Immune-One Therapeutics has just announced that they have dosed their first acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patient in their Phase 1 trial investigating IO-202. This therapy is an immune inhibitory receptor that works to block LILRB4. Researchers believe it could be efficacious for patients with AML with monocytes differentiation as well as those diagnosed with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML).
AML is a blood cancer that causes abnormal myeloblasts within the bone marrow. The prognosis for these patients is currently dim with fewer than 30% of patients living 5 years past their diagnosis.
CMML is also a very rare blood and bone marrow cancer. The cancer starts in the bone marrow and then moves into the blood.
The hope is that this new therapy will provide a new option for patients with these rare and hard to treat diseases.
IO-202
IO-202 works to block the signaling of LILRB4 which is an immune inhibitory receptor. This therapy is beneficial because it has a high degree of specificity and a high binding affinity.
A study published 2 years ago showed the role of LILRB4. It influences both immune suppression as well as tumor infiltration.
IO-202 is now the very first T-cell activator studied in AML. This drug is able to change the signal of T-cells. First, it helps the T-cells to find the cancerous cells. Second, instead of the T-cells letting the AML cells be, it signals them to kill the cancerous cells.
These positive preclinical results have lead to the continued development of IO-202.
Looking Forward
The Phase 1 study is just the starting point for this therapy. It has been made possible thanks to a grant from the SBIR, NIC, and NIH. Researchers hope to develop this treatment for a wide array of other cancers. They particularly hope to extend it to cancers with solid tumors.
The Phase 1 trial is first completing a dose-escalation investigation to help to clarify what is the optimal dose of the therapy. After this is established, patients will be enrolled.
Researchers have left open the option to evaluate IO-202 in concert with other therapies if necessary.
They will also document biomarkers to aid the development of future trials.
You can read more about this investigative therapy here.
