Aethlon Medical's 2026 Q1: Unraveling Contradictions in Oncology Focus, Trial Strategies, and Enrollment Challenges

Oncology focus and trial expansion, India trial strategy and funding, Australia clinical trial stoppage criteria, clinical trial enrollment strategies and timelines, data collection and trial timeline are the key contradictions discussed in Aethlon Medical's latest 2026Q1 earnings call.



Australian Oncology Trial Progress:
- Aethlon Medical completed Hemopurifier treatments in 3 patients in the first cohort of their Australian oncology trial, with no device deficiencies or immediate complications.
- The progress in this trial is driven by the desire to move the Hemopurifier towards regulatory approval, expand its use across multiple diseases, and focus on more promising trials rather than pursuing further studies in India.

Operational Cost Reduction:
- The company reduced its consolidated operating expenses to approximately $1.8 million, a decrease of roughly $800,000 or 32% from the previous year.
- The reduction in expenses was mainly due to payroll-related savings, including the absence of executive severance, lower headcount, and decreases in stock-based compensation, legal fees, and scientific consulting costs.

Long COVID Research and Preclinical Data:
- Aethlon presented preclinical data on long COVID at the Keystone Symposium, demonstrating the removal of large and small extracellular vesicles from long COVID patients' blood samples.
- This research aims to address the unmet medical need in long COVID treatment by exploring the potential of the Hemopurifier in removing extracellular vesicles, which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the condition.

India Trial Cancellation:
- Aethlon Medical decided not to proceed with the oncology trial in India, expecting to conserve $500,000 to $1 million in the process.
- The decision was primarily strategic, as the trial in India was delayed due to bureaucratic hurdles, which could have potentially hamstrung the company's progress towards regulatory approval and strategic partnerships.