ImmunoScape Showcases “Seed-and-Boost” TCR-T Cell Therapy Advancing Solid Tumor Treatment

Apr 21, 2026-

ImmunoScape presented new preclinical data at the AACR Annual Meeting 2026 highlighting its proprietary “Seed-and-Boost” platform, a next-generation approach designed to enhance TCR-T cell therapy for solid tumors. The company, a spin-out of A*STAR and backed by Amgen Ventures and EDBI, is advancing novel immunotherapy strategies to overcome longstanding challenges in cell therapy.

The Seed-and-Boost platform combines low-dose tumor-specific T cells (the “Seed”) with a biologic “Boost” signal derived from the CUE-100 series molecules. This Boost selectively drives in vivo expansion of the infused T cells, enabling enhanced tumor targeting without the need for additional genetic engineering or systemic cytokine support such as IL-2. The approach is designed to improve T-cell persistence, functionality, and tumor infiltration—key limitations in current cell therapies for solid tumors.

Preclinical results demonstrated robust TCR-T cell expansion and anti-tumor activity across multiple animal models, including at lower cell doses, suggesting the potential to reduce manufacturing complexity and cost. In a high tumor burden ovarian cancer model, the combination therapy achieved 100% survival, while also showing significant tumor infiltration in pancreatic cancer models. Additional analyses indicated sustained T-cell fitness and preferential expansion of CD8+ T cells associated with tumor-reactive phenotypes.

The lead program targets tumors expressing Wilms’ Tumor 1 (WT1), a broadly expressed intracellular oncoprotein recognized by the National Cancer Institute as a high-priority cancer antigen. WT1 is implicated in multiple difficult-to-treat cancers, including mesothelioma, glioblastoma, ovarian, pancreatic, gastric, and colorectal cancers, making it an attractive target for TCR-based immunotherapy.

The company plans to initiate a first-in-human investigator-initiated trial at a leading U.S. cancer center in late 2026, focusing on WT1-positive solid tumors in HLA-A*02:01 patients. Initial clinical data are anticipated in early 2027, marking a key step toward translating the platform’s preclinical promise into potential therapeutic benefit.