IterOnco is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company developing therapies that reprogram the tumor microenvironment to improve treatment efficacy in solid tumors. Its lead program, Itero-101, targets the structural barriers of tumors to enhance immune cell infiltration)Skip to content. A second platform focuses on next-generation ex vivo expansion of natural killer (NK) cells for improved potency and availability in clinical use.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
More than 90% of cancers are solid tumors, yet most treatments, including immunotherapy, targeted therapies, and chemotherapy, show limited efficacy against them. Solid tumors build a hostile microenvironment—characterized by abnormal vasculature, dense fibrotic extracellular matrix, and an immunosuppressive milieu—that creates a physical and biological barrier preventing treatments and immune cells from reaching the tumor core. To compensate, therapies are often administered at high doses, increasing toxicity without guaranteeing better efficacy.
Solution
IterOnco is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company developing therapies designed to overcome the structural barriers of solid tumors by targeting the tumor microenvironment itself. The lead program, Itero-101, remodels the tumor microenvironment to restore conditions favorable to therapeutic access, starting with immune cell infiltration, with potential applications extending to other treatment modalities. The company’s second technology platform focuses on next-generation ex vivo expansion of NK cells to improve their availability and potency for clinical use. IterOnco’s strategy combines both platforms to address both sides of the equation—tumor accessibility and immune cell readiness—preparing the tumor to receive therapies rather than just optimizing the therapeutic agents themselves. The microenvironment remodeling properties of Itero-101 also open the door to future combinations with chemotherapy and targeted agents.
Target Audience
Primary customers are strategic industry partners in oncology, immuno-oncology, and cell therapy, as well as scientific collaborators in tumor biology, immunology, and translational oncology. The company also seeks funding partners—public, private, and philanthropic—supporting deeptech and oncology innovation.
Features
- Itero-101 lead program designed to remodel the tumor microenvironment, restoring conditions favorable to therapeutic access and immune cell infiltration
- Second technology platform for next-generation ex vivo expansion of NK cells to improve availability and potency for clinical use
- Microenvironment-first strategy that prepares the tumor to receive treatments rather than only optimizing therapeutic agents
- Potential applications extending beyond immunotherapy to chemotherapy and targeted agents
- Initial development focus on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), characterized by an exceptionally dense and immunosuppressive microenvironment
- Aims to build foundation for extending approach to other solid tumors with immense unmet medical need