STCube announced on November 3 that it will participate in the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC 2025), which will be held in Maryland, USA, from November 7 to 9, and will present clinical results of its anti-BTN1A1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, Nelmastobart, for metastatic colorectal cancer.
The company will also present the latest research achievements related to BTN1A1, a novel immuno-oncology target. SITC is the most prestigious international academic conference in the field of immuno-oncology, attracting significant attention from global pharmaceutical companies and investors.
BTN1A1 is an immune checkpoint protein independently discovered by STCube, which is involved in suppressing the activity of CD8 T cells within the tumor microenvironment. STCube has confirmed across various tumor models that blocking BTN1A1 can enhance anti-cancer immune responses. The company is currently conducting Phase 2 clinical trials targeting colorectal cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. BTN1A1 is being developed as a next-generation immune checkpoint target to overcome the limitations of PD-1/PD-L1, and is a core asset of STCube's immuno-oncology platform.
A total of four abstracts have been accepted for SITC, two of which have been selected as Late-Breaking Abstracts (LBA), featuring the latest clinical research findings.
The LBAs include: ▲ Initial results from a Phase 1b/2 trial of Nelmastobart in combination with TAS-102 and Bevacizumab for metastatic colorectal cancer, and ▲ Interim results from an investigator-initiated Phase 1b/2 trial of Nelmastobart in combination with Capecitabine.
Both studies targeted patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who had received at least third-line treatment. The combination therapies based on Nelmastobart demonstrated excellent tolerability and anti-cancer activity. These are key data supporting the clinical expandability and business development discussions for Nelmastobart combination strategies, with detailed data to be released through presentations at the conference.
The Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of Nelmastobart with TAS-102 and Bevacizumab completed Phase 1b (6 patients) and is currently enrolling patients for Phase 2. The Phase 2 trial is designed based on a biomarker, targeting patients with a BTN1A1 Tumor Proportion Score (TPS) of 50% or higher. Within just two months of initiation, 18 out of the target 52 patients (5 in Phase 1b, 13 in Phase 2) have begun treatment. Patient screening and enrollment are progressing rapidly, with a goal to complete enrollment within this year.
The regular abstracts will introduce the latest research on the immunosuppressive mechanism of BTN1A1 and biomarker indicators. The titles include: ▲ "BTN1A1 Expression Is Inversely Correlated with CD8 T Cell Infiltration in the Tumor Microenvironment of Lung and Colorectal Cancers," and ▲ "BTN1A1 Inhibition Enhances Chemotherapy-Induced Anti-Tumor Immune Responses in Preclinical Lung Cancer Models."
A representative from STCube stated, "Our BTN1A1-based immuno-oncology platform has accumulated scientific validity, academic value, and global competitiveness across the entire cycle, from basic research to Phase 2 clinical trials."
They added, "We expect that the announcement of the initial and interim results from these two colorectal cancer clinical trials will provide a strategic foundation for future collaborations and technology transfer discussions with global pharmaceutical companies."
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