MAIA Biotechnology, Inc., (NYSE American: MAIA) (“MAIA”, the “Company”), a targeted therapy, immuno-oncology company focused on developing potential first-in-class oncology drugs, announced today that it will present the results of a study of the anticancer agent 6-thio-dG (THIO) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in vitro and in vivo models at the EORTC-NCI-AACR (ENA) Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics. The symposium is taking place Oct. 26-28, 2022, in Barcelona, Spain.
The data to be presented outline high anticancer activity of THIO in HCC cancer cells. Notably, sequential administration of THIO followed by cemiplimab (cemi) demonstrated enhanced antitumor efficacy, including complete responses, in a syngeneic immunocompetent HCC mouse model, in comparison with either single agent used alone. Moreover, the treated tumor-free mice demonstrated a complete rejection of the same tumor type cells upon re-challenge: anticancer immune memory was confirmed.
MAIA received an Orphan Drug Designation from the US FDA for the treatment of HCC with THIO earlier in 2022. HCC currently makes up around 90% of liver cancer cases; by 2025, the global incidence of liver cancer is expected to eclipse 1 million cases.1
Presentation details:
- Presentation title: The novel, telomerase-directed, telomere-targeted, anticancer agent 6-thio-dG (THIO) demonstrates potent activity and induces antitumor immunity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) models
- Abstract number: 86
- Session title: New Drugs
- Date: Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 12:00pm CEST
- Presenting author: Sergei Gryaznov, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, MAIA Biotechnology
- Location: Exhibition hall
Additional meeting information is available on ENA's website.
About THIO
THIO (6-thio-dG or 6-thio-2’-deoxyguanosine) is a telomere-targeting agent currently in clinical development to evaluate its activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), in sequential administration with cemiplimab (Libtayo®), a PD-1 inhibitor developed by Regeneron. Telomeres play a fundamental role in the survival of cancer cells and their resistance to current therapies. THIO is being developed as a second or higher line of treatment for NSCLC for patients that have progressed beyond the standard-of-care regimen of existing checkpoint inhibitors.
About MAIA Biotechnology, Inc.
MAIA is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing targeted immunotherapies for cancer. The Company’s lead program is THIO, a potential first-in-class cancer telomere targeting agent in clinical development for the treatment of patients with telomerase-positive cancers. For more information, please visit www.maiabiotech.com.
1 Llovet, J.M., Kelley, R.K., Villanueva, A. et al. Hepatocellular carcinoma. Nat Rev Dis Primers 7, 6 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-020-00240-3
Forward Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements related to the closing of the offering and the expected use of proceeds, development of drug candidates, our operations and business strategy, our expected financial results, and corporate updates. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to substantial risks, uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed by these expectations due to risks and uncertainties, including, among others, those related to our ability to obtain additional capital on favorable terms to us, or at all, including, without limitation, to fund our current and future preclinical studies and clinical trials and the success, timing and cost of our drug development program and our ongoing or future preclinical studies and clinical trials, including, without limitation, the possibility of unfavorable new clinical and preclinical data and additional analyses of existing data, that the risks that prior clinical and preclinical results may not be replicated, and risks associated with the current coronavirus pandemic. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to review or update any forward-looking statement except as may be required by applicable law.
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