iTeos adds a TREM2 curiosity to the pipeline

While iTeos's investment case is tied to the high-risk anti-TIGIT MAb belrestotug the company is broadening its pipeline, but the latest addition is curious: it involves an anti-TREM2 MAb, EOS-215, which represents an approach on which everyone else seems to have given up. TREM2, which stands for triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2, is said to regulate cells like macrophages, and its expression in a cancer can cause resistance in the tumour microenvironment. iTeos says EOS-215 could be best in class, but that's largely because the pipeline at present features no other competitors, according to OncologyPipeline. TREM2 agonism has separately been tested in CNS indications, including by Alector (AL002) and Vigil Neuroscience (iluzanebart), but in cancer the only company to have entered clinical trials was Ikena Oncology, with MAbs against TREM2 (PY314), as well as against the related TREM1 (PY159). In January these were sold to an entity called Foundery Immune Studio, which plans to develop them for non-cancer use, and both studies were terminated. iTeos says it has submitted an IND for EOS-215, and expects to start enrolling patients into a first-in-human study in the second quarter.

Industry work against TREM1 & 2

Source: OncologyPipeline.