Mendus AB announced the publication of novel preclinical data on its intratumoral priming strategy in the peer-reviewed medical journal 'Frontiers in Immunology'. The data demonstrate the potential of proinflammatory allogeneic dendritic cells to significantly enhance the therapeutic efficacy of an anti-4-1BB antibody, delaying tumor growth and prolonging survival in murine colon carcinoma and melanoma models. Investigation of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in the combined-treatment group revealed a range of improvements resulting in a less immunosuppressive TME, with elevated tumor-infiltration of therapeutically valuable T-cell populations observed.

The study was performed in collaboration with the Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, SciLifeLab, at Uppsala University. The intratumoral immune primer ilixadencel comprises proinflammatory allogeneic d endritic cells from healthy donor material, which are injected into the tumor. The program has delivered promising preclinical and clinical results in a number of solid tumor indications, including gastrointestinal tumors (GIST), a subclass of soft-tissue sarcomas.

Mendus is currently preparing for a proof-of-concept trial with ilixadencel in the broader group of soft tissue sarcomas in second half 2023.