IO Biotech Advances in Cancer Vaccines Revealed at AACR 2025
IO Biotech’s co-founder presented advancements in cancer vaccines at the 2025 AACR Annual Meeting, showcasing innovative therapeutic strategies.
IO Biotech’s Key Presentation at AACR 2025
IO Biotech, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm focused on immune-modulatory cancer vaccines, announced that Dr. Mads Hald Andersen, the company’s co-founder, chaired an educational session on cancer vaccines at the 2025 AACR Annual Meeting. This session spotlighted recent advancements in cancer vaccine research. Dr. Andersen elaborated on a novel class of therapeutic cancer vaccines designed to target both tumor and immune-suppressive cells, emphasizing the dual mechanism of action of their lead candidate, IO102-IO103, which aims to improve the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, Dr. Mai-Britt Zocca, CEO of IO Biotech, commended Dr. Andersen’s significant contributions to the field. IO Biotech is also advancing its lead product and other candidates in its pipeline that have shown promise in early clinical trials, including the Breakthrough Therapy Designation for advanced melanoma treatment in conjunction with Merck’s KEYTRUDA. The company is based in Copenhagen, with a U.S. office located in New York.
Potential Positives of IO Biotech’s Advances
- Dr. Mads Hald Andersen, a key figure in the company, both chaired and presented during a significant conference (AACR), underscoring the firm’s leadership and expertise in cancer vaccine research.
- The presentation addressed IMVs, an innovative class of therapeutic cancer vaccines from IO Biotech that could reshape the tumor microenvironment, potentially leading to new treatment avenues.
- IO102-IO103 has obtained Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA for treating advanced melanoma, indicating its strong therapeutic potential and fast-tracking of its development timeline.
Challenges Facing IO Biotech
- The emphasis on Dr. Mads Hald Andersen in communications raises questions regarding the depth of leadership at IO Biotech, hinting at a potential over-reliance on one individual for scientific guidance.
- The presence of forward-looking statements highlights the risks and uncertainties tied to IO Biotech’s upcoming clinical trials and financial viability, suggesting possible instability.
- By concentrating on immunotherapy, IO Biotech must compete in a saturated market, which could affect the commercial success of its treatments alongside other established and emerging options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What recent event did IO Biotech participate in?
IO Biotech actively participated in the 2025 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, showcasing their advancements in cancer vaccines.
Who is Dr. Mads Hald Andersen?
Dr. Mads Hald Andersen is one of the co-founders of IO Biotech and holds the position of Director at the National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK).
What is the T-win® platform?
The T-win® platform represents IO Biotech’s unique approach to cancer vaccines, focusing on the activation of T cells that target both tumor and immune-suppressive cells.
What clinical trials is IO Biotech currently conducting?
IO Biotech is progressing with its investigational cancer vaccine candidate Cylembio® (IO102-IO103) through clinical trials, especially targeting advanced melanoma.
What designation has the IO102-IO103 vaccine received?
The IO102-IO103 vaccine has been awarded Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the FDA for its use in advanced melanoma treatment alongside KEYTRUDA®.
Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated summary of a press release distributed by GlobeNewswire. The model used may produce errors. Read the full release here.
$IOBT Insider Trading Activity
In the last six months, insiders have made four transactions involving $IOBT shares, with all four being purchases and zero sales.
Below is a summary of recent insider trading in $IOBT:
- QASIM IFTIKHAR AHMAD (Chief Medical Officer) purchased 31,350 shares for an estimated $26,553
- MAI-BRITT ZOCCA (Chief Executive Officer) acquired 12,500 shares for around $10,120
- DEVIN WHITTEMORE SMITH (General Counsel) bought 12,000 shares for an estimated $9,720
- AMY SULLIVAN (Chief Financial Officer) picked up 10,250 shares for roughly $8,482
$IOBT Hedge Fund Activity
Nine institutional investors have increased their holdings of $IOBT stock, while an equal number have reduced theirs in the last quarter.
Here are some notable recent transactions:
- SAMSARA BIOCAPITAL, LLC divested 3,640,015 shares (-100.0%) from its portfolio in Q4 2024, equating to approximately $3,348,813
- MORGAN STANLEY sold 1,342,910 shares (-61.0%) from its portfolio in Q4 2024, worth about $1,235,477
- LOGOS GLOBAL MANAGEMENT LP disposed of 493,827 shares (-100.0%) in Q4 2024, valued at around $454,320
- LANDSCAPE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.L.C. added 442,196 shares (+inf%) in Q4 2024, with a value of approximately $406,820
- CITADEL ADVISORS LLC acquired 270,504 shares (+inf%) in Q4 2024, amounting to about $248,863
- SECTORAL ASSET MANAGEMENT INC increased its portfolio by 75,000 shares (+inf%) in Q4 2024, valued at around $69,000
- UBS GROUP AG cut 60,876 shares (-56.4%) from their portfolio in Q4 2024, worth about $56,005
Full Release
NEW YORK, April 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — IO Biotech (Nasdaq: IOBT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on innovative immune-modulatory therapeutic cancer vaccines, announced that Dr. Mads Hald Andersen, DMSc, PhD, co-founder and Director of the National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), chaired and presented at an educational session on cancer vaccines during the 2025 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting. This session convened leading oncology scientists to discuss the latest developments in cancer vaccine research, ranging from preclinical innovations to clinical application, offering insights into the future of cancer vaccines and their potential to transform cancer immunotherapy (session #
ED59
).
The session featured presentations on various advancements in RNA-based vaccines, dendritic cell therapies, and immune-modulatory vaccines. Dr. Andersen’s presentation focused on IMVs, a cutting-edge class of therapeutic cancer vaccines that aim to reshape the tumor microenvironment (TME). He highlighted the dual mechanism of action of IO102-IO103, the most clinically advanced immune-modulatory cancer vaccine developed by IO Biotech, which targets both tumor and immune-suppressive cells.
IO Biotech Advances Innovative Cancer Vaccine Approach
Recent insights from Dr. Andersen reveal a significant advancement in cancer treatment strategies. His research focuses on activating and expanding T cells to combat IDO+ and PDL1+ tumor cells and their immune suppressive counterparts. Recent data indicates that this method could reshape the tumor microenvironment (TME) by inducing inflammatory cytokines and changing macrophage characteristics, ultimately fostering a more immune-friendly setting.
“Dr. Andersen’s scientific vision laid the foundation for IO Biotech’s approach to immune-modulatory vaccines, and his contributions continue to shape how we think about treating cancer,” stated Mai-Britt Zocca, PhD, President and CEO of IO Biotech. “We are proud to have him as a co-founder and appreciate his ongoing insights that propel the field forward.”
About IO Biotech
IO Biotech is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm dedicated to developing novel immune-modulatory, off-the-shelf therapeutic cancer vaccines derived from its T-win® platform. This innovative platform is built on a unique approach that aims to mobilize T cells to target both tumor cells and the immune-suppressive cells within the TME. Currently, IO Biotech is progressing its lead investigational cancer vaccine candidate, Cylembio® (imsapepimut and etimupepimut), also referred to as IO102-IO103, through clinical trials. Backed by promising Phase 1/2 results for first-line metastatic melanoma, this candidate, in combination with Merck’s KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for advanced melanoma treatment. The company is based in Copenhagen, Denmark, with U.S. operations in New York, New York.
For further information, please visit
Connect with us on social media: LinkedIn and X (
@IOBiotech
).
Cylembio® is a registered trademark of IO Biotech ApS, a subsidiary of IO Biotech.
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements encompass expectations regarding the timing and outcomes of clinical trials, including the company’s Phase 3 trial and financial projections. Such statements are based on current assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could lead actual results to diverge significantly from these predictions. Therefore, reliance on forward-looking statements should be approached with caution. These statements are valid only as of the date of this release, and IO Biotech is not obliged to update them unless required by law.
Contact:
Investors
Maryann Cimino, Director of Investor Relations
IO Biotech, Inc.
617-710-7305
[email protected]
Media
Julie Funesti
Edelman
917-498-1967
[email protected]
This article was originally published on Quiver News, read the full story.
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
