Macomics and Institute of Oncology Research announce macrophage collaboration in prostate cancer

• Laboratory of Prof. Andrea Alimonti at IOR (Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland) and Macomics to bring together expertise on myeloid-derived suppressor cells in prostate cancer mouse model systems
• The collaboration will combine advanced in vivo models with new therapeutic approaches to support Macomics’ continued exploration of novel macrophage biology for precision oncology medicines

Edinburgh and Cambridge, UK, and Bellinzona, Switzerland – 19 June 2024 - Macomics Ltd, a leader in macrophage drug discovery, announces that it has entered a scientific collaboration with Prof. Andrea Alimonti at IOR (Institute of Oncology Research), one of Switzerland’s leading research institutes.

IOR is focused on the study of cancer formation and development at the molecular level. Prof. Alimonti’s laboratory is pioneering studies on prostate cancer. The collaboration will see Macomics work with Dr Bianca Calì in Prof. Alimonti’s lab to synergize this deep knowledge, particularly in the use of novel in vivo mouse models, with Macomics’ macrophage expertise. The goal is to explore new modes of action for macrophage-targeted therapies.

Macomics is exploiting the potential of macrophage-targeted approaches to develop first-in-class medicines to address disease of high unmet medical need. The company’s ENIGMAC™ macrophage drug discovery platform allows access to previously hidden or inaccessible disease-specific macrophage targets: It integrates large-volume human data sets, next-generation human macrophage cell models, and proprietary macrophage gene editing capability to discover novel targets, unlock new disease biology, and de-risk clinical translation.

Under the collaboration, the parties will explore together the potential for the use of novel in vivo prostate cancer models developed by the Alimonti lab in the characterisation of macrophage-targeted therapies, including testing of novel drug candidates with new modes of action discovered by Macomics in its complex human assay systems.   

Dr Luca Cassetta, VP Immunology and Founder of Macomics said, “We are delighted to collaborate with Prof. Alimonti as he is a prostate cancer expert. This collaboration will allow us to optimise the design of our therapies by accessing novel prostate cancer mouse models in which myeloid cells play a fundamental role for tumor progression.”

Prof. Andrea Alimonti, IOR director, said, “This collaboration represents an exciting opportunity to combine our pioneering research in prostate cancer with Macomics' expertise in macrophage-targeted therapies. By leveraging our deep understanding of molecular mechanisms in cancer development and utilizing our preclinical models, we aim to uncover innovative approaches for combating advanced prostate cancer, a disease for which a definitive cure remains an unmet clinical challenge”.

Dr Stephen Myatt, CEO of Macomics said, “This collaboration enhances further our ability to explore and exploit macrophage biology for the development of novel therapeutic approaches. Macrophages are key to multiple diseases of high unmet medical need, including as key mediators of solid tumour immunosuppression and pathological inflammation in chronic inflammatory disorders.”