ImmunoScape's Novel "Seed and Boost" Platform Achieves 100% Survival in Ovarian Cancer Model, Advances to Clinical Trial
核心洞察
ImmunoScape (搜索) presented compelling preclinical data at AACR 2026 showing their "Seed and Boost" platform achieved 100% survival in a high tumor burden ovarian cancer (搜索) model compared to significant mortality in monotherapy arms.
The platform combines low-dose tumor-specific T cells targeting WT1 (搜索) antigen with CUE-100 (搜索) series molecule to drive selective in vivo T cell expansion, potentially reducing manufacturing costs while enhancing anti-tumor effects.
The company has secured a partnership with a premier U.S. NCI Cancer Center for a first-in-human trial targeting WT1 (搜索)-positive solid tumors, with first patient dosing scheduled for autumn 2026.
ImmunoScape (搜索) has unveiled groundbreaking preclinical data demonstrating the potential of its proprietary "Seed and Boost" platform to transform T cell therapy for solid tumors. The Singapore-based biotechnology company presented compelling results at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2026, showing 100% survival in a high tumor burden ovarian cancer (搜索) model and significant tumor infiltration in pancreatic cancer (搜索) models.
Revolutionary Platform Design
The Seed and Boost platform represents a novel approach to overcoming key limitations of current cell therapies. The system combines low-dose tumor-specific T cells (the "Seed") with the clinically-validated CUE-100 (搜索) series molecule (the "Boost") that triggers dramatic but highly selective in vivo expansion of infused T cells. This approach is designed to enable T cell therapies to effectively target solid tumors, including some of the most difficult-to-treat cancers.
The first program focuses on tumors expressing the Wilms' Tumor 1 (WT1 (搜索)) antigen, targeting cancers such as mesothelioma (搜索), glioblastoma (搜索), ovarian, pancreatic, gastric, and colorectal cancers. The National Cancer Institute has ranked WT1 as one of the most important cancer antigens, as it is an intracellular oncoprotein broadly overexpressed across multiple cancer types and targetable with TCR-based immunotherapy.
Compelling Preclinical Results
The AACR presentation detailed extensive preclinical studies demonstrating the platform's efficacy across multiple parameters. In animal models, the Seed and Boost combination therapy drove significant TCR-T cell expansion and anti-tumor effects at both standard and low cell doses, suggesting the potential to dramatically reduce cell therapy manufacturing costs while simultaneously enhancing anti-tumor effects.
Most notably, in a high tumor burden ovarian cancer (搜索) model, the Seed and Boost combination achieved 100% survival, compared to significant mortality observed in the monotherapy arms. Additionally, in pancreatic cancer (搜索) models, the combination resulted in significant infiltration of tumor-specific T cells into tumors.
Analysis of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes confirmed that the Seed and Boost platform upregulates markers associated with a tumor reactive T-cell phenotype, providing evidence of sustained T-cell fitness and preferential CD8+ T-cell expansion.
Clinical Translation and Strategic Partnerships
ImmunoScape (搜索) has executed a Memorandum of Understanding with a premier NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the United States, renowned globally for its pioneering history in cellular immunotherapy. This partnership will fast-track the Seed and Boost platform into clinical evaluation through an investigator-initiated trial.
The upcoming first-in-human trial is designed to evaluate the Seed and Boost combination in WT1 (搜索)-expressing solid tumors including mesothelioma (搜索), ovarian cancer (搜索), gastric cancer (搜索), and colorectal cancer (搜索) in HLA-A*02:01-positive patients. First patient dosing is targeted for autumn 2026, with preliminary human data anticipated in early 2027.
Expert Perspectives and Investment
"The data we are presenting at AACR represent the strongest preclinical case yet for the Seed and Boost platform," said Michael Fehlings, PhD, Co-Founder and CEO of ImmunoScape (搜索). "We show selective in vivo T cell expansion, robust tumor infiltration, and a durable survival benefit—achieved without additional cell engineering or systemic IL-2 administration."
Adrian Bot, MD, PhD, Board Member of ImmunoScape (搜索) and former Chief Scientific Officer of Kite Pharma (搜索) and Capstan Therapeutics (搜索), emphasized the platform's potential to address multiple cell therapy challenges. "What excites me about Seed and Boost is that it may solve multiple problems of cell therapy: high costs, lack of T-cell persistence, and lack of tunability," Bot stated. "I believe this could transform TCR-T cell therapy into a durable, broadly accessible treatment for patients with solid tumor cancers."
The company has also announced a strategic investment from Leonardo DiCaprio, highlighting the global urgency for novel cancer interventions. "ImmunoScape (搜索) is pioneering innovative cancer therapies, and its upcoming clinical trials targeting pancreatic, ovarian, and mesothelioma (搜索) cancers are highly encouraging," DiCaprio said.
Technology Platform and Mechanism
The Seed component consists of autologous T-cells engineered with a high-affinity TCR targeting the intracellular antigen WT1 (搜索). The Boost utilizes Immuno-STAT technology, a clinical stage fusion protein that selectively expands and activates the WT1-targeting T-cells in the patient, mimicking the natural immune synapse while leaving all other T-cells untouched.
Evan Newell, PhD, Co-Founder of ImmunoScape (搜索) and Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board, noted the mechanistic significance of the approach. "The specificity of CUE-102 ('Boost')-driven T cell expansion, the depth of tumor infiltration, and the sustaining of T-cell effector function in vivo give us strong scientific rationale to advance this combination into patients."
The IIT is supported by the company's current convertible note financing round and non-dilutive funding from Enterprise Singapore. ImmunoScape (搜索), backed by Amgen Ventures (搜索) and EDBI (搜索), continues to advance its mission of developing next-generation TCR-based cancer immunotherapies for patients with the highest unmet medical needs.