Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer

Secarna’s SECN-15 leads to tumor regression in breast cancer

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Investigators from Secarna Pharmaceuticals GmbH & Co. KG recently presented data for their antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) SECN-15 that targets and downregulates the expression of neuropilin-1 (NRP1), a transmembrane co-receptor that promotes tumor progression in several tumor types, including breast and gastric cancers.

MaaT-034 exerts immunomodulatory effects in colon cancer

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Evidence suggests the composition of the gut microbiome modulates a tumor’s response to therapy. Maat Pharma SA has thus developed Microbiome Ecosystem Therapies (METs) that replicate, at a large scale, the effects of the gut microbiome in people who respond to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy.

AVA-NP-695 shows activity in refractory and rare cancers

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500

The overexpression of ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) is tied to poor prognosis in several cancer types, including osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma, and is therefore a potential therapeutic target in these cancers. In this regard, Avammune Therapeutics Inc. is developing an ENPP1 inhibitor – AVA-NP-695.

CR-001, a PD-1 x VEGF bispecific antibody with potent activity

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Researchers from Crescent Biopharma Inc. and Paragon Therapeutics Inc. presented the preclinical development of CR-001.

ABT-863 shows in vivo efficacy without Treg depletion

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Abilita Therapeutics Inc. has developed a novel approach targeting CCR8 – ABT-863 – that works as a potent inverse agonist to block CCL1-dependent and basal receptor signaling.

Abion’s ABN-202 has antitumor activity in acidic microenvironment

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Abion Inc. has presented data for ABN-202, a hyperglycosylated interferon (IFN) β mutein fused to a monoclonal antibody targeting tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 2 (TROP2) that retains activity under acidic conditions.

CX-908 drives tumor regression with improved safety margin

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500

T cell-engaging bispecific antibodies (TCEs) are engineered molecules designed to bring cytotoxic T cells into proximity with tumor cells, triggering a targeted, antigen-dependent immune attack. However, TCE may activate T cells in healthy tissues, leading to off-tumor toxicity.

Akeso’s AK-135 relieves chemotherapy-induced pain

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Akeso Biopharma Inc. has developed an anti-IL-1RAP therapeutic, AK-135, for the potential treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

AZD-6750 enhances CD8+ T-cell activity

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500

IL-2 is clinically validated as an immunotherapeutic, but its use is limited by toxicity issues. AZD-6750 is an approach from Astrazeneca plc that applies cis-guiding to deliver a modified IL-2 mutein to CD8+ T cells.

Preclinical data on bispecific TCE support further development

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500

HER2-targeted antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have significantly improved cancer therapy in recent decades. However, ADCs can cause toxicity and resistance, while T-cell engagers (TCEs) show promising antitumor activity in solid tumors but are limited by substantial adverse effects.

STK-012 boosts T-cell activation while minimizing side effects

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Researchers from Synthekine Inc. presented preclinical efficacy data on STK-012, a first-in-class IL-2 partial agonist engineered for preferential binding to the IL-2Rαβγ receptor.

HCW11-018 shows antitumor efficacy in pancreatic cancer

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Pancreatic cancer is among the most aggressive cancer types, with survival rates being very low and current treatment being quite ineffective. To address this unmet medical need, HCW Biologics Inc. has developed and presented preclinical data for their T-cell engager approach – HCW11-018.

CT-202, a tumor-selective pH-dependent Nectin-4/CD3 TCE

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Nectin-4 is a cell-adhesion molecule that is highly expressed in several malignancies, including bladder, colorectal, lung and breast cancers, while exhibiting minimal expression in most normal adult tissues.

CTX-10726 bispecific antibody shows robust preclinical efficacy

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Researchers from Compass Therapeutics Inc. detailed the preclinical characterization of CTX-10726, a bispecific, tetravalent antibody that simultaneously targets VEGF-A and PD-1.

IPT-001 exerts tumor regression through HERV-K targeting

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are residues from ancient viral infections that have become integrated into the human genome. One of them – HERV-K – is aberrantly reactivated in solid tumors but silent in healthy tissues.

Pilatus’ PLT-012 exerts tumor control in liver cancer

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Pilatus Biosciences SA has developed a CD36-targeting humanized antibody, PLT-012, for the potential treatment of cancer.

CT-111 trispecific antibody promotes cooperative antitumor effects

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Researchers from Chantibody Therapeutics Inc. presented the preclinical characterization of CT-111, a trispecific antibody engineered to simultaneously target PD-1, CTLA-4, and VEGF.

IO-112 is novel cancer vaccine harnessing Arg1-specific immunity

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Arginase 1 (Arg1) is a key mediator of immune suppression, and its overexpression has been reported in multiple cancers, including renal cell carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, and head and neck cancer. However, clinical strategies aimed at inhibiting Arg1 function have achieved only limited success.

Immuneonco’s IMM-2510 shows promise for solid tumors

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500

The inhibition of PD-L1 and VEGF individually or in combination has shown efficacy across several solid tumor types, but not all patients respond to therapy or respond for short duration. IMM-2510 is a novel bispecific antibody developed by Immuneonco Biopharmaceuticals Inc. that targets both PD-L1 and VEGF, thus achieving both angiogenesis inhibition and immune checkpoint blockade.

Tango’s first-in-class CoREST inhibitor overcomes anti-PD-1 resistance

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Researchers from Tango Therapeutics Inc. presented preclinical efficacy data on TNG-260, an inhibitor of the co-repressor of repressor element-1 silencing transcription (CoREST) deacetylase complex, designed to treat immunotherapy-resistant STK11-mutant tumors.

Enara validates first dark antigen cancer target, unveils bispecific T-cell engager

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Enara Bio Ltd. is staking a claim to having validated the first in a new class of tumor antigens derived from unannotated regions of the dark genome, describing its findings in talks and posters being presented at the Society of Immunotherapy in Cancer (SITC) meeting in National Harbor, Md., Nov. 5-9, 2025.

STX-003 shows tumor specificity with reduced toxicity in tumor model

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0500

There is increasing interest in developing precision immunotherapies that target tumors but with minimal impact on healthy tissues. IL-12 is a potent immunostimulatory cytokine that has shown effective antitumoral activity in the preclinical setting, but its systemic delivery may be accompanied by off-target effects.

Rondo Therapeutics reports CD28 x Nectin-4 bispecific antibody for bladder cancer

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Nectin-4 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) and checkpoint inhibitor combinations have represented a great advancement in the treatment of bladder cancer, but relapse and treatment-related toxicities underscore the need for new therapeutic strategies.

Proximity-activated antibody-cytokine fusion protein reinvigorates tumor-specific PD-1-expressing T cells

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Researchers from Anaveon AG and affiliated organizations presented the discovery and preclinical characterization of ANV-700, a novel proximity-activated cytokine (PAC) compound designed to selectively deliver IL-21 to PD-1-expressing cells for the treatment of cancer.

AGEN-1721, a first-in-class Fc-enhanced bifunctional antibody designed to remodel the tumor microenvironment

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500

AGEN-1721 was designed as an Fc-enhanced bifunctional antibody to selectively target FAP and neutralize TGF-β via an optimized TGF-βR2 TRAP moiety fused to an engineered Fc region, with the aim of maximizing effector functions.

BM-205 cell-based gene therapy produces antitumor memory effect

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Researchers from SL Bigen Inc. and collaborators presented the preclinical characterization of BM-205, a novel entity of engineered MSCs designed to exert antitumor functions.

EVOLVE-104 marks an effective co-stimulatory strategy

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Compared to normal tissues, where the expression of ULBP2/5/6 protein is restricted, in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), head and neck cancer and squamous urothelial carcinoma, the levels of ULBP2/5/6 remain high even following relapse from standard-of-care therapies and is retained in metastatic lesions. Besides, these squamous cell cancers showed a high proportion of CD2+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes compared to other co-stimulatory receptors.

Novel T-cell engager AZD-9793 has improved therapeutic index

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Researchers from Astrazeneca plc presented the discovery and preclinical characterization of AZD-9793, a novel CD8-guided T-cell engager (TCE) being developed for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

CO-005 is potent new anti-CD47 fusion protein

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Researchers from Caedo Oncology AS presented the discovery and preclinical characterization of CO-005, a novel anti-CD47 fusion protein being developed for the treatment of lymphoma.

BB-203, a potentially best-in-class anti-PD-L1/anti-VEGF VHH bispecific antibody

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Bright Biologics LLC reported the discovery and preclinical evaluation of BB-203, an anti-PD-L1/anti-VEGF bispecific antibody (Ab) being developed for the treatment of cancer.