The manuscript, titled “Ligand-Blocking and Agonist Antibodies Targeting TNFR2 Employ Distinct Modes of Action to Induce Antitumor Immunity,” describes how BI-1808, a ligand-blocking, FcγR-binding antibody, eliminates immunosuppressive regulatory T cells and reprograms myeloid cells, activating anti-tumour immunity even in tumours with low CD8+ T-cell infiltration that are resistant to checkpoint blockade. BI-1910, a pure agonist antibody, instead directly co-stimulates T cells and NK cells through a partially FcγR-independent pathway; its development is currently paused due to prioritisation within BioInvent’s pipeline.

BI-1808 is further along clinically, with an ongoing Phase 2a monotherapy study in solid tumours and T-cell lymphomas showing activity and tolerability, alongside a Phase 1/2a combination study with pembrolizumab in the same indications. BI-1808 also holds FDA Fast Track Designation in ovarian cancer, announced earlier this month.

“The broad activity in preclinical studies shown in multiple tumor types, particularly in CD8+ T-cell infiltration-low tumors resistant to checkpoint blockade, aligns with clinical signals we see with BI-1808,” says Björn Frendéus, Chief Scientific Officer, BioInvent.