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BIO-Europe 2018

IO Biotech delivers a one-two punch in immuno-oncology therapeutics

Posted by on 15 October 2018
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IO Biotech is one of the only immuno-oncology companies whose therapeutics agents have a dual mechanism of action, delivering two blows to the tumor simultaneously.

“We’re targeting the tumor cells and the immune suppressor cells in the same therapy, to generate a powerful T cell-induced tumor-response,” says Mai-Britt Zocca, PhD, CEO. “That’s the uniqueness of our platform.”

Basically, IO Biotech’s T-win® technology platform identifies compounds that activate naturally occurring T-cells targeting both the broad tumor microenvironment and the tumor itself, and indirectly activate T-effectors to evoke a strong anti-tumor response. Early indications suggest this approach will be effective against several cancer types, including hematological cancers and solid tumors.

[Read how alliances provide much of biopharma’s arsenal in the war on cancer]

Currently, IO Biotech has six compounds in clinical development, with five already in trials. “We’re running trials in solid and hematological cancers, including lung, melanoma, lymphoma, and myeloma,” Dr. Zocca says. “We’re actively recruiting into Phase II for IO102 in first line patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in combination with Merck’s (known as MSD beyond the US and Canada) Keytruda® (pembrolizumab).” The first dose was administered to the first patient in late September. In addition IO Biotech has a number of compounds in preclinical development.

Experienced founders

Mai-Britt Zocca

This dual-acting T-win® technology evolved from the discoveries made by IO Biotech’s scientific founder, Mads Hald Andersen, PhD, and his research team at the Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT) at Denmark’s Herlev University Hospital.

At the beginning, Dr. Zocca recalls, “Dr. Andersen and I basically discussed the complete field of immuno-oncology. We decided that now was the time to spin out the technology he had been developing at the CCIT.”

They brought in three other experts for a founding group of five. These five bring together substantial experience as scientists and clinicians, and, importantly, hands-on expertise in the business of biotech. Three are directors at the Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT) at Herlev University Hospital.

As the business was forming, “we drafted the initial business plan and got seed investment from Novo Seed,” Dr. Zocca says. The company incorporated in December 2014. Soon afterward, she initiated discussions with Lundbeckfonden Emerge.

Since its founding, IO Biotech has attracted funding from Novo Seeds, part of Novo Holdings; Lundbeckfonden Emerge, a seed funding arm of the Lundbeck Foundation; and Sunstone Capital, a notable European venture firm. Currently, the company is raising Series B funding.

A bold approach

Nearly four years on, the biggest challenge for the young company is the immuno-oncology space itself. This is a very attractive therapeutic area for a lot of companies, so recruiting for trial sites and investigators is very competitive.

IO Biotech, however, has a way to reduce that challenge. “We have quite a bold clinical strategy to address that,” she says. Rather than target late-stage cancers, “we’re set to move into a first-line setting, enrolling patients in our clinical trials immediately after they are diagnosed with either lung cancer or melanoma.”

That approach is designed to help the company achieve the milestones it needs for continued, rapid growth and to bring potentially life-saving therapeutics to patients early in their conditions, when interventions can be most effective.

Peering down the road, five years into the future, she says, “We have quite a broad platform and a deep pipeline, so I see us having more trials up and running and, hopefully, some more good partnerships underway.”

Growing partnerships

Strong partnerships are important to Dr. Zocca. In addition to the collaboration with Merck (MSD) for IO102, IO Biotech collaborates with the University of Copenhagen, Georgetown University, the University of Verona, and Herlev Hospital.

The company currently is looking for partners for IO103, a first-in-class PD-L1 disruptor. ”It’s already in Phase I trials for multiple myeloma, follicular lymphoma—both hematological programs—and a Phase I/II trial for melanoma. We would like one or more partners to help advance these programs into later stage clinical development.” IO Biotech is developing its pipeline both as standalone therapeutics and as combination therapies adding extra punch to already marketed products.

Attending BIO-Europe, November 5–7 in Copenhagen, will further the networking opportunities that ultimately will help advance IO Biotech’s program. As Dr. Zocca adds, “We have a good dialogue with several interested partners and plan to continue those dialogues at BIO-Europe.”

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