This technology develops a tumor microenvironment-activated immunocytokine platform using a dual-masking design that maintains low activity in normal tissues and selectively restores therapeutic function within tumors. This approach reduces the systemic toxicity of cancer immunotherapy while enhancing therapeutic efficacy against cold tumors and immune checkpoint-resistant cancers, demonstrating strong potential as a next-generation cancer immunotherapy and tumor-targeted therapeutic platform.

We developed a first-in-class Dual Pro-IFNx Immune Checkpoint Blockade (ICB) platform that integrates tumor microenvironment-responsive activation with dual steric masking technology. By maintaining IFNα/γ and ICB antibodies in an inactive pro-form during circulation and selectively activating them within tumors via MMP-2/9 cleavage, the platform enhances antitumor immunity while minimizing systemic toxicity, offering a scalable and modular strategy for next-generation cancer immunotherapy.

This technology addresses key limitations of current cancer immunotherapy, including low response rates in cold tumors and systemic toxicity. The IFNx-ICB platform enables tumor-selective activation to enhance antitumor immunity while reducing off-target toxicity. Its modular design supports multiple ICB targets and cytokine combinations, offering strong potential for pharmaceutical co-development, platform licensing, and next-generation immunocytokine applications.