$CMPX: A Major Cancer Drug Presentation at ESMO 2026 — Why Investors Are Watching

October 20, 2026 | Biotech Catalyst Watch

Compass Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CMPX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing antibody-based cancer treatments, is scheduled to present results from its Phase 2/3 COMPANION-002 clinical trial at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2026.

The presentation will focus on tovecimig (CTX-009), an investigational cancer therapy being evaluated in patients with previously treated advanced biliary tract cancer.

The ESMO Congress will take place October 23–27, 2026, in Madrid, Spain.

ESMO Presentation Details

Compass Therapeutics announced on July 17, 2026, that its clinical trial abstract had been selected for an oral Proffered Paper presentation.

The scheduled presentation details are:

• Presentation date: Saturday, October 24, 2026

• Session time: 10:15 AM–11:45 AM, Madrid time

• Presenter: Dr. Nilofer Azad, Johns Hopkins University

• Clinical trial: COMPANION-002

• Development stage: Phase 2/3

• Investigational therapy: Tovecimig (CTX-009) combined with paclitaxel

• Indication: Previously treated advanced biliary tract cancer

The presentation will cover results from the randomized, controlled study comparing tovecimig plus paclitaxel with paclitaxel alone.

About Tovecimig (CTX-009)

Tovecimig is an investigational bispecific antibody designed to target DLL4 and VEGF-A, two proteins involved in the development of blood vessels that support tumor growth.

The drug is being studied as a potential treatment for biliary tract cancer, a group of cancers affecting the bile ducts and related structures.

Patients with advanced biliary tract cancer who experience disease progression after initial treatment often have limited treatment options.

Compass Therapeutics is evaluating whether the addition of tovecimig to paclitaxel can improve treatment outcomes in this patient population.

Previously Reported COMPANION-002 Clinical Results

Compass Therapeutics previously announced results from the COMPANION-002 study, including statistically significant improvements in objective response rate and progression-free survival.

The final analysis reported the following findings:

Clinical measure	Tovecimig + paclitaxel	Paclitaxel alone
Objective response rate	18.0%	5.3%
Median progression-free survival	4.7 months	2.6 months
Median overall survival	8.9 months	9.4 months

The objective response rate measures the percentage of patients whose tumors shrink by a predefined amount.

Progression-free survival measures the time patients live without their cancer worsening.

The study met its primary endpoint of objective response rate, with a reported p-value of 0.0228. Progression-free survival also improved significantly, with a hazard ratio of 0.44 and a p-value below 0.0001.

However, the trial did not demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in overall survival.

Compass reported that 54% of patients in the control group crossed over to receive tovecimig plus paclitaxel after disease progression, complicating the interpretation of overall survival results.

These findings form an important part of the company's ongoing regulatory discussions.

FDA Feedback on Tovecimig

On September 22, 2026, Compass Therapeutics provided an update regarding discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

According to the company, the FDA recommended an additional clinical trial demonstrating an overall survival benefit before Compass submits a Biologics License Application (BLA) for tovecimig.

Compass stated that it does not believe another trial is warranted before submission, based on the COMPANION-002 findings and the unmet medical need among patients with advanced biliary tract cancer.

The company indicated that it intends to continue discussions with the FDA while preparing a potential BLA submission.

As of October 20, 2026, tovecimig remains investigational and has not received FDA approval.

The upcoming ESMO presentation is a scientific conference event and should not be confused with an FDA regulatory decision.

Compass Therapeutics' Financial Position

In its second-quarter financial report released August 6, 2026, Compass Therapeutics reported approximately $180 million in cash and marketable securities as of June 30, 2026.

The company indicated that its available financial resources were expected to support operations into 2028.

This financial position provides resources for ongoing clinical development and regulatory activities, although future financing requirements will depend on the company's development plans and operating expenses.

Other Clinical Programs

In addition to tovecimig, Compass Therapeutics has other investigational antibody therapies in clinical development.

CTX-8371 is a bispecific antibody targeting PD-1 and PD-L1. The company is conducting Phase 1 clinical development, including cohort expansions involving several cancer types.

CTX-10726 is a bispecific antibody targeting PD-1 and VEGF-A. The program entered Phase 1 clinical testing, with initial data expected during the fourth quarter of 2026.

These programs represent additional clinical development activities beyond the company's COMPANION-002 study.

What to Expect From the ESMO Presentation

The October 24 presentation will provide an opportunity for Compass Therapeutics to discuss the COMPANION-002 results with an international audience of oncology researchers and healthcare professionals.

The presentation may provide additional details regarding the trial's efficacy, safety findings, subgroup analyses, and interpretation of the overall survival results.

The central questions surrounding tovecimig remain whether its demonstrated improvements in objective response rate and progression-free survival will support further regulatory progress, and how the FDA's request for additional overall survival evidence will be addressed.

No FDA approval decision is scheduled as part of the ESMO presentation.

Conclusion

Compass Therapeutics is scheduled to present its Phase 2/3 COMPANION-002 clinical trial results at ESMO 2026 on October 24.

The study demonstrated statistically significant improvements in objective response rate and progression-free survival for tovecimig plus paclitaxel compared with paclitaxel alone. However, the overall survival endpoint was not met, and the FDA has recommended additional evidence before a BLA submission.

The ESMO presentation will provide a scientific forum for reviewing these results as Compass continues development and regulatory discussions concerning tovecimig.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Clinical-stage biotechnology companies face substantial clinical, regulatory, and financial risks. Readers should review official company announcements and regulatory filings before making investment decisions.

Dominari Securities: The Investment Bank at the Center of a Growing Trump-Linked Technology Network

Dominari Securities LLC may not be a household name on Wall Street, but the New York investment bank has become increasingly active in some of today's fastest-growing industries, including Bitcoin, artificial intelligence, drones and defense technology.

What makes Dominari especially interesting is its relationship with Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.

Both Trump brothers are significant shareholders and members of the Board of Advisors of Dominari Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: DOMH), the parent company of Dominari Securities. Their involvement also overlaps with several companies that have worked with or received financing from Dominari, including American Bitcoin, Unusual Machines, XTEND and Powerus.

Don Jr. and Eric Trump Join Dominari

The relationship became official in February 2025, when Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump joined Dominari Holdings' Board of Advisors. Both brothers also participated in a private placement in the company.

Dominari Securities CEO Kyle Wool said at the time that their guidance would help the firm pursue investment opportunities, particularly in areas such as AI and data centers.

Their involvement was more than advisory. SEC filings subsequently showed both brothers holding significant positions in Dominari Holdings, with beneficial ownership exceeding 5% individually at various points. But the clearest example of how their relationship with Dominari developed into actual business activity came almost immediately.

Dominari and Eric Trump's American Bitcoin

Only days after the Trump brothers joined Dominari's advisory board, Dominari announced the creation of American Data Centers Inc.

According to the February 18, 2025 SEC filing, the new venture involved Dominari Holdings, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and other AI industry professionals.

Dominari initially owned 32% of American Data Centers.

The company soon took a much different direction.

In March 2025, American Data Centers combined with Bitcoin-mining assets contributed by Hut 8 and was renamed American Bitcoin Corp.

Eric Trump became Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of American Bitcoin, while Dominari remained an equity investor.

Then Dominari's investment-banking arm became directly involved.

In June 2025, American Bitcoin completed a private placement raising approximately $220 million, with Dominari Securities serving as placement agent.

This makes American Bitcoin one of the strongest examples of the relationship between Dominari and the Trump brothers:

Dominari + Don Jr. + Eric Trump→ helped create American Data Centers

American Data Centers→ became American Bitcoin

Eric Trump→ became Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer

Dominari Holdings→ remained an investor

Dominari Securities→ helped raise approximately $220 million

This was clearly much more than a typical relationship between an investment bank and an unrelated client.

Don Jr., Dominari and Unusual Machines

Another important connection involves Unusual Machines Inc. (NYSE American: UMAC), a U.S. drone and drone-component company.

Interestingly, Dominari's relationship with UMAC began before Don Jr. joined Dominari.

Dominari worked with Unusual Machines while it was still private and later served as lead underwriter for UMAC's IPO.

Then, in November 2024, UMAC announced that Donald Trump Jr. had become an investor and joined its advisory board.

Several months later, Don Jr. also became an investor and advisor to Dominari Holdings.

Dominari Securities continued working with UMAC and helped the company raise substantial amounts of capital:

May 2025: $40 million offering

July 2025: $48.5 million offering

March 2026: approximately $150 million public offering, with Dominari and JonesTrading acting as co-placement agents.

So the relationship is straightforward:

Dominari → UMAC's investment banker and capital raiser

Don Jr. → UMAC investor and advisor

Don Jr. → Dominari shareholder and advisor

Dominari Moves Deeper Into the Drone Industry

UMAC wasn't the end of Dominari's involvement with drones.

By 2026, the firm was openly highlighting the drone industry as an important area of opportunity. In a shareholder letter titled “The Rise of the American Drone Industry,” Dominari discussed its involvement with Unusual Machines, XTEND and Powerus.

And this is where the network becomes particularly interesting.

XTEND: Eric Trump, UMAC and American Ventures

XTEND develops AI-powered robotics and autonomous systems for defense, law enforcement and other high-risk environments.

In February 2026, XTEND announced a proposed combination with publicly traded JFB Construction Holdings.

Among the strategic investors identified in the transaction were:

• Eric Trump

• Unusual Machines

• American Ventures LLC

• Protego Ventures

• Aliya Capital

This brought several parts of the Dominari network together in one transaction.

Eric Trump was already a Dominari shareholder and advisor. UMAC was a longtime Dominari investment-banking client. And American Ventures had its own close relationship with Dominari.

American Ventures: Dominari's Private Investment Arm

American Ventures adds another important piece to the picture.

Dominari Holdings owns 90% of American Ventures Management LLC, which manages the American Ventures investment platform.

This gives Dominari access to two complementary businesses:

American Ventures can invest capital, while Dominari Securities can raise and arrange capital.

That relationship can also generate revenue on both sides. Dominari's filings show that on certain American Ventures transactions, Dominari Securities earns placement-agent fees while American Ventures' manager earns management fees.

During 2025, Dominari Securities earned approximately $7.6 million in placement-agent fees associated with Series investments, while the manager earned approximately $1.2 million in management fees. This structure helps explain why American Ventures is important when looking at Dominari's growing network of investments.

Powerus Adds Another Trump-Linked Drone Company

Another company in the network is Powerus, which develops autonomous drone systems and was founded by former U.S. Army Special Operations veterans.

In March 2026, Powerus announced a proposed merger with publicly traded Aureus Greenway Holdings.

The SEC-filed announcement identified Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump among notable investors.

Then in June, UMAC announced a $30 million strategic equity investment in Powerus, strengthening the relationship between the two drone companies. Once again, several familiar names appeared in the same business network.

Putting the Network Together

The relationships can be summarized fairly simply:

DOMINARI HOLDINGS (NASDAQ: DOMH)→ Parent company of Dominari Securities→ Don Jr. shareholder and advisor→ Eric Trump shareholder and advisor

AMERICAN BITCOIN→ Predecessor created by Dominari, the Trump brothers and others→ Eric Trump became Co-Founder and CSO→ Dominari retained an investment→ Dominari Securities helped raise approximately $220 million

UNUSUAL MACHINES (UMAC)→ Dominari helped take UMAC public and repeatedly raised capital→ Don Jr. became an investor and advisor

XTEND→ Eric Trump invested→ UMAC invested→ American Ventures invested

POWERUS→ Don Jr. and Eric identified among investors→ UMAC made a $30 million strategic investment

AMERICAN VENTURES→ Investment platform managed through an entity 90%-owned by Dominari Holdings.

Why Dominari Is Worth Watching

It would be inaccurate to call Dominari Securities a Trump-owned investment bank. Don Jr. and Eric Trump do not control Dominari Securities based on the disclosures discussed here.

But describing Dominari as a Trump-connected investment bank is much easier to support.

The connection isn't based simply on the brothers serving as advisors. They became significant shareholders of Dominari's parent company, participated in investments alongside Dominari and became involved with companies that Dominari Securities has financed.

American Bitcoin is perhaps the clearest example: Dominari and the Trump brothers participated in its predecessor together, Eric Trump became a co-founder of the resulting company, Dominari retained equity, and Dominari Securities subsequently helped the company raise approximately $220 million. 

The drone industry reveals another cluster of overlapping relationships involving Dominari, Don Jr., Eric Trump, UMAC, American Ventures, XTEND and Powerus.

None of these connections means that every Dominari client is Trump-affiliated. But taken together, they show that Dominari has developed substantial and documented financial and strategic ties with Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump across several emerging industries.

That makes Dominari Securities an investment bank worth watching — particularly when its name appears alongside a new company or strategic transaction.