Cue Biopharma, Inc. announced that it has completed patient enrollment in its Phase 1 clinical trial (NCT03978689 [2]) evaluating CUE-101, the company?s lead interleukin 2 (IL-2)-based biologic from the CUE-100 series, in combination with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) as first-line treatment for patients with human papilloma virus positive recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HPV+ R/M HNSCC). The CUE-100 series consists of Fc-fusion biologics that incorporate peptide-MHC (pMHC) molecules along with rationally engineered IL-2 molecules. This singular biologic is anticipated to selectively target, activate and expand a robust repertoire of tumor-specific T cells directly in the patient?s body.

The binding affinity of IL-2 for its receptor has been deliberately attenuated to achieve preferential selective activation of tumor-specific effector T cells while reducing the potential for effects on regulatory T cells (Tregs) or broad systemic activation, potentially mitigating the dose-limiting toxicities associated with current IL-2-based therapies.