Pilatus Biosciences has entered into a clinical trial collaboration with Roche to advance its lead immunomodulatory candidate PLT012 into first-in-human testing for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Under the agreement, Roche will supply atezolizumab (Tecentriq®) to support Pilatus' upcoming Phase 1 trial evaluating the combination therapy in HCC patients.
Novel Approach to Tumor Microenvironment Modulation
PLT012 represents a unique approach to cancer immunotherapy, designed as a humanized monoclonal antibody that selectively blocks CD36-mediated lipid uptake. This mechanism targets a key driver of immunosuppression and immune exclusion within the tumor microenvironment characteristic of HCC.
The investigational therapy works by depleting immunosuppressive cell populations, including regulatory T cells (Tregs) and pro-tumor macrophages, while simultaneously enhancing anti-tumor activities of intratumoral natural killer cells and cytotoxic CD8+ T cells that are otherwise susceptible to lipid-induced exhaustion.
Addressing Treatment Resistance in Liver Cancer
"Current treatments, including checkpoint inhibitors as monotherapy, often fail to generate durable responses in liver cancer," said Raven Lin, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Pilatus Biosciences. "PLT012's ability to reshape the TME may enhance immune activation and unlock deeper, more sustained responses when administered in combination with anti-PD-L1 therapies such as atezolizumab."
The combination strategy aims to address a critical challenge in HCC treatment, where immune checkpoint blockade has shown limited efficacy as monotherapy. By modulating the tumor microenvironment, PLT012 may act as a potent sensitizer to overcome drug resistance in immune "cold" tumors and liver metastases.
Clinical Development Strategy
The initial Phase 1 trial will focus on assessing safety and tolerability of the PLT012-atezolizumab combination in HCC patients. Pilatus has indicated that additional studies in other tumor types are planned following the initial HCC-focused trial.
Dr. Ann-Lii Cheng, NTU Chair professor and President Emeritus of the NTU Cancer Center of National Taiwan University, who serves as a scientific collaborator at Pilatus Biosciences, emphasized the potential clinical impact. "Combining PLT012 with atezolizumab has the potential to overcome key mechanisms of resistance in HCC and potentially drive more durable patient response and potentially improve patient outcomes for this aggressive disease."
Dr. Cheng previously served as the global principal investigator of the landmark IMbrave150 trial, which established atezolizumab plus bevacizumab as a standard of care treatment for first-line HCC, with results published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2020.
Preclinical Foundation
In preclinical studies, PLT012 demonstrated potent monotherapy efficacy in models of liver malignancies, with a favorable safety profile across species. The drug's distinct mechanism of action leveraging metabolic checkpoint modulation represents a novel approach to cancer immunotherapy.
Atezolizumab will be provided by Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, for use in Pilatus' clinical research. The anti-PD-L1 therapy is currently approved as a standard of care treatment for first-line HCC in combination with bevacizumab (Avastin®).
Market Context
HCC represents the most common type of primary liver cancer and remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide, highlighting the significant unmet medical need that this collaboration aims to address. The partnership between Pilatus Biosciences, founded in 2022 from the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, and Roche represents a strategic approach to advancing metabolic checkpoint immunotherapy in oncology.
