January 5, 2024
Putting macrophages in feast mode
Macrophages are first responders of the innate immune system able to detect, “eat,” and kill cancer cells through phagocytosis. Macrophages readily infiltrate most solid tumors and are widely present in the tumor microenvironment.
But cancer cells hide from macrophages by expressing checkpoint or “don’t eat me” signals to avoid phagocytosis. At Pheast Therapeutics, we are developing new innate immune checkpoint inhibitors, including anti-CD24, to unleash the power of macrophages on aggressive cancers.
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Putting macrophages in feast mode
Macrophages are first responders of the innate immune system able to detect, “eat,” and kill cancer cells through phagocytosis. Macrophages readily infiltrate most solid tumors and are widely present in the tumor microenvironment.
But cancer cells hide from macrophages by expressing checkpoint or “don’t eat me” signals to avoid phagocytosis. At Pheast Therapeutics, we are developing new innate immune checkpoint inhibitors, including anti-CD24, to unleash the power of macrophages on aggressive cancers.
The first CD24 macrophage checkpoint inhibitor
At Pheast, we discovered an entirely new “don’t eat me” signal when we observed that CD24 is highly expressed in ovarian and breast cancers (Nature 2019). By blocking CD24 in a preclinical model of triple-negative breast cancer, we saw that macrophages efficiently targeted and eliminated cancer cells leading to tumor clearance over time. We are currently advancing novel anti-CD24 antibodies in preclinical development as our lead program.
A moveable feast
Pheast’s proprietary discovery platform uncovers “don’t eat me” signals in different cancers to create novel, tumor-specific, macrophage-targeted immunotherapies. We are developing clinical biomarker strategies to advance macrophage checkpoint inhibitors alone and in combination with existing anti-cancer therapies including immunotherapies, tumor-targeting antibodies, and chemotherapies.
The Next Generation
Pheast Therapeutics is led by the scientists who made the foundational discoveries and experts in the field of cancer immunotherapy and innate immunity with the knowledge and experience to bring innovative new therapies to the clinic. Together, the team at Pheast is devoted to expanding the landscape of next generation innate immunotherapies for patients with aggressive cancers who need better treatment options.
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