further available options to evidence compliance with the requirement. Multiple Planned Value-creating Milestones Ahead TUS and TUS+VEN data in R/R AML to support TUS+VEN+HMA in ND AML: EHA 2024 Triplet pilot dose initiation planned in ND AML: Summer 2024 Triplet pilot dose escalation planned with early CR/MRD/safety data in ND AML: ASH 2024 Triplet pilot completed with CR/MRD data and dose selection: EHA 2025 Triplet Ph2/Ph3 pivotal program planned initiation: 2H 2025 FINANCIAL RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Aptose Biosciences Inc.Statements of Operations Data(unaudited)($ in thousands, except per share data) Three months ended March 31, 2024 March 31, 2023Expenses: Research and development$6,445 $8,811 General and administrative 3,315 5,285 Operating expenses 9,760 14,096 Other income, net 120 420 Net loss$(9,640) $(13,676)Net Loss per share, Basic and diluted$(0.73) $(2.22)Weighted average number of common shares outstanding used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted (in thousands) 13,133 6,171 The net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2024, was $9.6 million ($0.73 per share) compared with $13.7 million ($2.22 per share) for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The decrease in net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2023, was primarily a result of a decrease in research and development costs of $2.4 million, a decrease in general and administrative costs of $2.0 million, and a decrease in interest income of $0.3 million. Aptose Biosciences Inc.Balance Sheet Data(unaudited)($ in thousands) March 31, December 31, 2024 2023 Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments$9,328 $9,252 Working capital (318) (3,375)Total assets 12,796 12,989 Long-term liabilities 520 621 Accumulated deficit (525,177) (515,537)Stockholders’ equity 137 (2,901) Total cash and cash equivalents and investments as of March 31, 2024, were $9.3 million. Based on current operations, the Company expects that cash on hand and available capital provides the Company with sufficient resources to fund planned Company operations including research and development through August of 2024. Common shares outstanding on May 14, 2024, were 16,309,393. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES The research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024, and 2023 were as follows: Three months ended March 31,(in thousands) 2024 2023Program costs – Tuspetinib $3,923 $4,774Program costs – Luxeptinib 208 1,289Program costs – APTO-253 22 8Personnel related expenses 1,954 2,078Stock-based compensation 328 652Depreciation of equipment 10 10Total $6,445 $8,811 Research and development (“R&D”) expenses decreased by $2.4 million to $6.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared with $8.8 million for the comparative period in 2023. Changes to the components of our R&D expenses are primarily as a result of the following activities: Program costs for tuspetinib were $3.9 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, compared with $4.7 million in the comparative period in 2023. The lower program costs for tuspetinib in the current period represent the near completion of our APTIVATE clinical trials, and reduced manufacturing costs. In the comparative period in 2023, tuspetinib program costs included the healthy volunteer study, which was completed in 2023. Luxeptinib program costs were $208,000 and decreased by approximately $1.1 million, primarily due to lower clinical trial and manufacturing costs associated with the conclusion of certain luxeptinib clinical trial activities. Program costs for APTO-253 were $22,000. The Company decided on December 20, 2021 to discontinue further development of APTO-253. Stock-based compensation decreased by approximately $324,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily due to stock options granted with lower grant date fair values, in the current period. Conference Call & Webcast: Date:Tuesday, May 14, 2024Time:5:00 PM ETWebcast Only (will include slides):link (https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/bm3d3k5a/)Q&A Participant Registration Link*:link (https://register.vevent.com/register/BIebf7d306b67a4388b6a8d9cc63464f80) *Analysts interested in participating in the question-and-answer session will pre-register for the event from the participant registration link above to receive the dial-in numbers and a unique PIN, which are required to access the live conference call. They also will have the option to take advantage of a Call Me button and the system will automatically dial out to connect to the Q&A session. The webcast also can be accessed through a link on the Investor Relations section of Aptose’s website here. A replay of the webcast will be available on the company’s website for 30 days. The press release, the financial statements and the management’s discussion and analysis for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 will be available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. About Aptose Aptose Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to developing precision medicines addressing unmet medical needs in oncology, with an initial focus on hematology. The Company's small molecule cancer therapeutics pipeline includes products designed to provide single agent efficacy and to enhance the efficacy of other anti-cancer therapies and regimens without overlapping toxicities. The Company has two clinical-stage oral kinase inhibitors under development for hematologic malignancies: tuspetinib (TUS), an oral, kinase inhibitor that has demonstrated activity as a monotherapy and in combination therapy in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is being developed as a frontline triplet therapy in newly diagnosed AML; and luxeptinib (CG-806), an oral, dual lymphoid and myeloid kinase inhibitor in Phase 1 a/b stage development for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory hematologic malignancies. For more information, please visit www.aptose.com. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian and U.S. securities laws, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s clinical development plans, the clinical potential, anti-cancer activity, therapeutic potential and applications and safety profile of tuspetinib, clinical trials, the enrollment in clinical trials and the data therefrom, timing of submitting a compliance plan to Nasdaq, upcoming milestones, expectations regarding capital available to the Company to fund planned Company operations, and statements relating to the Company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements including words such as “continue”, “expect”, “intend”, “will”, “hope” “should”, “would”, “may”, “potential” and other similar expressions. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements described in this press release. Such factors could include, among others: our ability to obtain the capital required for research and operations; the inherent risks in early stage drug development including demonstrating efficacy; development time/cost and the regulatory approval process; the progress of our clinical trials; our ability to find and enter into agreements with potential partners; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; changing market and economic conditions; unexpected manufacturing defects and other risks detailed from time-to-time in our ongoing current reports, quarterly filings, annual information forms, annual reports and annual filings with Canadian securities regulators and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the assumptions set out in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our filings with Canadian securities regulators and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission underlying those forward- looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and we do not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. We cannot assure you that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. For further information, please contact: Aptose Biosciences Inc.LifeSci Advisors, LLCSusan PietropaoloDan Ferry, Managing DirectorCorporate Communications & Investor Relations617-430-7576201-923-2049Daniel@LifeSciAdvisors.comspietropaolo@aptose.com