Our Science

Next Generation Checkpoint Inhibitor with Enhanced Anti-Tumor Activity

Using our team’s deep understanding of T cell and Natural Killer (NK) cell biology, FuseBio’s pipeline of multi-functional antibodies leverages the inherent capacity of NK cells to distinguish between normal and diseased tissue.
Our platform transforms antibodies into danger sensing therapeutics that utilize NK cell education as an ON/OFF switch to deploy highly potent immune stimulating cargo that vigorously enhances an immune response to eradicate tumors without killing a patient’s healthy tissue.

FuseBio has leveraged its immuno-oncology and protein engineering capabilities to functionally optimize IL-18 (F-18), creating an IL-18 binding protein-resistant molecule with 1 million percent reduced activity in circulation while retaining nearly full affinity for the IL-18 receptor complex when targeted to an immune cell of interest. F-18 was fused onto a PD-1 inhibitor to create a first-in-class PD1-F18 immunocytokine designed for full PD-1 checkpoint blockade while safely delivering IL-18.

Core Scientific Approach

FuseBio's science centers on integrating multiple steps of the immune response to eradicate tumors while preserving healthy tissue. Key elements of their platform include:

1. NK Cell Biology: The platform leverages the natural ability of Natural Killer (NK) cells to distinguish between normal and diseased tissues.

2. "ON/OFF" Switch Technology: Their platform transforms antibodies into "danger-sensing" therapeutics. This uses NK cell "education" as a switch to deploy potent immune-stimulating cargo specifically at the tumor site, minimizing toxic side effects in healthy tissue.

3. Functionally-Selective Cytokines: The company advances a portfolio of cytokines, specifically focusing on IL-18, a hormone-like protein that stimulates the immune system in response to cancer and helps oppose late-stage immune exhaustion.

4. Multi-Functional Antibodies: Their pipeline consists of multi-functional antibodies designed to potentiate immune responses against tumors that may be resistant to traditional treatments like anti-PD-1.