IO Biotech's New Preclinical Data: A Promising Addition to Its Pipeline

IO Biotech, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has announced new preclinical data for an additional pipeline candidate, IO112, at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)-IO conference. This novel therapeutic cancer vaccine candidate targets arginase 1 (Arg1), a key immune-suppressive factor in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of many solid tumors. The findings presented at the conference highlight the potential of IO112 in reshaping the TME and driving anti-tumor activity.

IO112 is a fully-owned, novel investigational product candidate containing a single Arg1-derived peptide designed to engage and activate Arg1-specific human T cells. The vaccine targets T cells that recognize epitopes derived from Arg1, which is an immunoregulatory enzyme highly expressed in difficult-to-treat tumors associated with high levels of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Arginase overexpression is a well-documented tumor escape mechanism, and IO112 has shown promising results in preclinical studies.

The poster presentation, titled "A TGF-β-directed peptide vaccine induces T cell activation & drives anti-tumor activity by modulating the architecture of the tumor microenvironment," detailed the potential of IO112 in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and prostate cancer models. The vaccine-induced robust immune responses that reshaped the TME without causing systemic toxicity or adverse off-target effects. These findings support the continued development of Arg1-based immune-modulatory vaccines as a novel approach for treating a wide range of cancers.

IO Biotech's proprietary T-win® platform is designed to selectively modulate TGF-β activity rather than fully inhibit it, targeting both tumor cells and key immune-suppressive cells within the TME. This targeted approach has the potential to minimize off-target effects and systemic toxicity, leading to improved patient safety and quality of life in the long term.

The company anticipates filing an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for IO112 in 2025, marking a significant milestone in its pipeline development. IO Biotech is committed to advancing its lead investigational cancer vaccine candidate, Cylembio™ (imsapepimut and etimupepimut, adjuvanted), and additional pipeline candidates through preclinical development.

In conclusion, IO Biotech's new preclinical data for IO112 presented at the AACR-IO conference highlights the potential of this novel therapeutic cancer vaccine candidate in reshaping the TME and driving anti-tumor activity. With the company's commitment to advancing its pipeline and the anticipated IND submission for IO112 in 2025, IO Biotech continues to demonstrate its dedication to transforming the treatment of cancer patients.