Science

Our Science

Pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

IO Biotech is pioneering the development of a novel immune-oncology therapy with our T-win® vaccine platform, the first immune-modulating cancer vaccine directed against the tumor microenvironment (TME), with the most advanced program currently in Phase 3 development.

The T-win® cancer vaccine platform is designed to stimulate T cells against tumor cells and the most important immune-suppressive cells – Tregs and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) – in the TME, turning it into an anti-tumor, pro-inflammatory environment. The T-win® platform’s novel and highly differentiated mechanism of action has demonstrated strong clinical activity in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial, without additional systemic toxicity when administered in combination with an approved anti-PD-1 therapy.

IO Biotech aims to improve outcomes with the development of cancer vaccines with novel dual mechanisms of action to optimize treatment response, without adding toxicity, in both advanced and earlier stages of cancer.

IO102-IO103

Our lead investigational candidate IO102-IO103 combines our two wholly owned T-win® vaccines, IO102 and IO103, that are designed to activate and expand T cells specific for indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), respectively. IDO1 and PD-L1 are overexpressed by many types of solid tumors and immune-suppressive cells (Tregs and TAMs) in the TME. By combining IO102 and IO103, our lead product candidate is intended to have a synergistic effect on cells in the TME that express IDO1 and/or PD-L1, leading to enhanced cell killing.

IO112

IO112 is our wholly owned, novel T-win® vaccine candidate that is designed to activate and expand T cells specific for arginase-1. Arginase-1 is highly expressed by difficult-to-treat tumors – including breast, colorectal, pancreatic, prostate, and ovarian cancers – that are associated with high levels of immune-suppressive cells in the TME. By directing T cells against tumor cells and immune-suppressive cells in the TME expressing arginase-1, IO112 could offer a new therapeutic option to patients with these tumor types.