On February 4, 2025 MAIA Biotechnology, Inc., (NYSE American: MAIA) ("MAIA", the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing targeted immunotherapies for cancer, reported positive updated data from its THIO-101 pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating its lead clinical candidate, THIO, sequenced with Regeneron’s immune checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) cemiplimab (Libtayo) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who failed two or more standard-of-care therapy regimens (Press release, MAIA Biotechnology, FEB 4, 2025, View Source [SID1234650038]).

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As of January 15, 2025, third line (3L) data showed median overall survival (OS) of 16.9 months for the 22 NSCLC patients who received at least one dose of THIO (the intent-to-treat population) in parts A and B of the trial. The analysis demonstrated a 95% confidence interval (CI) lower bound of 12.5 months and a 99% CI lower bound of 10.8 months. The treatment has been generally well-tolerated to date in this heavily pre-treated population1. Studies of standard-of-care (SOC) chemotherapy treatments for NSCLC in a similar setting have shown OS of 5 to 6 months.2

"Treatment with THIO now shows a 99% probability that overall survival will extend past chemotherapy’s measure by a wide margin," said Vlad Vitoc, M.D., CEO of MAIA. "THIO’s efficacy in advanced stages of NSCLC continues to exceed our expectations, especially in third-line treatment where the cancer is typically even more resistant to therapy. Our findings suggest great benefits to patients with unmet medical needs who see little hope for the future.

"With our latest overall survival results, our outlook for potential FDA commercial approval of THIO is stronger than ever," Dr. Vitoc concluded.

Based on its regulatory strategy, MAIA believes there could be an opportunity for accelerated FDA approval of THIO depending on final results from the ongoing expansion of the THIO-101 trial.

About THIO

THIO (6-thio-dG or 6-thio-2’-deoxyguanosine) is a first-in-class investigational telomere-targeting agent currently in clinical development to evaluate its activity in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Telomeres, along with the enzyme telomerase, play a fundamental role in the survival of cancer cells and their resistance to current therapies. The modified nucleotide 6-thio-2’-deoxyguanosine (THIO) induces telomerase-dependent telomeric DNA modification, DNA damage responses, and selective cancer cell death. THIO-damaged telomeric fragments accumulate in cytosolic micronuclei and activates both innate (cGAS/STING) and adaptive (T-cell) immune responses. The sequential treatment with THIO followed by PD-(L)1 inhibitors resulted in profound and persistent tumor regression in advanced, in vivo cancer models by induction of cancer type–specific immune memory. THIO is presently developed as a second or later line of treatment for NSCLC for patients that have progressed beyond the standard-of-care regimen of existing checkpoint inhibitors.

About THIO-101, a Phase 2 Clinical Trial

THIO-101 is a multicenter, open-label, dose finding Phase 2 clinical trial. It is the first trial designed to evaluate THIO’s anti-tumor activity when followed by PD-(L)1 inhibition. The trial is testing the hypothesis that low doses of THIO administered prior to cemiplimab (Libtayo) will enhance and prolong immune response in patients with advanced NSCLC who previously did not respond or developed resistance and progressed after first-line treatment regimen containing another checkpoint inhibitor. The trial design has two primary objectives: (1) to evaluate the safety and tolerability of THIO administered as an anticancer compound and a priming immune activator (2) to assess the clinical efficacy of THIO using Overall Response Rate (ORR) as the primary clinical endpoint. Treatment with THIO followed by cemiplimab (Libtayo) has been generally well-tolerated to date in a heavily pre-treated population. For more information on this Phase II trial, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov using the identifier NCT05208944.