Month: September 2026

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sutro Biopharma, Inc. (Sutro or the Company) (NASDAQ: STRO), a clinical-stage oncology company pioneering site-specific and novel-format antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), today announced the appointment of Lucas Donigian as Senior Vice President, Business Development, effective September 28, 2026. Mr. Donigian brings more than 20 years of biotechnology industry experience, with a background in business development, corporate strategy, and alliance management. He has a demonstrated history of executing high-value oncology partnerships, including in the ADC space, with an aggregate deal value of over $2 billion.

“We are thrilled to welcome Lucas to the Sutro team at a time of significant momentum across our pipeline, as we build on our encouraging early clinical data with STRO-004, advance STRO-006 in the clinic, and progress STRO-227, our first wholly-owned dual-payload ADC, toward IND submission this year,” said Jane Chung, Sutro’s Chief Executive Officer. “Business development has always been a core pillar of Sutro’s strategy, and Lucas has a deep history of creating high-value partnerships from differentiated platform technologies at leading oncology companies. His experience will be instrumental in building shareholder value as we continue seeking opportunities to progress our next-generation ADC platform through strategic collaborations that complement our proprietary pipeline strategy.”

“The combination of the encouraging clinical profile of STRO-004 to date, expected data from STRO-006 and STRO-227 next year, and our novel ADC design capabilities provides near-term validation of Sutro’s unique ADC platform and represents substantial partnership opportunities,” said Mr. Donigian. “I am excited to join the team and look forward to building on Sutro’s existing collaborations and establishing new partnerships that can extend the reach of these optimally designed medicines to more patients.”

Mr. Donigian most recently served as Vice President, Head of Business Development & Licensing and Commercial at Zymeworks Inc., where he led the end-to-end execution of Zymework’s licensing agreement with Jazz Pharmaceuticals for zanidatamab. Prior to Zymeworks, Mr. Donigian was Director, Business Development and BioPharma Collaboration at NanoString Technologies, where he led the company’s Companion Diagnostic partnering efforts, executing high-value partnerships with several leading pharmaceutical companies as well as the divestiture of the nCounter diagnostics business to Veracyte. Earlier in his career, Mr. Donigian worked as a Senior Research Associate in Cancer Biology at OncoMed Pharmaceuticals. He holds an MBA from the Michael G. Foster School of Business, University of Washington, and a BS in Molecular Biology from San Jose State University.

Inducement Grants Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

In connection with Mr. Donigian’s appointment as Senior Vice President, Business Development, effective October 15, 2026, the Compensation Committee of Sutro’s Board of Directors granted Mr. Donigian stock options to purchase 25,000 shares of Sutro common stock and 1,750 restricted stock units (RSUs). The grants were made as an inducement material to Mr. Donigian’s acceptance of employment with Sutro and were approved by the Compensation Committee of Sutro’s Board of Directors in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

The stock options and RSUs are subject to the terms and conditions of Sutro’s Amended and Restated 2021 Equity Inducement Plan. One-fourth of the total number of shares underlying the stock options will vest on the one-year anniversary of Mr. Donigian’s hire date and monthly thereafter until fully vested on the fourth anniversary, subject to Mr. Donigian’s continued service with Sutro on each such vesting date. One-fourth of the total number of shares subject to the RSUs will vest on the one-year anniversary of the grant date and annually thereafter until fully vested on the fourth anniversary, subject to Mr. Donigian’s continued service with Sutro on each such vesting date.

About Sutro Biopharma

Sutro Biopharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing a next-generation antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) platform designed to deliver single- and dual-payload ADCs that enable meaningful breakthroughs for patients with cancer. By fully optimizing the antibody, linker, and payload, Sutro’s cell-free platform produces ADCs that are engineered to improve drug exposure, reduce side effects, and expand the range of treatable tumor types. With unique capabilities in dual-payload ADCs, Sutro aims to overcome treatment resistance and redefine what’s possible in cancer therapy. The Company’s pipeline of single- and dual-payload ADCs targets large oncology markets with limited treatment options and significant need for improved therapies.

For more information, follow Sutro on social media @Sutrobio or visit www.sutrobio.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, anticipated preclinical and clinical development activities; timing of announcements of IND submissions, trial initiation, clinical results, and other regulatory filings; outcome of discussions with regulatory authorities; potential benefits, efficacy and safety profile of the Company’s product candidates and platform; potential business development and partnering transactions; potential market opportunities for the Company’s product candidates; the positioning of the Company’s product candidates in the competitive landscape; the timing and receipt of anticipated future milestone and royalty payments; and the Company’s expected cash runway. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company cannot guarantee future events, results, actions, levels of activity, performance or achievements, and the timing and results of biotechnology development and potential regulatory approval is inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company’s actual activities or results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement, including risks and uncertainties related to the Company’s ability to advance its product candidates, the receipt and timing of potential regulatory designations, approvals and commercialization of product candidates, the market size for the Company’s product candidates to be smaller than anticipated, clinical trial sites, supply chain and manufacturing facilities, the Company’s ability to obtain, maintain and recognize the benefits of certain designations received by product candidates, the timing and results of preclinical and clinical trials, the Company’s ability to fund development activities and achieve development goals, the Company’s ability to protect intellectual property, the Company’s commercial collaborations with third parties, the impact of health pandemics, tariffs, regional geopolitical conflicts, changes in interest rates, inflation, potential uncertainty with respect to the debt ceiling and government shutdowns, and other risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” in documents the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

Investor Contact
Emily White
Sutro Biopharma
(650) 823-7681
ewhite@sutrobio.com

Media Contact
Amy Bonanno
Lyra Strategic Advisory
abonanno@lyraadvisory.com

Incidence and prevalence of OPSCC continue to rise in the U.S. largely driven by HPV infection

OPSCC is estimated to represent 1 in 2 head and neck cancer patients in the 2L+ setting in the U.S. with approximately 14,000 patients eligible for treatment annually

NORWOOD, Mass., Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRBP), a clinical-stage company focused on new therapies in oncology and obesity, today announced that the first patient has been dosed in its TEMPO-1 registrational study of CRB-701, a next-generation Nectin-4 targeted antibody drug conjugate (ADC), in second-line and beyond (2L+) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).

“For patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer, there remains a significant unmet need for new treatment options after progression on frontline therapy,” said Dr. Cesar A. Perez, Director of the Drug Development Unit at Sarah Cannon Research Institute at Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute in Orlando, FL, and Principal Investigator of the TEMPO-1 study. “The current standard options have been largely unchanged since the introduction of PD-1 inhibitors nearly a decade ago. We are proud that SCRI at Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute is helping evaluate a potential new therapeutic approach through the TEMPO-1 study.”

HPV infection is driving the rise of both the incidence and prevalence of OPSCC in the U.S. The disease primarily affects men in their 50s and 60s who have little or no history of smoking or heavy alcohol use. Each year approximately 14,000 OPSCC patients are estimated to be eligible for 2L treatment, and approximately 7,000 patients are estimated to die from the disease in the U.S. alone.

“Dosing the first patient in our TEMPO-1 trial marks an important step in advancing CRB-701 as a potentially novel targeted therapeutic for those impacted by OPSCC,” said Leonardo Nicacio, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Corbus Pharmaceuticals. “Based on the Phase 1/2 data we presented at ASCO 2026, we believe that CRB-701 has the potential to deliver meaningful clinical benefit with a manageable safety profile in this underserved patient population. We are excited to be underway with TEMPO-1, which is designed to generate the evidence needed to support a potential regulatory submission.”

Study Design

TEMPO-1 is a randomized controlled study (n=250) designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CRB-701 compared with investigator’s choice of capecitabine, cetuximab or docetaxel. The study’s primary endpoint is objective response rate (ORR), which is intended to support a potential accelerated approval; overall survival (OS) is intended to support potential conversion to full approval.

FDA approval for the TEMPO-1 study to proceed was supported by results from Corbus’ ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical study of CRB-701, presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. In an analysis of patients with 2L+ OPSCC treated at the 3.6 mg/kg dose, CRB-701 achieved a confirmed ORR of 42.9%, with a median duration of response (DoR) of 6.3 months and a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 5.6 months (ongoing).

About CRB-701

CRB-701 (SYS6002) is a next-generation antibody drug conjugate targeting Nectin-4, that contains a site-specific, cleavable linker and a homogenous drug antibody ratio of 2, using monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) as the payload. Nectin-4 is a clinically validated, tumor-associated antigen in urothelial cancer and highly expressed in other tumor types such as cervical and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The FDA has granted two Fast Track designations to CRB-701 in HNSCC and cervical cancer.

About Corbus
Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. is a clinical-stage company focusing on new therapies in oncology and obesity and is committed to helping people defeat serious illness by bringing innovative scientific approaches to well-understood biological pathways. Corbus’ pipeline includes CRB-701, a next-generation antibody drug conjugate for the treatment of Nectin-4-expressing tumors, and CRB-913, an orally delivered highly peripherally restricted CB1 inverse agonist for the treatment of obesity. Corbus is headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts. For more information on Corbus, visit corbuspharma.com. Connect with us on X, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including those relating to the Company’s trial results, product development, clinical and regulatory timelines, including timing for completion of trials and presentation of data, anticipated timing for initiation of clinical trials, anticipated regulatory interactions and outcomes, including alignment with FDA on trial design, potential accelerated approval, market opportunity, competitive position, possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, potential growth opportunities, sufficiency of cash runway  and other statements that are predictive in nature. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry and markets in which we operate and management’s current beliefs and assumptions. There can be no assurance that TEMPO-1 will achieve its primary or secondary endpoints, that CRB-701 will receive accelerated or full approval from the FDA, or that previously reported clinical data will be replicated in larger controlled studies.

These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking expressions, including, but not limited to, “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. These statements relate to future events or our financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors on our operations, clinical development plans and timelines, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include those set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

All product names, logos, brands and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Their use does not imply affiliation or endorsement by these companies.

INVESTOR CONTACTS:
Sean Moran
Chief Financial Officer
Corbus Pharmaceuticals
smoran@corbuspharma.com

Dan Ferry
Managing Director
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
daniel@lifesciadvisors.com

MEDIA CONTACT:
Liz Melone
Founder & Principal
Melone Communications, LLC
liz@melonecomm.com

Launch brings single sign-on, user provisioning, and every Asure solution together in one platform for resellers serving more than 85,000 employers and 1.5 million employees

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Asure Software, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASUR), a provider of payroll and HR solutions for employers and enterprise payroll tax and treasury infrastructure, launched AsureCentral to its reseller network at its annual reseller training event last week and took its first resellers live on the platform. AsureCentral is the platform where all of Asure’s solutions come together. It combines single sign-on, user provisioning, and role-based access with payroll, tax, HR, recruiting, time and attendance, benefits, and Luna AI in one environment for resellers and the employers they serve.

Until now, AsureCentral was available only to Asure’s approximately 30,000 direct-employer clients, representing more than 300,000 employees. Asure’s resellers serve more than 85,000 employer clients representing more than 1.5 million employees. Opening AsureCentral to that network substantially expands the addressable market for the platform and for Asure’s recruiting, time and attendance, and benefits solutions, where separate logins had added friction to adoption alongside payroll. Additional resellers will move onto the platform following the launch.

“Our reseller network reaches nearly three times as many employers and five times as many employees as our direct business, but separate application experiences made it harder to bring the full breadth of Asure to those clients,” said Pat Goepel, Chairman and CEO of Asure. “AsureCentral is not just a single sign-on. It’s how a reseller sets up users, manages access, and delivers payroll, HR, time, recruiting, benefits, and AI to every client from one platform. Every Asure solution lives there, so each reseller we bring onto AsureCentral extends the reach of everything we build.”

For resellers, AsureCentral provides one place to provision and manage users across every Asure solution their clients use, for every client they serve, with role-based security and multi-factor authentication protecting sensitive payroll and HR data. Resellers can white-label the experience with their own logo in the platform header. Inside each client, employers, managers, and employees get a view built around their role: employees manage their own pay and HR records, managers handle approvals such as time off and timecards, and administrators see across payroll, HR, time, and recruiting. For resellers that use multiple providers today, having Asure’s full range of solutions in one platform gives them a practical reason to consolidate client relationships on Asure.

Luna AI is embedded in AsureCentral to help employers, managers, and employees get answers and complete payroll and HR tasks within their workflows. Employees can get help with pay and HR questions, while managers and administrators can see items that need attention, including exceptions and approvals.

About Asure Software

Asure (Nasdaq: ASUR) provides payroll and HR solutions for employers and enterprise payroll tax and treasury infrastructure for large organizations. For employers, Asure’s platform covers payroll, HR, recruiting, time and attendance, benefits, and compliance — delivered through AsureCentral, its connected platform, or through AsureWorks, its managed services offering for employers who prefer to outsource the work entirely. For large enterprises, Asure’s payroll tax and treasury infrastructure handles multi-jurisdiction tax filing, funding, and money movement, integrating with platforms including Workday, Oracle, and SAP. For more information, visit www.asuresoftware.com.

Investor Relations Contact

Patrick McKillop
Vice President, Investor Relations
Asure
617-335-5058
patrick.mckillop@asuresoftware.com

ANDOVER, Mass., Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Byrna Technologies Inc. (“Byrna” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: BYRN), a personal defense technology company specializing in the development, manufacture, and sale of innovative less-lethal personal security solutions, today announced a new marketing partnership with iHeartMedia’s “The Bobby Bones Show” – America’s #1 country morning show, which reaches millions of listeners across more than 180 station nationwide. The recently launched campaign is designed to introduce Byrna’s less-lethal personal security solutions to a broad audience through one of the nation’s most popular country radio programs.

The Bobby Bones Show spans country music, entertainment, family, lifestyle, and pop culture, providing Byrna an opportunity to connect with a large and loyal listener base through a practical message centered on personal safety, preparedness, and protection.

“Partnering with ‘The Bobby Bones Show’ aligns with our efforts to make personal safety more relatable and accessible to a broader mainstream audience,” said Byrna CEO Conn Davis. “The show has built a trusted connection with millions of listeners nationwide, making it an ideal partner as we continue to evolve our brand and expand awareness of Byrna’s less-lethal personal security solutions. This partnership also reflects our continued effort to reallocate existing media investments toward trusted platforms with larger mainstream audiences. We believe that this change is directly aligned with our strategy to drive greater brand awareness while maintaining a disciplined approach to marketing.”

The campaign includes national radio endorsements, podcast integrations, and digital media placements designed to increase brand awareness, improve customer education, and drive engagement with prospective customers.

The partnership represents another step in Byrna’s broader marketing evolution as the Company continues to expand awareness of its less-lethal personal security solutions among mainstream consumers. As part of this effort, Byrna is refining its messaging around everyday personal safety, preparedness, and protection while reallocating advertising spend within its existing iHeartMedia portfolio toward programming with broader mainstream reach.

About Byrna Technologies Inc.
Byrna is a personal defense technology company specializing in the development, manufacture, and sale of innovative less-lethal personal security solutions. For more information on the Company, please visit the corporate website here or the Company’s investor relations site here. The Company is the manufacturer of the Byrna^® CL, Byrna^® LE and Byrna^® SD personal security devices, state-of-the-art handheld CO2 powered launchers designed to provide a less-lethal alternative to a firearm for the consumer, private security, and law enforcement markets. To purchase Byrna products, visit the Company’s e-commerce store.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements contained in this news release, other than statements of current and historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the general use of words such as “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” and “believes” and statements that certain actions, events or results “may,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “might,” “occur,” or “be achieved,” or “will be taken.” Forward-looking statements in this news release include but are not limited to our statements related to: the expected launch, timing, and scope of Byrna’s media partnerships through iHeartMedia; the anticipated audience reach and engagement of those campaigns across radio, podcast, digital, and other channels; the expected ability of these partnerships to introduce Byrna’s products and brand message to new and broader consumer audiences, including audiences who may not have historically considered personal security products; the anticipated impact of these partnerships on customer education, brand awareness, customer acquisition efficiency, and conversion across Byrna.com and the Company’s retail footprint; the Company’s broader marketing strategy and media investment approach, including the refinement of its messaging, the allocation of marketing resources, and the integration of digital and media channels; the anticipated introduction of dedicated campaign landing pages and promotional offers in connection with the partnerships; the Company’s plans to broaden the conversation around personal safety and reach a wider set of customer segments; and Byrna’s expectation that the partnerships will complement and support its broader marketing, retail expansion, and growth initiatives. Forward-looking statements are not, and cannot be, a guarantee of future results or events. Forward-looking statements are based on, among other things, opinions, assumptions, estimates, and analyses that, while considered reasonable by the Company at the date the forward-looking information is provided, inherently are subject to significant risks, uncertainties, contingencies, and other factors that may cause actual results and events to be materially different from those expressed or implied.

Any number of risk factors could affect our actual results and cause them to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this news release, including, but not limited to: the risk that the campaigns do not launch on the anticipated timeline, are reduced in scope, or are not executed as planned; the risk that the partnerships do not achieve the anticipated audience reach, engagement, brand awareness, customer acquisition, or conversion results; the risk that increases in marketing expenditure in connection with these partnerships do not yield expected revenue increases or returns on investment; the risk of reputational harm or negative publicity arising from association with third-party personalities, media platforms, or partner programming, or from changes in the public profile, conduct, or commentary of such personalities; the risk that media partners, broadcasters, or advertising platforms determine to limit, modify, or terminate the placement or distribution of Byrna’s advertising; the loss of marketing partners; determinations by advertisers, social media platforms, or other media channels, or legislation or regulatory action, that prevents or limits marketing of some or all Byrna products; changes in consumer or political sentiment affecting product demand or the less-lethal personal defense category; the risk that efforts to broaden brand messaging or expand into new customer segments do not achieve anticipated market penetration or revenue results; disappointing market responses to current or future products or services; litigation, enforcement proceedings, or other regulatory or legal developments, including those relating to advertising, endorsements, or consumer protection; the risk that investments in e-commerce enhancements or digital capabilities, including dedicated campaign landing pages and improvements to Byrna.com, do not yield anticipated improvements in conversion rates, customer acquisition, or revenue; and general economic, competitive, and market conditions affecting consumer demand for personal defense products. The order in which these factors appear should not be construed to indicate their relative importance or priority. We caution that these factors may not be exhaustive; accordingly, any forward-looking statements contained herein should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual results. Investors should carefully consider these and other relevant factors, including those risk factors in Part I, Item 1A, (“Risk Factors”) in the Company’s most recent Form 10-K and in subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and should understand it is impossible to predict or identify all such factors or risks, and should not consider the foregoing list, or the risks identified in the Company’s SEC filings, to be a complete discussion of all potential risks or uncertainties, and should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

Investor Contact:
Tom Colton and Greg Bradbury
Gateway Group, Inc.
949-574-3860
BYRN@gateway-grp.com

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Beta Bionics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BBNX), a pioneering leader in the development of advanced diabetes management solutions, today announced that it plans to release its third quarter 2026 financial results after the financial markets close on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. Management will host a conference call and concurrent webcast on the same day at 4:30 pm Eastern Time (1:30 pm Pacific Time), to review the company’s third quarter 2026 performance.

The link to the webcast will be available on the Company’s website in the “Investors—Events & Presentations” section at https://investors.betabionics.com, and will be archived there for future replay. To access the live call by phone, please use the following link, which will provide you with dial-in details and a personal pin: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BIb765a5e68b554419b9df996402991220

About Beta Bionics

Beta Bionics, Inc. is a commercial-stage medical device company engaged in the design, development, and commercialization of innovative solutions to improve the health and quality of life of insulin-requiring people with diabetes (PWD) by utilizing advanced adaptive closed-loop algorithms to simplify and improve the treatment of their disease. Beta Bionics’ proprietary insulin dosing algorithm is the first FDA-cleared algorithm that autonomously determines every insulin dose and offers the potential to substantially improve overall outcomes across broad populations of PWD. To learn more, visit www.betabionics.com.

Investor Relations:
Blake Beber
Head of Investor Relations
ir@betabionics.com

Media and Public Relations:
Felicia Sanborn
Vice President of Marketing
media@betabionics.com

Source: Beta Bionics, Inc.

Company delivers its seventh consecutive quarter of revenue growth, advances defense product portfolio, and joins the Russell 3000® Index

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ZenaTech, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZENA) (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech” or the “Company”), a technology company specializing in AI-powered drone systems, Drone as a Service (“DaaS”), enterprise SaaS solutions, and Quantum Computing applications, announces its financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026. All financial figures are reported in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted. The Company reported second quarter revenue of $9.3 million, an increase of 316% from $2.2 million in the second quarter of 2025. Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2026, was $17.7 million, an increase of 425% from $3.4 million in the comparable 2025 period. Growth continues to be driven primarily by the Company’s Drone as a Service segment, which contributed almost 93% of total revenue during both the quarter and the six-month period.

“The second quarter of 2026 marked continued momentum for ZenaTech, with DaaS revenue growing to $8.1 million for a total of $9.3 million of revenue for the quarter, and our overall business revenue was up 316% year-over-year,” said Dr. Shaun Passley, ZenaTech Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We have now delivered seven consecutive quarters of sequential revenue growth since the fourth quarter of 2024, with revenue increasing over 13 times from $700,000 to $9.3 million during that period.

“During the quarter, we added four new Drone as a Service land survey and service businesses to our platform, bringing our cumulative acquisition count to 29, and we also acquired an HR software company added to our Enterprise SaaS portfolio. We extended our corporate footprint with new offices including in South Korea and the United Kingdom, contributing to the scale up and international reach of our organization and AI autonomy platform. Concurrently, our balance sheet strengthened, with cash growing to $12.2 million and total assets surpassing $149 million, providing the flexibility to continue funding both organic growth and disciplined, accretive acquisitions.”

Second Quarter Results and Recent Highlights

• Completed four additional land survey and legacy service business acquisitions during the quarter – Andy Paris Land Surveying, North Group, High Prairie Survey Company, and Green Earth Powerwashing Franchise Network – bringing the Company’s cumulative DaaS acquisition count to 24 by the end of June and 29 to date
• Announced expansion of DaaS geographical footprint to Australia with a Queensland-based acquisition of multi location land survey company North Group. Closed High Prairie Survey Company, serving the Southeast Denver growth corridor, and Green Earth Powerwashing including its franchise network, strengthening the Company’s Florida market presence and extending its power washing services and plans to integrate and improve these operations with drones
• Signed offers to acquire multiple additional land survey and geospatial services companies across the U.S., Canada and Australia, expected to collectively contribute approximately C$40 million in revenue to our DaaS business during the first 12 months following a completed closing
• Opened new corporate offices in South Korea and the United Kingdom during the quarter, extending the Company’s international footprint for its AI autonomy platforms

• Closed the Company’s 29th acquisition expanding DaaS into additional sectors –such as oil and gas– and regions, including, Alberta, Canada, Ohio and Idaho, and most recently Georgia, totalling 14 U.S. states currently
• Added to the Russell 3000® Index in June 2026, a milestone in the Company’s growth and market recognition
• Advanced the Blue UAS certification progress for military and government procurement and contract eligibility, across the ZenaDrone 1000, IQ Square and IQ Nano platforms, and submitted the IQ Quad land survey drone for Blue UAS certification
• Continued build-out of our Counter-UAS integrated defense system platform and interceptor drone development, including progress on the ZenaDrone 2000 gas-based interceptor, IQ Glider launch and refueling station, and Interceptor P-1 low-cost, one-way drone interceptor platform
• Announced the Company’s Ukraine-based manufacturing and testing operations is in the process of being established where its Counter UAS and interceptor drones will be a development focus, and the company announced the registration of Pheonix Aero as its Western Ukraine-based company
• ZenaDrone began scheduling technology demonstrations with U.S. government defense agencies, starting with its first confirmed agency engagement, beginning with the IQ Nano indoor drone for inventory management.
• ZenaDrone began the testing phase for its Interceptor P-1 Counter-UAS platform and moved the IQ Aqua underwater mine-detection drone into U.S. field testing in Florida
• Announced the unveiling of Zoo Office™, an AI-Powered enterprise productivity platform positioned to capitalize on agentic AI which will include the company’s existing 13 software brands. This now includes NOW Solutions, an HR software company acquired during the quarter, and ESM an enterprise performance management and compliance software company and more recent Enterprise SaaS acquisition
• ZenaDrone began in-house drone flight testing of custom-designed printed circuit boards manufactured at the Company’s Taiwan-based Spider Vision Sensors subsidiary, part of advancing its vertical integration strategy toward NDAA-compliant drones and Blue UAS certification
• Filed five U.S. provisional patents covering acoustic fire suppression and aerial wildfire assessment technology for the ZenaDrone 1000 platform, targeting a global firefighting drone market projected to grow to approximately $2.8 billion by 2033
• Launched the initial development of ZenaWorx, drone and LiDAR-based 3D construction-progress monitoring software platform targeting AI data-centre construction during the quarter and more recently added new digital terrain modeling capabilities and signed the Company’s first paying AI data center construction customer

• Announced the Company’s DaaS oil and gas regulation and environmental surveying business entered a strengthened market backdrop, supported by higher oil prices and more than US$500 billion in expected Canadian energy investment over the next decade

“Our pipeline of innovative products now spans air, land, indoor, maritime and underwater applications for both commercial and defense applications. We remain focused on converting the surveying, inspection and power washing businesses we’ve acquired onto drone-based delivery, which we believe will continue to expand margins as integration progresses,” added Dr. Passley. “With an expanding international footprint of enterprise software and a base of 13 current software packages being rebranded under Zoo Office, our productivity suite of AI-enabled enterprise SaaS division, we believe ZenaTech is well positioned to continue its growth trajectory through the balance of 2026.”

Second Quarter Financial Overview

• Total revenue for the second quarter of 2026 was $9.3 million, an increase of 316% compared to $2.2 million for the second quarter of 2025, and $17.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026, an increase of 425% compared to $3.4 million for the same period of 2025
• The DaaS segment contributed $8.1 million of revenue for the second quarter of 2026 and $16.4 million for the six-month period, reflecting a full quarter of contribution from entities acquired in 2025, the four acquisitions completed in the second quarter of 2026 – Andy Paris Land Surveying, North Group, High Prairie Survey Company and Green Earth Powerwashing Franchise Network – and increased survey volumes across the Company’s existing operations
• The Enterprise SaaS Software segment contributed $1.2 million for the second quarter and $1.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026, including the initial contribution from the new Zoo Office™ platform unveiling during the quarter of the productivity suite and plans to consolidate under one brand
• Total assets grew 50% to $149.2 million as of June 30, 2026, from $99.8 million as of December 31, 2025, reflecting continued investment in property, plant and equipment, goodwill and intangible assets from acquisitions
• Total shareholders’ equity increased to $91.3 million as of June 30, 2026, from $68 million as of December 31, 2025
• Cash increased 105% to $12.2 million as of June 30, 2026, from $6.0 million as of December 31, 2025; cash and marketable securities together totaled $34.6 million compared to $15.1 million as of December 31, 2025
• The Company reported a net loss of $22.5 million during the quarter reflecting its strategy to invest in laying a strong global foundation for its AI Autonomy drone platforms enabling capability to scale DaaS services and revenue, and future government and defense customer pilots and contracts.

Outlook for the Remainder of 2026

Looking ahead, ZenaTech expects growth for the balance of 2026 to be driven by:

• Closing the Company’s signed acquisition offers and continuing to integrate acquired survey, inspection and power washing businesses into drone-based delivery to support reduced cost per survey and per job, while increasing capacity, geographic reach, and margin expansion, as well as additional services such as data analytics and centralized fast analytics processing
• Advancing ZenaDrone 1000 and IQ Series products through development stages, Blue UAS process advancement leading to Blue UAS certification and procurement list ready, and engagement with U.S. defense agencies leading to additional demonstration requests leading to customer pilots and contracts.
• Counter-UAS/interceptor development on our products at the prototype and testing stage, including progress advancing Ukraine-based testing and manufacturing operations, to support product development objectives and defense and government revenue
• Continued manufacturing progress including further commissioning of facilities, expanding product lines and production, or expanding manufacturing and testing teams across its Mesa, Arizona, Sharja, UAE, and Taipei, Taiwan manufacturing locations
• Continued developments to introduce offerings and AI tools and bring to market the Zoo Office™ enterprise productivity platform suite designed to bring value to business and government customers and expand Enterprise SaaS revenue
• Maintaining balance sheet flexibility to fund organic growth and disciplined, accretive acquisitions.

Additional information is available in ZenaTech’s Form 6-K filing on the SEC EDGAR website.

About ZenaTech

ZenaTech, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZENA) (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) is a technology company that specializes in AI autonomy drone platforms to transform commercial, government, and defense sectors. Its subsidiaries include drone manufacturing through ZenaDrone, a global Drone as a Service (DaaS) business, and an enterprise SaaS division of software brands. The Company is executing an acquisition-led DaaS roll-up strategy to digitize and automate legacy service industries including land surveys and inspections, driving drone-based scalable and recurring revenue growth. With an operating footprint spanning North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia, ZenaTech is advancing AI drones for agriculture and logistics, as well as ISR, cargo, and counter-UAS applications for U.S. defense and NATO allies. The company is investing in next-generation technologies, including drone swarms, quantum computing, and advanced AI autonomy to capture long-term opportunities in key markets through its R&D initiatives.

About ZenaDrone

ZenaDrone, a subsidiary of ZenaTech, develops and manufactures AI-powered multifunction autonomous drone solutions integrating machine learning, predictive analytics, and advanced computing technologies, for government, defense, and industrial applications. This includes multifunctional drones for surveying, inspections, logistics, security, and defense applications. Its product portfolio includes the ZenaDrone 1000 for ISR defense and specialized cargo, the IQ Nano for indoor inventory management and security, the IQ Square for outdoor inspections and maintenance, the IQ Quad for land surveying, and the IQ Aqua for underwater applications. ZenaDrone operates three global manufacturing facilities in Arizona, Dubai, and Taiwan, and is advancing counter-UAS maritime interceptor drones and an integrated defense system.

Contacts for more information:

Company, Investors, and Media: Linda Montgomery ZenaTech 312-241-1415 investors@zenatech.com

Investors: Michael Mason CORE IR investors@zenatech.com

Safe Harbor

This press release and related comments by management of ZenaTech, Inc. include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws and applicable Canadian securities laws. These forward-looking statements are subject to the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This forward-looking information relates to future events or future performance of ZenaTech and reflects management’s expectations and projections regarding ZenaTech’s growth, results of operations, performance, and business prospects and opportunities. Such forward-looking statements reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terminology such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “aim”, “seek”, “is/are likely to”, “believe”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential”, “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information in this document includes, but is not limited to ZenaTech’s expectations regarding its revenue, expenses, production, operations, costs, cash flows, and future growth; expectations with respect to future production costs and capacity; ZenaTech’s ability to deliver products to the market as currently contemplated; ZenaTech’s ability to develop products for markets as currently contemplated; ZenaTech’s anticipated cash needs and its needs for additional financing; ZenaTech’s intention to grow the business and its operations and execution risk; expectations with respect to future operations and costs; the volatility of stock prices and market conditions in the industries in which ZenaTech operates; political, economic, environmental, tax, security, and other risks associated with operating in emerging markets; regulatory risks; unfavorable publicity or consumer perception; difficulty in forecasting industry trends; the ability to hire key personnel; the competitive conditions of the industry and the competitive and business strategies of ZenaTech; ZenaTech’s expected business objectives for the next twelve months; ZenaTech’s ability to obtain additional funds through the sale of equity or debt commitments; investment capital and market share; the ability to complete any contemplated acquisitions; changes in the target markets; market uncertainty; ability to access additional capital, including through the listing of its securities in various jurisdictions; management of growth (plans and timing for expansion); patent infringement; litigation; applicable laws, regulations, and any amendments affecting the business of ZenaTech and other related risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Form F-1, Form 20-F and other filings filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on EDGAR through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management’s best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

First predictive evidence in intermediate-risk prostate cancer supporting use of the Decipher test to guide short-term hormone therapy decisions to be presented at ASTRO 2026

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Veracyte, Inc. (Nasdaq: VCYT), a leading cancer diagnostics company, announced that new findings from a retrospective ancillary analysis of the randomized phase III NRG/RTOG 0815 trial will be presented at the 2026 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting. The trial evaluated dose-escalated radiation with or without short-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer. The analysis showed that the Decipher Prostate Genomic Classifier can predict which patients are more likely to benefit from adding short-term ADT to dose-escalated radiation, providing both Level 1B¹ prognostic and predictive evidence.

In the study, patients with higher Decipher scores had substantially improved outcomes with the addition of short-term ADT to radiation, while patients with low Decipher scores derived minimal treatment benefit. These findings extend Decipher’s long-established role in assessing the risk of prostate cancer progression to informing treatment selection for patients with intermediate-risk disease. The results will be presented today at 3:55 p.m. ET in an oral session at the 2026 ASTRO Annual Meeting by Angela Jia, M.D., Ph.D., University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University.

“For men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer, the question is not simply whether hormone therapy works — it is who truly needs it,” said Angela Jia, M.D., Ph.D. “This analysis suggests tumor biology can distinguish patients who may achieve a substantial reduction in the risk of distant metastasis from those who may see little added benefit. That could help clinicians and patients make a more individualized decision about intensifying treatment.”

While ADT can reduce the risk of recurrence and distant spread, it can also have metabolic and quality-of-life effects. Because intermediate-risk disease is biologically diverse, clinical variables such as Gleason grade, PSA or clinical stage may not reveal which patients are most likely to benefit from adding the therapy.

Key study findings:

• Decipher predicted differential benefit from hormone therapy: The treatment-by-Decipher interaction for distant metastasis was statistically significant (p<0.001).
• Patients with higher scores experienced substantially greater benefit: Among patients with intermediate/high Decipher scores, adding short-term ADT was associated with an 8% absolute reduction in distant metastasis at 10 years.
• Patients with low scores did not have substantial benefit from short-term ADT: Among the 44% of patients with low Decipher scores, the absolute difference in 10-year distant metastasis was 1 percentage point and was not statistically significant.

Decipher also refined prognosis: Higher scores were independently associated with greater risk of biochemical failure, distant metastasis and prostate-specific mortality. Researchers analyzed tumor samples from 395 patients enrolled in NRG/RTOG 0815, with a median follow up of 10.2 years. The biomarker cohort was representative of the overall trial enrollment of 1,492 patients and was balanced between treatment arms. The Decipher score was both prognostic for disease outcomes and predictive of ADT benefit for both distant metastasis as well as prostate cancer specific mortality endpoints.

“For men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer, these findings provide predictive evidence that treatment decisions can be guided by the biology of each patient’s tumor, not simply a broad clinical risk category,” said Daniel E. Spratt, M.D., chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and a study author. “Decipher may help identify who is likely to gain meaningful protection from metastasis by adding hormone therapy and who may face its health and quality-of-life effects with little added benefit. That is the kind of precision that patients and physicians need when deciding how aggressively to treat the cancer.”

“These findings provide the first evidence that Decipher can predict which men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer are most likely to benefit from adding hormone therapy to radiation,” said Elai Davicioni, Ph.D., Veracyte’s medical director, Urology. “This extends the Decipher test’s prognostic use toward answering a more consequential question: Will this treatment make a meaningful difference for this patient? By revealing the biology beneath a broad clinical risk category, Decipher may help physicians intensify treatment for patients most likely to benefit while potentially sparing others from side effects with little added benefit. With the addition of these findings, we believe that all men diagnosed with intermediate-risk prostate cancer may benefit from the use of Decipher in their care pathway.”

ASTRO 2026 presentation details

Abstract #312: Genomic Stratification of Benefit from Short-Term Androgen Deprivation with Dose-Escalated Radiotherapy in Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer: An Ancillary Study of NRG/RTOG 0815

• Session: SS 36 – Predicting Benefit and Toxicity: Biomarkers in Prostate Radiotherapy
• Presenter: Angela Jia, M.D., Ph.D.
• Date and time: Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 3:55–4:05 p.m. ET
• Location: Room 210, Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center, Boston

Another trial prospectively evaluating the use of the Decipher prostate test to guide treatment intensification or de-intensification is the phase III biomarker-driven NRG-GU010 (GUIDANCE) study, which completed enrollment earlier this year. This trial will build on the findings from the NRG/RTOG 0815 trial, further expanding the predictive evidence around the Decipher test in intermediate-risk disease.

About the NRG/RTOG 0815 analysis

NRG/RTOG 0815 was a randomized phase III trial evaluating the addition of short-term ADT to dose-escalated radiation in patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer. In this NCI-approved ancillary analysis, archived diagnostic biopsy specimens were evaluated using the locked, clinical-grade 22-gene Decipher Genomic Classifier. The analysis included 395 patients with a median follow-up of 10.2 years. The primary endpoint was distant metastasis; secondary endpoints included biochemical failure, metastasis-free survival, prostate cancer-specific mortality and overall survival.

About Veracyte

Veracyte (Nasdaq: VCYT) is a global diagnostics company with a vision to transform cancer care for patients around the world. The company’s molecular tests assess the unique biology of each patient’s tumor to help clinicians answer essential questions about cancer care. Veracyte’s Diagnostics Platform combines broad genomic and clinical data, advanced bioinformatics and AI, and a powerful evidence-generation engine to support continued innovation and pipeline development. The company’s portfolio includes the Afirma® Genomic Sequencing Classifier test, Decipher® Bladder Genomic Classifier test, Decipher® Prostate Genomic Classifier test, Prosigna® Breast Risk of Recurrence test, and the TrueMRD™ Monitoring Test for MIBC. For more information, visit Veracyte’s website or follow the company on LinkedIn or X (Twitter).  

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to statements regarding the potential clinical utility, impact and benefits of the Decipher Prostate Genomic Classifier; the ability of the Decipher Prostate test to predict which patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer may benefit from the addition of short-term ADT; the potential use of Decipher to inform treatment selection and personalize treatment decisions; the potential for Decipher to expand beyond risk assessment to guide treatment decisions in intermediate-risk prostate cancer; and the significance and clinical implications of the study findings, and the potential outcomes, validation and impact of the ongoing NRG-GU010 GUIDANCE clinical trial. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “appears,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “expect,” “believe,” “should,” “may,” “will,” “enable,” “positioned,” “offers,” “designed,” “ultimately,” and similar references to future periods. Actual results may differ materially from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from our predictions. Additional factors that may impact these forward-looking statements can be found under the caption ‘Risk Factors’ in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 26, 2026, as well as in other documents that we may file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these documents, when available, may be found in the Investors section of our website at investor.veracyte.com. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, we specifically disclaim any obligation to update these forward-looking statements or reasons why actual results might differ, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

References:

1. Simon, R. M., Paik, S. & Hayes, D. F. Use of archived specimens in evaluation of prognostic and predictive biomarkers. J Natl Cancer Inst 101, 1446–1452 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djp335

Investors: 
Kelly Gura  
investors@veracyte.com

Media: 
Molly Cornbleet 
media@veracyte.com 
+1 650-351-8780

Dr. John Brandenburg Explains How Texatron™ Aims to Squeeze and Heat Plasma While Keeping It Stable

FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Fusion Inc. (OTCQB: AMFN) (“American Fusion” or the “Company”), developer of the proprietary Texatron™ Fusion Engine™, today announced that Chief Technology Officer Dr. John E. Brandenburg has completed a technical analysis describing the proposed plasma-formation, compression and confinement approach underlying the Texatron™ development program.

In everyday terms, Texatron™ is designed to use a brief, powerful magnetic pulse to squeeze a doughnut-shaped ring of plasma, an electrically charged gas, so that it becomes hotter and denser. Grooves inside the chamber are intended to help shape the magnetic field and keep the plasma organized during that squeeze. The challenge is to make the plasma hot enough, dense enough and confined long enough for fusion, then recover the released energy as electricity. The analysis describes a theoretical framework and development objectives.

The report, An Analysis of the Texatron™ Concept for the Creation and Confinement of Toroidal Plasmas for Fusion Experiments, brings together the proposed physics, earlier low-temperature experiments and the questions the Company’s testing program is working to answer.

Pulsed Compression and Rifled Chamber Geometry

Texatron™ uses energy stored in a capacitor bank to create a brief, strong magnetic pulse. That pulse is intended to squeeze the plasma inward. Compression and shock waves heat the plasma as it becomes denser. The analysis considers how to time the pulse so that the plasma reaches its tightest compression near the peak magnetic field, then has time to settle into an organized state.

The chamber’s spiral grooves or ridges are central to what Brandenburg calls the Rifled Toroidal Pinch, or RTP. His analysis proposes that electrical currents flowing along this shaped surface could create a twisted magnetic field and pass that structure to the forming plasma. The aim is to shape and compress the plasma together. Whether the design provides the intended confinement at higher energies remains a question for testing.

The report also examines whether the plasma can retain key features of its magnetic structure as it forms and settles. Its “Double Invariant” framework considers magnetic helicity, related to the linkage and twist of magnetic fields, and a second flux property called “baricity” in the report. Brandenburg proposes that preserving these features could help the plasma remain in balance under pressure. This remains a theoretical explanation to be tested under fusion operating conditions.

Prior Experiments and Further Validation

The report reviews earlier experiments in which plasma was formed inside a rifled toroidal chamber within a vacuum system. Brandenburg reports that, under the low-temperature conditions used, the plasma settled into a relatively quiet state, separated from the chamber walls, and persisted for periods on the order of one second. That observation is relevant to the confinement concept, but it does not demonstrate one-second confinement at fusion temperatures or production of fusion energy.

The Company’s current work focuses on producing plasma consistently; measuring temperature, density, magnetic-field strength, compression and confinement; and evaluating how chamber geometry affects plasma behavior. The testing is aimed at determining whether the intended magnetic structure forms and holds together as operating conditions become more demanding.

“If our continuing experiments demonstrate that we can reproducibly create the required temperature, density and confinement while preserving these magnetic invariants, it would represent an important step toward the ultimate objective of controlled D-³He fusion and direct electrical energy conversion. That is the physics path we are now testing,” said Dr. John E. Brandenburg, Chief Technology Officer of American Fusion.

“The next stage is about measurement, repeatability and continuing to convert Dr. Brandenburg’s theoretical framework into experimental data,” said Fabrice David, an independent director of American Fusion who has observed the Company’s recent testing program.

Fusion Fuel and Direct Energy Conversion Objectives

Texatron™ is being developed to use deuterium and helium-3 (D-³He) as fusion fuels. The primary reaction produces energetic charged particles. In the Company’s proposed design, their energy would heat the plasma and cause it to expand against the surrounding magnetic field. That expansion would change the magnetic flux and induce electrical current in surrounding conductors, an approach intended to recover electricity directly, rather than first producing steam to drive a turbine.

The analysis includes calculations for the very high temperatures and densities the proposed system would require, including ion densities on the order of 10¹⁷ per cubic centimeter and pre-ignition temperatures of several kiloelectronvolts. These are theoretical design assumptions, not measured Texatron™ performance or demonstrated ignition thresholds.

Fusion ignition, net energy gain and direct conversion of fusion energy into electricity remain development objectives that Texatron™ has not demonstrated. Further experiments must establish the required combination of temperature, density and confinement, measure fusion reaction products if produced, and evaluate whether energy can be recovered as proposed.

About American Fusion Inc.

American Fusion Inc. (OTCQB: AMFN) is an advanced energy platform company focused on the development and commercialization of next-generation fusion energy technologies. The Company is advancing the Texatron™ Fusion Engine™ aneutronic fusion platform, designed for modular, infrastructure-grade deployment across industrial, commercial, defense and grid-constrained applications.

The Company’s development strategy emphasizes system-level engineering, disciplined intellectual-property protection and scalable architectures intended to support long-term commercial operation, while maintaining a focus on capital discipline and transparent corporate governance.

For more information about American Fusion and its Texatron™ platform, please visit: americanfusionenergy.com

View the American Fusion Investor Deck here.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the development, testing, validation, anticipated performance, scalability and potential applications of the Texatron™ Fusion Engine™; proposed plasma compression and confinement methods; deuterium and helium-3 fusion; direct energy conversion; and related engineering and commercialization objectives. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “should” and “will” identify forward-looking statements.

These statements reflect current expectations and assumptions and are subject to scientific, engineering, regulatory, financing, manufacturing and commercialization risks that could cause actual results to differ materially. Theoretical analyses and design calculations should not be interpreted as demonstrated operating performance. Texatron™ remains under development and has not demonstrated fusion ignition, net energy gain or commercial electrical generation. There can be no assurance that the Company will achieve its development or commercialization objectives. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. American Fusion undertakes no obligation to update them except as required by law.

Corporate Communications

833-872-2636 ext. 730

ir@americanfusionenergy.com
info@americanfusionenergy.com
americanfusionenergy.com

LITTLETON, Mass., Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Precision Optics Corporation, Inc. (NASDAQ: POCI), a leading designer and manufacturer of advanced optical instruments for the medical and defense/aerospace industries, will participate in a webcast presentation and host one-on-one meetings with investors at the Lytham Partners Fall 2026 Investor Conference, taking place virtually on September 29-30, 2026.

Company Webcast

The webcast presentation will take place at 3:15 p.m. ET on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The webcast can be accessed by visiting the conference website at https://lythampartners.com/fall2026/ or directly at https://app.webinar.net/yD2Bjwd63Jb . The webcast will also be available for replay following the event.

1×1 Meetings

Management will be participating in virtual one-on-one meetings throughout the event. To arrange a meeting with management, please contact Lytham Partners at 1×1@lythampartners.com or register for the event at https://lythampartners.com/fall2026invreg/.

About Precision Optics Corporation

Founded in 1982, Precision Optics is a vertically integrated optics company focused on leveraging its proprietary micro-optics, multi-channel and ultra-high precision imaging and digital imaging technologies across the medical device, defense/aerospace and satellite communications markets. Through its Systems Manufacturing, Engineering, Ross Optical and Micro-Optics Lab operations, the Company provides services from new product concept and design through volume production. Its in-house optical, mechanical, electrical and systems engineering, prototyping, regulatory support, fabrication, assembly and manufacturing capabilities enable it to develop next-generation solutions for demanding customer requirements. In medical devices, Precision Optics supports minimally invasive and robotic surgery with micro-endoscopes, single-use and reusable endoscopes, digital imaging and related optical assemblies. In defense/aerospace and satellite communications, the Company applies its micro-optics and opto-mechanical expertise to applications requiring high quality and optimized size, weight and power. Ross Optical complements these capabilities through global sourcing, inspection and production of custom and catalog optics. For more information, please visit www.poci.com.

About Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the management of the Company in light of their respective experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments and their potential effects on the Company as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond the control of the parties), or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including the demand for the Company’s products, global supply chains and economic activity in general and other risks and uncertainties identified in the Company’s filings with the SEC. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any of the assumptions being made prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

Company Contact:                                         
PRECISION OPTICS CORPORATION
550 King Street, Building A, Suite 100
Littleton, MA 01460
Telephone: 978-630-1800

Investor Contact:
LYTHAM PARTNERS, LLC
Robert Blum
Telephone: 602-889-9700
poci@lythampartners.com

• Liam Mallon, former President of ExxonMobil Upstream Company, brings over 40 years of global energy and offshore operating experience, including leadership of ExxonMobil’s worldwide upstream business
• Mallon oversaw $20–30 billion in annual capital deployment and major U.S. shale and offshore deepwater growth initiatives, including ExxonMobil’s landmark Guyana development and $60 billion Pioneer Natural Resources acquisition
• His appointment strengthens TMC’s Board at a pivotal stage as the Company prepares to launch the world’s first commercial-scale deep seabed mineral operations to advance U.S. mineral independence

NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TMC the metals company Inc. (Nasdaq: TMC) (“TMC”, “The Metals Company” or the “Company”), a leading developer of the world’s largest resource of critical metals essential to energy, defense, manufacturing, and infrastructure, today announced Liam Mallon’s appointment to its Board of Directors as it advances plans for commercial recovery of polymetallic nodules in international waters under the U.S. Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act of 1980 and its implementing regulations administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”).

Mr. Mallon brings more than four decades of global energy and offshore operating experience, including 35 years with Mobil and ExxonMobil. Before retiring in 2025, he served as President of ExxonMobil Upstream Company and Vice President of ExxonMobil Corporation, overseeing the company’s worldwide upstream portfolio spanning oil and gas exploration, development and operations.

In that role, Mr. Mallon oversaw $20–30 billion in annual capital deployment and led a transformation of ExxonMobil’s upstream business, restructuring its operating model and doubling profitability. He played a central role in portfolio strategy, M&A, and major growth projects, including ExxonMobil’s Guyana development and the $60 billion acquisition and integration of Pioneer Natural Resources, which made ExxonMobil the largest producer in the Permian Basin. Throughout his career, he also managed relationships with governments, national oil companies and ministries across major energy-producing regions.

Mr. Mallon will lead the Board’s Sustainability and Innovation Committee, with a focus on driving innovations that improve offshore project economics and enable rapid scaling of offshore operations while carefully managing impacts.

Liam Mallon commented: “TMC is leading a new offshore critical minerals industry from concept, exploration and technology demonstration to commercial operations. I have spent much of my career developing complex and unconventional resources in challenging environments on land and at sea, and building the organizations to operate them safely and reliably at scale. Bringing that experience to TMC as it prepares to establish the world’s first commercial subsea mining operation on the high seas is a compelling opportunity. I look forward to supporting the team through this next phase.”

TMC Chairman & CEO Gerard Barron commented: “Liam brings the experience that matters as we prepare for commercial operations: delivering complex offshore projects and overseeing major capital investment. His perspective will strengthen our Board’s oversight of execution, capital allocation and risk as we work to translate our resource opportunity into long-term shareholder value. We are building the capabilities to deliver, and Liam’s appointment is an important step forward.”

As Mr. Mallon joins the Board, Brendan May will step down. TMC thanks Mr. May for his important contributions over the past two years, including engaging with various stakeholder communities on the environmental advantages of the Company’s proposed operations.

The appointment of Liam Mallon follows progress on The Metals Company USA LLC’s (“TMC USA”) applications for exploration and commercial recovery of seabed minerals through NOAA’s regulatory pathway. In August, NOAA published TMC USA’s consolidated application for an exploration license and a commercial recovery permit over the USA-A area in the Federal Register. Days earlier, NOAA published a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register to develop an Environmental Impact Statement for TMC USA’s exploration license application over the USA-B area. These recent developments represent the latest milestones in NOAA’s review process as TMC USA moves closer to commercial production.

About The Metals Company
The Metals Company is a developer of lower-impact critical metals from seafloor polymetallic nodules, on a dual mission: (1) supply metals for energy, defense, manufacturing and infrastructure with net positive impacts compared to conventional production routes and (2) trace, recover and recycle the metals we supply to help create a metal commons that can be used in perpetuity. The Company has conducted more than a decade of research into the environmental and social impacts of offshore nodule collection and onshore processing. More information is available at www.metals.co.

Contacts 
Media | media@metals.co
Investors | investors@metals.co

Forward-Looking Statements 
This press release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words such as anticipates, believes, could, estimates, expects, intends, may, plans, possible, potential, should, will, would and variations of these words or similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the expected contributions of Mr. Mallon to the Board, including its oversight of execution, capital allocation and risk; the Company’s strategy to pursue exploration and commercial recovery of seafloor polymetallic nodules under the U.S. regulatory regime; the remaining steps in NOAA’s review of the consolidated TMC USA-A application, including certification, the required environmental review and a final determination on whether to issue the exploration license and commercial recovery permit; the anticipated environmental review and draft Environmental Impact Statement for the USA-B exploration license application and NOAA’s determination on whether to issue that license; the Company’s preparations to launch the world’s first commercial-scale deep seabed mineral operations and its expectation of moving closer to potential commercial production; the Company’s ability to translate its resource opportunity into long-term shareholder value; and expectations regarding greater U.S. mineral independence. The Company may not achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on them. Actual results or events could differ materially as a result of various factors, including, among other things, NOAA’s determinations during its review of the USA-A and USA-B applications, including the scope of any exploration license or commercial recovery permit ultimately granted; the outcome and timing of NOAA’s review under DSHMRA, including whether and when certification occurs; the scope, timing and outcome of the environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act; the absence of any mandatory statutory deadline under DSHMRA for completion of NOAA’s review; the risk that the Terms, Conditions and Restrictions imposed are more restrictive than anticipated or render the proposed activities commercially unviable; legal challenges in U.S. courts by third parties aggrieved by NOAA’s actions, and the risk that TMC USA’s priority rights are terminated or successfully challenged; continued policy support from the U.S. executive branch, NOAA and the Department of Commerce, and shifts in U.S. political priorities, legal interpretations or agency leadership; opposition to deep-seabed mining from governments, non-governmental organizations and other third parties; changes in environmental, mining and other applicable laws and regulations; the accuracy of resource estimates; the Company’s ability to advance its first project on the anticipated timeline, including developing, commissioning and operating offshore collection and onshore processing capability; the Company’s need for additional capital and the availability of such capital on acceptable terms; the outcome of any pending or future litigation; and other risks and uncertainties described in greater detail in the section entitled Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2026, in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2026 and June 30, 2026, filed on May 14, 2026 and August 13, 2026, respectively, and in subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether because of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.