Sensei Biotherapeutics to Present Phase 1 Data on Novel VISTA-Targeting Cancer Therapy at ESMO 2025
Key Insights
Sensei Biotherapeutics will present clinical data from the Phase 1 dose expansion cohort of solnerstotug, a pH-selective anti-VISTA (search) antibody, at ESMO Congress 2025 in Berlin.
The study evaluates solnerstotug alone and in combination with cemiplimab in patients with advanced solid tumors resistant to prior PD-(L)1 therapy.
Solnerstotug is designed to selectively block the VISTA (search) checkpoint within the low pH tumor microenvironment to unleash T cells against tumors.
Sensei Biotherapeutics announced that clinical data from the dose expansion cohort of its Phase 1/2 trial evaluating solnerstotug will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2025. The presentation will showcase results from the study of solnerstotug both as monotherapy and in combination with Libtayo® (cemiplimab), Regeneron's PD-1 (search) inhibitor, in patients with advanced solid tumors resistant to prior PD-(L)1 therapy.
Novel VISTA-Targeting Approach
Solnerstotug represents a novel approach to cancer immunotherapy as a conditionally active antibody designed to block the V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA (search)) checkpoint. The therapy is engineered to function selectively within the low pH tumor microenvironment, where VISTA acts as a suppressor of T cells by binding the receptor PSGL-1 (search).
The drug candidate is developed through Sensei's TMAb™ (Tumor Microenvironment Activated biologics) platform, which creates conditionally active therapeutics designed to disable immunosuppressive signals or activate immunostimulatory signals selectively in the tumor microenvironment to unleash T cells against tumors.
Clinical Trial and Presentation Details
The Phase 1/2 trial focuses on patients with advanced solid tumors who have shown resistance to prior PD-(L)1 therapy, representing a challenging patient population with significant unmet medical need. Dr. Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Co-Director of Clinical Research at START in San Antonio, will present the findings.
The presentation is scheduled for Friday, October 17, 2025, from 2:00-3:30 CEST during a mini oral session at ESMO Congress 2025 in Berlin, Germany. The abstract, numbered 3933, is titled "Results from a Phase 1 expansion cohort of solnerstotug (pH-selective anti-VISTA (search) antibody) combined with cemiplimab in patients with advanced solid tumors resistant to prior PD-(L)1 therapy."
Company Background
Sensei Biotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing next-generation therapeutics for cancer patients. The company's approach centers on creating conditionally active therapeutics that can selectively target the tumor microenvironment while potentially reducing systemic toxicity associated with traditional immunotherapies.