Conference Day One - Wednesday | October 2, 2024
7:10 am Check-In & Coffee
8:10 am Chair’s Opening Remarks
Unlocking Macrophages’ Full Potential: Leveraging Proof-of-Concept Data to Chart the Path for Better Patient Outcomes
8:20 am Industry Leader’s Fireside Chat: Contextualizing Macrophage-Specific Challenges in Comparison to Other Cell Types
Synopsis
- Mapping out the potential of cell therapies by outlining incentives for focusing on macrophages
- Considering broad-perspective challenges to draw comparisons between working with macrophages and other cell types
- Understanding the advantages of macrophages to propel this form of cell therapy
9:00 am Data Showcase: Recent Key Data on Bispecific Macrophage Engagers Highlighting the Promise of Future Macrophage-Directed Therapies
Synopsis
- Presenting recent pre-clinical/clinical data that amplify the potential of macrophagedirected therapies
- Discussing the advantages of macrophage engagers over T-cell engagers through comparative analysis
- Contextualizing data by unveiling models and methods used
9:30 am Morning Break & Speed Networking
Synopsis
As the community unites, this session will provide valuable networking time with your peers to foster new and lasting connections.
Illuminating the Boundless Potential of Macrophage-Directed Therapeutics Through Exploration of Novel Targets
10:30 am Exploring The Clever-1 Receptor Antibody as a Novel Mechanism to Target Macrophages in Cancer Treatment
Synopsis
- Utilizing Bexmarilimab to target Clever-1, a novel mode-of-action to activate macrophage antigen presentation (ex vivo, spatial transcriptomics MATINS trial)
- Overcoming ICI resistance by targeting Clever-1
- Exploring Clever-1 as a new player in hematological malignancies through the BEXMAB trial
11:00 am CLEC1 Novel Myeloid Checkpoint & Cell-Death Sensor, with Application in Oncology & Inflammation
Synopsis
- Understanding the biology of CLEC1 to clarify its role as a novel target and explain its mechanism
- Outlining CLEC1’s function in cancer treatment to underscore its therapeutic potential in this indication
- Mapping out CLEC1 function in inflammation and comparing its role in oncology
11:30 am Learning from DSP107, a CD47x4-1BB bi-specific, to Advance Therapies into the Future & Consider the Continued Therapeutic Potential of CD47
Synopsis
- Improving target specificity and activity using bi-specific fusion protein
- Transforming safety profile and avoiding hematological toxicities
- Enhancing the treatment potential of solid and hematological malignancies
12:00 pm Lunch Break & Networking
Assessing the Potential of Combination Therapies to Advance Efficacy & Safety
1:00 pm Considering the Rationale Behind Developing Combination Therapies to Maximize their Potential Effectiveness
Synopsis
- Strategizing the logical design of a combination therapy to enhance the efficacy of your macrophage-directed therapy
- Weighing up the benefits and drawbacks of combination therapies to grasp their appeal
- Reviewing the costs and other limiting factors associated with combination therapies
1:30 pm Overcoming Hostile Tumor Microenvironment With UI-102, a Pullulan Nanoparticle DDS-Encapsulated TLR7/8 Agonist That Actively Targets DCSIGN- Expressing M2-Like Tumor-Associated Macrophages
Synopsis
- UI-102 significantly enhanced the efficacy of PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors in murine tumor models that are treatment resistant to checkpoint inhibitors
- UI-102 promoted polarization of M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) into M1 resulting in the conversion of refractory “cold” tumors onto “hot” ones and increased recruitment of CD8+ T cells and NK cells into tumors
- Pullulan nanoparticle delivery to TAMs reduced the risk of cytokine release syndrome associates with TLR 7/8 agonists. First-in-human studies planned mid-2025
2:00 pm Tumor-Activated Multi-Specific Biologics for CD47-Targeting Approaches with Improved Therapeutic Index
Synopsis
- Overcoming challenges and amplifying success in CD47-targeting therapies by harnessing clinical learnings
- Exploring multi-specific antibody-based formats with enhanced phagocytosis compared to the combination of individual components
- Developing and characterizing masked multi-specific biologics for tumor-selective activity
2:30 pm Afternoon Break & Poster Session
Delving into Plasticity & Durability to Overcome Break Down Challenges Inherent to Working With Macrophages
3:30 pm Reprogramming Macrophages for Therapeutic Benefits
Synopsis
- Describing the common biology underlying macrophage states across various cancer indications
- Highlighting targets for inducing desired macrophage reprogramming
- Mapping out the challenges associated with macrophage plasticity
4:00 pm IOMX-0675, a Highly Differentiated Fully Human LILRB1 and LILRB2 Cross- Specific Antibody, Effectively Repolarizes the Tumor Microenvironment, Resulting in Potent Tumor Cell Killing in vitro and in vivo
Synopsis
- Describing the differentiated binding profile of IOMX-0675, antagonizing with high potency the two immuno-suppressive receptors LILRB1 and LILRB2 while sparing highly homologous immune-activating family members
- Translating into superiority in macrophage repolarization and immune cell activation, as compared to mono-specific or other dual-targeting antibodies
- Outlining the best-in-class therapeutic potential for IOMX-0675
4:30 pm DEM Biopharma: Uncovering Targets Behind Mechanisms of Immune Evasion in Solid Organ Malignancies
Synopsis
- Discovering methods to promote a consistent macrophage phenotype and suppressing phenotype switching
- Reinforcing the importance of improving durability of phenotypes when working with macrophages
- Enhancing longevity of macrophages to prevent apoptosis from environmental factors by benchmarking effective practices