Cue Biopharma, ImmunoScape enter exclusive in-licensing deal

ImmunoScape announced an exclusive in-licensing deal with Cue Biopharma (CUE) to lead the development of a distinct new class of therapies to attack solid tumor cancers. The deal provides ImmunoScape with exclusive access to Cue Biopharma’s clinical-stage Immuno-STAT molecules in oncology. By combining Cue Biopharma’s technology with its precision T cell receptor therapy, ImmunoScape is pioneering a new “Seed-and-Boost” approach to immunotherapy, that addresses the shortcomings of current cell therapies by enabling potent in vivo expansion of infused tumor targeting T-cells-producing large numbers of highly effective tumor killing T cells in a controlled manner in the patient. The strategy uses a minimal dose of the patient’s own T cells, engineered with a tumor-specific TCR, followed by periodic administration of TCR-matching and interleukin-2 carrying Immuno-STAT molecules. This combination immunotherapy enables, for the first time, the establishment of a true therapeutic index for IL-2 by selectively delivering it to tumor-reactive T cells. The potential breakthrough approach offers to eliminate systemic cytokine toxicity, streamline manufacturing, and may deliver a deeper, more durable attack on malignant cells.