ESMO 2024: IO Biotech’s IO102-IO103 Vaccine in Combination with Pembrolizumab Shows Promising Results in Head and Neck Cancer

ESMO Congress 2024 Presentation:
IO Biotech announced that data from its Phase 2 basket trial (IOB-022/KN-D38) evaluating IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for the first-line treatment of advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) was accepted for poster presentation at the ESMO Congress 2024.

Vaccine Mechanism:
IO102-IO103 is an off-the-shelf therapeutic cancer vaccine designed to target and eliminate both tumor cells and immune-suppressive cells within the tumor microenvironment by promoting the activation and proliferation of T cells against indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and/or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) positive cells.

Clinical Trials:
The company is conducting several clinical trials, including a pivotal Phase 3 trial (IOB-013/KN-D18) comparing IO102-IO103 combined with pembrolizumab to pembrolizumab alone in patients with advanced melanoma, and Phase 2 basket trials exploring the combination in solid tumors and as neo-adjuvant/adjuvant therapy.

ESMO Congress 2024 Highlights:
The ESMO Congress 2024 featured various studies on immunotherapy, including IO Biotech's presentation, highlighting the expanding landscape of therapeutic agents and the potential of novel combinations in treating various cancers.

IO Biotech's Progress:
IO Biotech continues to advance its lead cancer vaccine candidate, IO102-IO103, with ongoing clinical trials and a breakthrough therapy designation for the treatment of advanced melanoma by the US Food and Drug Administration.