Immune-Onc Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical firm specializing in immunology and oncology, has entered into a clinical trial collaboration with Roche to assess the potential of IO-108 as a first-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The trial will investigate the efficacy and safety of IO-108, an antibody that targets LILRB2, when combined with Roche's atezolizumab and bevacizumab, which are part of the first FDA-approved cancer immunotherapy combination for this condition and recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network as the standard of care.
The Phase 1b/2 study, part of Roche's Morpheus-Liver program, will compare the IO-108 combination, known as the "triplet," to the "doublet" of atezolizumab and bevacizumab alone. The primary focus will be on the objective response rate, with progression-free and overall survival as secondary endpoints. Roche will oversee the study, while Immune-Onc will provide IO-108 and retain its global rights.
IO-108 has shown promising clinical activity and safety when used as a monotherapy or in combination with T cell checkpoint inhibitors across various solid tumors. The company's CEO, Charlene Liao, Ph.D., highlighted the significance of this collaboration in advancing IO-108 as a preferred myeloid checkpoint inhibitor for use with standard immunotherapy regimens.
The American Cancer Society reports that over 800,000 individuals are diagnosed with liver cancer globally each year, with HCC accounting for nearly 90% of cases in the U.S. The incidence and mortality rates are expected to rise, with chronic liver disease being a primary cause. Immune-Onc's pipeline includes several therapeutics targeting the LILRB family, with IO-108 currently in Phase 1b/2 development and IO-202 in Phase 1b for acute myeloid leukemia and other conditions. The company has partnerships with leading biopharmaceutical firms and has received support from the National Cancer Institute, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Therapy Acceleration Program.
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