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ImmunoScape, an A*STAR spin out backed by Amgen Ventures and EDBi that is developing next-generation TCR-based cancer immunotherapies, has announced an exclusive in-licensing deal with US-based Cue Biopharma Inc to lead the development of a distinct new class of therapies to attack solid tumour cancers.
The deal provides ImmunoScape with exclusive access to Cue Biopharma’s clinical-stage Immuno-STAT® molecules in oncology.
By combining Cue Biopharma’s technology with its precision T cell receptor (TCR) therapy, ImmunoScape is pioneering a new “Seed-and-Boost” approach to immunotherapy, that addresses the shortcomings of current cell therapies by enabling potent in vivo expansion of infused tumor targeting T-cells—producing large numbers of highly effective tumour killing T cells in a controlled manner in the patient.
The strategy uses a minimal dose of the patient’s own T cells, engineered with a tumor-specific TCR (Seed), followed by periodic administration of TCR-matching and interleukin-2 (IL-2) carrying Immuno-STAT® molecules.
This combination immunotherapy enables, for the first time, the establishment of a true therapeutic index for IL-2 by selectively delivering it to tumour-reactive T cells. The potential breakthrough approach offers to eliminate systemic cytokine toxicity, streamline manufacturing, and may deliver a deeper, more durable attack on malignant cells.
ImmunoScape’s first Seed-and-Boost programme targets the WT1 antigen, which is expressed across many recalcitrant solid tumours — including lung, pancreatic, colorectal, ovarian, gastric, melanoma, and head and neck cancers — as well as certain hematologic malignancies that still represent significant unmet clinical needs.
ImmunoScape’s Singapore lab has generated compelling preclinical data across multiple solid tumour models, which is supportive of IND-enabling studies that will enable clinical trials to commence by 2027.
