IO Biotech's New Head and Neck Data to Be Presented at ESMO 2024

NEW YORK, July 25, 2024 – IO Biotech, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm working on innovative immune-modulating cancer vaccines through its T-win® platform, has announced that an abstract on IO102-IO103, its leading experimental cancer vaccine, will be showcased at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024. The presentation will feature data from a Phase 2 trial combining IO102-IO103 with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®), Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy. This data focuses on the complete cohort of patients suffering from squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and will be exhibited in Barcelona from September 13-17, 2024.

“This cohort data represents a pivotal advancement in exploring IO102-IO103’s potential as a therapeutic cancer vaccine for various solid tumors in need of new treatment options,” stated Mai-Britt Zocca, Ph.D., President and CEO of IO Biotech. “We eagerly anticipate sharing this data at the ESMO Congress and continuing the development of our novel cancer vaccine, which could significantly benefit those living with cancer.”

The presentation, titled "A phase 2 trial of the IO102-IO103 vaccine plus pembrolizumab: completed cohort for first line (1L) treatment of advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (SCCHN)," will take place on Saturday, September 14, 2024, and will be presented by Dr. Jonathan W. Riess from the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. The poster will be accessible on the IO Biotech website’s “Posters & Publications” page at the beginning of the conference.

IO102-IO103 is an investigational, off-the-shelf therapeutic cancer vaccine aimed at eliminating tumor and immune-suppressive cells within the tumor microenvironment by activating and expanding T cells to target cells positive for indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and/or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). The company is currently conducting a pivotal Phase 3 trial (IOB-013/KN-D18; NCT05155254) for advanced melanoma, a Phase 2 basket trial (IOB-022/KN-D38; NCT05077709) as a first-line treatment for solid tumors, and another Phase 2 basket trial (IOB-032/PN-E40; NCT05280314) as neo-adjuvant/adjuvant treatment for solid tumors. These trials are sponsored by IO Biotech in collaboration with Merck, which provides pembrolizumab, while IO Biotech retains global commercial rights to IO102-IO103. KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC.

The IOB-022/KN-D38 Phase 2 Solid Tumor Basket Trial is a non-comparative, open-label study designed to assess the safety and efficacy of IO102-IO103 combined with pembrolizumab in first-line treatments of advanced cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and SCCHN. IO Biotech sponsors the study, and Merck supplies the pembrolizumab.

IO Biotech, headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with U.S. headquarters in New York, is dedicated to developing unique immune-modulating cancer vaccines using its T-win® platform. This platform aims to activate T cells to target immunosuppressive cells within the tumor microenvironment. IO Biotech is advancing its leading cancer vaccine candidate, IO102-IO103, through clinical trials and its additional pipeline candidates through preclinical development. The combination of IO102-IO103 and pembrolizumab has received breakthrough therapy designation for advanced melanoma from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, based on positive Phase 1/2 first-line metastatic melanoma data.