HCW Biologics announces latest update for tetra-valent ICI Program

HCW Biologics (HCWB) announced the latest updated data for its tetra-valent, second-generation pembrolizumab-based Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor, ICI, Program constructed using the Company’s novel TRBC platform, presented at the 40th Annual Meeting of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, SITC2025. Results of these preclinical studies also highlight the advantages of HCW11-040 over the first generation immune checkpoint inhibitors: To improve efficacy, HCW11-040 is equipped with other moieties in addition to pembrolizumab which neutralizes the immunosuppressive cytokine, TGF-beta, and activates effector immune cell responses. The mouse homologue of HCW11-040 expands progenitor exhausted T cells significantly better than mouse ICI or pembrolizumab alone. TPEX cells are a key subset of T cells that respond to ICIs. TPEX cells have self-renewal capabilities and are considered a primary driver for the success of ICI therapies, making them an attractive target for improving treatment outcomes. HCW11-040 expands and activates human peripheral blood lymphocytes and memory T cells significantly better than pembrolizumab alone. HCW11-040 exhibits significantly better anti-tumor activity of human PBMC against human pancreatic cancer and leukemia cells in organoid models than pembrolizumab alone. HCW11-040 leaves no evidence of inducing excessive inflammatory responses from the immune cells after subcutaneous administration.