Cue Biopharma and ImmunoScape form strategic partnership to develop new cell therapy for solid tumours
Friday, November 07, 2025
Cue Biopharma, Inc. a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing targeted T-cell therapies for autoimmune diseases and cancer, has entered into a collaboration and licence agreement with ImmunoScape Pte. Ltd., a biotechnology company specialising in T-cell receptor (TCR)-based cancer therapies. The partnership aims to advance an innovative in vivo cell therapy approach for treating solid tumours.
Under the agreement, ImmunoScape will lead the development of a new Seed-and-Boost immunotherapy that combines Cue Biopharma’s Immuno-STAT T-cell engagers (CUE-100 series) with ImmunoScape’s proprietary TCRs. This approach is designed to address key challenges in existing cell therapies, such as limited tumour response, short T-cell persistence and complex manufacturing, while aiming to provide stronger and longer-lasting anti-tumour effects.
The Seed-and-Boost method involves administering a small dose of ImmunoScape’s tumour-specific TCR-T cells (Seed), followed by Cue Biopharma’s TCR-matched IL-2 Immuno-STAT molecules (Boost). This sequence enables targeted activation and expansion of the tumour-specific T cells inside the patient’s body, without triggering widespread immune activation. The off-the-shelf dosing allows for precise control of the immune response, improving treatment tolerability and reducing the risk of T-cell exhaustion. The approach also requires fewer engineered T cells, simplifying production and potentially improving patients’ quality of life.
Cue Biopharma’s CUE-100 series represents a new generation of injectable biologics that selectively activate disease-specific T cells. These molecules combine a TCR-binding framework with interleukin-2 (IL-2) to drive targeted T-cell activation and proliferation. Phase 1 clinical studies have shown anti-tumour activity in several metastatic cancers, with fewer toxicities than traditional IL-2 therapies.
ImmunoScape has built a broad library of high-affinity TCRs targeting multiple shared tumour antigens across the most common HLA types. When combined with Cue Biopharma’s technology, the Seed-and-Boost model is expected to enhance the durability and effectiveness of T-cell therapies for solid tumours.
As part of the agreement, Cue Biopharma will receive $15 million in total payments — $10 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $5 million in November 2026 — along with a 40% equity stake in ImmunoScape. The company is also eligible for high single-digit royalties on future net sales.
The CUE-100 series includes Fc-fusion biologics containing peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) molecules and engineered IL-2 variants. These biologics are designed to selectively activate tumour-specific T cells within the body while minimising the effects on regulatory T cells and reducing systemic toxicity.
This collaboration combines the strengths of both companies to advance a potentially transformative immunotherapy platform that could redefine treatment outcomes for patients with solid tumours.
Source: globenewswire.com
