Therapeutic Focus

Developing breakthrough treatments for oncology

Based on a comprehensive scientific assessment of potential targets, we have prioritized cancer for our initial therapeutic focus area due to its high unmet need and likelihood of success.

With millions of people affected and billions of dollars spent annually, there is an urgent need for advances in the treatment of oncologic diseases.[1-3]

Treatment of Cancer

A variety of cells in the body secrete small signaling proteins called cytokines, which play a critical role in healthy immune function; however, cytokines can also be detrimental to health in the context of cancer. In the tumor microenvironment, cytokines promote tumor growth in several ways, such as tumor cell initiation and proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis.[4]

Image adapted from Kartikasari AER, et al. Front Oncol 2021;11:692142. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.692142. Licensed under CC BY.

Cytokines also play a role in the development of tumor resistance to anti-cancer therapies. Due to cost, monoclonal antibodies are typically given in succession rather than in combination, which can lead to an immunosuppressive effect. For example, anti-PD-1/L1 monotherapy increases the secretion of IL-6, which in turn reduces PD-1 receptors, decreasing the efficacy of anti-PD-1 treatment.[5]

In contrast, multi-specific VINCOBODIES—such as the combination of anti-PD-1, IL-6, and IL1β—block multiple pathways simultaneously with deep tissue penetration. This creates a synergistic effect within the tumor microenvironment that has the potential to:

  • Improve efficacy

  • Reduce tumor resistance

  • Improve safety (higher therapeutic index)

  • Reduce treatment costs

Tumor Microenvironment
  1. National Cancer Institute. Financial burden of cancer care. Available at: https://progressreport.cancer.gov/after/economic_burden
  2. World Cancer Research Fund, American Institute for Cancer Research. Worldwide cancer data. available at:  https://www.wcrf.org/dietandcancer/worldwide-cancer-data/
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Cancer FastStats. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/cancer.htm
  4. Kartikasari AER, et al. Tumor-induced inflammatory cytokines and the emerging diagnostic devices for cancer detection and prognosis. Front Oncol. 2021;11:692142.
  5. Tsukamoto H, et al. Cancer Res. 2018;78(17):5011-22.