Immune-Onc Therapeutics

In March 2021, LLS made an equity investment in Immune-Onc Therapeutics to support the "Phase 1 Clinical Development of IO-202, An Antibody Targeting LILRB4, for the Treatment of AML with Monocytic Differentiation and CMML."

Immune-Onc is a private, clinical-stage cancer immunotherapy company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel myeloid checkpoint inhibitors for cancer patients. The company aims to translate unique scientific insights in myeloid cell biology and immune inhibitory receptors to discover and develop first-in-class biotherapeutics that reverse immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment. The company’s work builds on early research by Chengcheng (Alec) Zhang, Ph.D. at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center that was also funded by LLS grants. Checkpoint inhibitors work by ‘releasing the brake’ from the body’s own immune cells so that they can effectively attack cancer cells.

Immune-Onc has a promising pipeline with a current focus on targeting the Leukocyte Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor subfamily B (LILRB) of myeloid checkpoints.

IO-202 is a first-in-class antibody targeting the LILRB4 and has entered a phase 1 expansion clinical trial (NCT0437243) for the treatment of AML (IO-202 in combination with azacitidine and venetoclax) and CMML (IO-202 in combination with azacitidine). Recently, IO-202 entered clinical development as monotherapy or in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors (NCT05309187). In June 2023, the FDA granted Fast Track designation to IO-202 for the treatment of R/R CMML, which follows the R/R AML Fast Track designation received in February 2022.

For more information about Immune-Onc, visit www.immune-onc.com.

Recent News

• June 7, 2023 - announced Phase 1 dose escalation clinical data of IO-202 in AML and CMML will be presented EHA & the FDA granted Fast Track designation to IO-202 for CMML.
• April 14, 2023 - announced Phase 1 dose escalation clinical data in solid tumors for IO-108, a novel myeloid checkpoint inhibitor targeting LILRB2, and preclinical data in AML for IO-312, a novel bispecific antibody targeting LILRB4 and CD3, at AACR 2023.
• January 5, 2023 - announced the close of an additional $25 million through a Series B extension, for a total of $131 million in Series B financing. This extension was led by existing investor Triwise Capital and with participation from new investors including Proxima Ventures, among others. In addition, the company has received continued strategic capital investments from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Therapy Acceleration Program® (LLS TAP) and Wuxi Biologics HealthCare Venture. 
• February 17, 2022 - announced that the FDA has granted Fast Track designation for IO-202 for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory AML. 
• January 31, 2022 - announced that the FDA has cleared the company’s IND application for IO-202, a first-in-class antibody targeting leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B4 (LILRB4, also known as ILT3), for the treatment of solid tumors. IO-202 is currently in Phase 1 clinical development for the treatment of AML and CMML.