TILT Biotherapeutics Shares TILT-123 IV Delivery Data at ESMO 2024

TILT Biotherapeutics, a biotechnology firm focused on cancer immunotherapies, has announced that it will present new data at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024. The data highlights TILT-123's potential as an intravenous treatment for advanced solid cancers.

The Phase I clinical trial of TILT-123 involved six patients with different types of advanced solid cancers, including rectal carcinomas, gastric intestinal type carcinoma, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and liposarcoma. The treatment was administered intravenously twice daily, initially twice a week and then at three-week intervals. The findings revealed that TILT-123 is safe and induces tumor transduction and immune responses in metastases. According to imaging data, disease control was achieved in 33% of patients using RECIST1.1 criteria and in 66% with PET-based criteria. Updated data on these findings will be shared at the upcoming ESMO meeting.

Akseli Hemminki, the founder and CEO of TILT Biotherapeutics and an experienced cancer clinician, expressed his confidence in the new data. He stated that the results reinforce TILT-123's potential as a fully intravenous therapy for difficult-to-treat cancer patients. Hemminki also mentioned ongoing progress in two other studies exploring the intravenous administration of TILT-123, with the company advancing towards Phase II trials.

TILT-123 is an oncolytic adenovirus engineered to carry tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin-2 (IL-2). These elements are intended to boost the effectiveness of T-cell therapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell transfer. TILT’s strategy employs oncolytic viruses that selectively replicate in and destroy cancer cells, while also provoking immune responses against the tumor.

TILT Biotherapeutics, based in Helsinki, Finland, is a clinical-stage biotechnology company. It focuses on cancer therapies utilizing oncolytic adenoviruses equipped with molecules such as cytokines that activate T cells and target cancer cells. TILT’s patented technology can be delivered intravenously, locoregionally, or directly into tumors, affecting the tumor microenvironment and generating a systemic impact. By converting "cold" tumors into "hot" ones, it helps the immune system recognize and attack the cancer, enhancing the efficacy of T-cell therapies like immune checkpoint inhibitors, TIL therapy, and CAR T therapies.

TILT-123, also known as Igrelimogene litadenorepvec, is a chimeric adenovirus with TNF alpha and IL-2. Over sixty patients have been treated with this therapy in five international trials, and promising initial efficacy responses have been observed in some participants.

The company has gained recognition for its innovative approach and has partnerships with industry leaders. It collaborates with MSD (Merck & Co.) to study TILT-123 with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in ovarian cancer and refractory non-small cell lung cancer. Additionally, TILT Biotherapeutics is working with Merck KGaA to investigate the combination of TILT-123 with Bavencio® (avelumab).

Founded over a decade ago as a spin-out from the University of Helsinki, TILT Biotherapeutics has its headquarters in Helsinki and an office in Boston. The company is backed by investments from Lifeline Ventures, Finnish Industry Investment (TESI), angel investors, Business Finland, the European Innovation Council, and the U.S. Department of Defense.