ImmunoGenesis develops a PD-L1/PD-L2 dual-specific inhibitor to enhance immune response against cold tumors, which typically exhibit low T cell activation and poor response rates to existing therapies. By targeting key immune resistance mechanisms, their platform aims to significantly improve treatment efficacy for these difficult-to-treat cancers.
Funding
$50.2M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
CFFounders
Product
Problem
Many tumors, known as "cold tumors," exhibit low T cell activation and resistance to existing immunotherapies, resulting in poor response rates and limited treatment options for patients. These tumors often evade immune detection through mechanisms like PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression, hindering effective T cell-mediated killing of cancer cells.
Solution
ImmunoGenesis is developing immunotherapies specifically designed to overcome immune resistance in cold tumors by targeting key inhibitory pathways. Their lead asset, IMGS-001, is a novel PD-L1/PD-L2 dual-specific inhibitor engineered with effector function to enhance immune response and directly kill immunosuppressive cells within the tumor microenvironment. This approach aims to re-envision the starting point for cold tumor treatment by establishing a foundation of PD-1 pathway blockade and increasing the monotherapy response rate compared to current PD-1 pathway inhibitors. ImmunoGenesis is also developing IMGS-501, an Immune Stimulating Antibody Conjugate (ISAC) that combines the PD-L1/PD-L2 dual-specific inhibitor with a STING agonist for targeted delivery of immune stimulation to tumor sites. Additionally, IMGS-101 (evofosfamide) is being developed as a hypoxia-reversal agent to address immune resistance caused by hypoxic tumor microenvironments.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes patients with advanced solid tumors that are resistant or refractory to existing immunotherapies, as well as oncologists and researchers seeking novel treatment options for cold tumors.
Features
- IMGS-001: A novel PD-L1/PD-L2 dual-specific inhibitor engineered with effector function for enhanced immune response.
- IMGS-501: A STING-mAb Immune Stimulating Antibody Conjugate (ISAC) for targeted delivery of a STING agonist to tumor sites.
- IMGS-101 (evofosfamide): A hypoxia-reversal agent to address immune resistance in hypoxic tumors.
- Platform designed to target key mechanisms of immune resistance in cold tumors.
- Aims to increase the cold tumor monotherapy response rate compared to current PD-1 pathway inhibitors.
- IMGS-501 allows for intravenous administration and targeted delivery of the STING agonist.