Raymond James engaged as financial advisorReduction in force implemented NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IO Biotech (Nasdaq: IOBT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, immune-modulatory, off-the-shelf therapeutic cancer vaccines, today announced that it has retained Raymond James & Associates, Inc. to serve as exclusive financial advisor to assist the company in its previously announced exploration of strategic alternatives. The company also announced that it is impleme ...

Core Viewpoint - Piper Sandler downgraded IO Biotech (IOBT) to Neutral from Overweight, with a price target reduced to 50 cents from $3, due to the company's exploration of strategic opportunities to maximize shareholder value [1] Company Analysis - The underlying science behind IO Biotech's T-win platform and lead candidate cylembio is considered promising [1] - The company is currently facing capital constraints, which raises concerns about its financial stability [1] - There is uncertainty regarding the outcome of the company's strategic alternatives process and whether any transaction will be completed on favorable terms [1]

Group 1 - Biotech stocks experienced significant gains in after-hours trading, with several companies showing strong percentage increases despite no new company-specific news [1][2][3][4] - Coherus Oncology, Inc. (CHRS) rose by 9.09% to close at $1.73, adding $0.14 in extended trading [1] - Sensei Biotherapeutics, Inc. (SNSE) surged 10.06% to finish at $12.47, gaining $1.14 [1] - Cue Biopharma, Inc. (CUE) advanced 9.37% to $0.40, increasing by $0.034 [1] - Alpha Tau Medical Ltd. (DRTS) increased by 3.35% to $7.41, up $0.24, with recent focus on new leadership [2] - Cingulate Inc. (CING) edged up 1.49% to close at $5.45, gaining $0.08 [3] - uniQure N.V. (QURE) posted a notable 9.96% jump to $24.95, adding $2.26 in after-hours trading [3] - IO Biotech, Inc. (IOBT) gained 4.19% to $0.50, up $0.020, while exploring strategic alternatives including mergers and asset sales [4]

Company Performance - Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. III Warrants (NASDAQ:SVACW) experienced a significant price increase of 294.23%, reaching $2.05, potentially driven by speculative trading or news related to their energy and decarbonization operations [1][6] - 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:SXTP) saw its stock price rise by 144.5% to $4.89, likely benefiting from positive clinical trial developments or regulatory approvals, despite a 1-4 reverse stock split leading to a 2.4% decline ahead of the event [2] - IO Biotech, Inc. (NASDAQ:IOBT) had a stock price increase of 102.12%, reaching $0.41, with investor optimism possibly fueled by its focus on immune-modulating cancer therapies and exploration of strategic alternatives [3][6] - Namib Minerals Warrants (NASDAQ:NAMMW) recorded an 88.68% increase to $0.34, influenced by its involvement in gold and critical green metals production and exploration, while Namib Minerals Ordinary Shares (NASDAQ:NAMM) rose by 77.47% to $4.01, possibly due to favorable mining outcomes or strategic acquisitions [4] Market Dynamics - The recent stock price movements highlight the dynamic nature of the market, where company developments, industry trends, and investor sentiment play crucial roles in influencing stock prices [5]

Core Insights - Biotech and healthcare sectors experienced notable movements in after-hours trading, particularly among small-cap companies, with several posting significant gains [1] Company Summaries - IO Biotech, Inc. (IOBT) saw a surge of 19.36% to $0.25 after announcing plans to explore various strategic alternatives to maximize stockholder value, including potential mergers, asset sales, or liquidation. The company is also considering further reductions in workforce and operational costs [2] - Cue Biopharma, Inc. (CUE) advanced 10.67% to $0.42, with gains attributed to speculative trading despite no specific news from the company [3] - InfuSystem Holdings, Inc. (INFU) climbed 7.19% to $9.24, continuing a trend of strength in the medical services sector without any new corporate updates [3] - Cabaletta Bio, Inc. (CABA) added 7.68% to $2.52, with investors likely reacting to the company's January 12 update on its 2026 strategic priorities, including plans for the development of rese-cel and advancements in automated manufacturing [4] - Iterum Therapeutics plc (ITRM) gained 3.60% to $0.3284, driven by modest buying interest despite the absence of fresh news [5] - BioCardia, Inc. (BCDA) rose 3.91% to $1.33, attracting buyers in after-hours trading without any new updates [5]

Core Insights - The stock market has seen significant declines among several companies, particularly Venus Concept Inc., IO Biotech, Inc., and Innovation Beverage Group Limited, with notable shifts in their stock values [1] Company Summaries Venus Concept Inc. (VERO) - The company experienced a 56.4% drop in stock price to $1.94, down from a year high of $14.5 to a low of $1.39 [2] - Challenges affecting investor confidence include the decision to voluntarily delist from the Nasdaq Capital Market and deregister with the SEC [2] IO Biotech, Inc. (IOBT) - IO Biotech's stock price decreased by 55.39% to $0.23, falling from a year high of $2.79 to a low of $0.20 [3] - The company focuses on immune-modulating cancer therapies and is exploring strategic alternatives, including a merger or potential liquidation, to enhance stockholder value [3] Innovation Beverage Group Limited (IBG) - The stock price of Innovation Beverage Group fell by 36.67% to $0.98, down from a year high of $9.85 to a low of $0.85 [4] - The company is pursuing energy expansion efforts and a proposed merger with BlockFuel Energy, aiming to advance its integrated energy and infrastructure strategy [4] Market Overview - The significant price movements of these companies highlight the volatile nature of the stock market and the various factors influencing investor sentiment and company valuations [5]

Core Viewpoint - IO Biotech is exploring various strategic alternatives to maximize stockholder value, which may include mergers, business combinations, asset sales, or liquidation [1][2] Group 1: Strategic Alternatives - The company is considering a range of strategic alternatives, including mergers, business combinations, asset sales, or liquidation and dissolution [1] - There is no established timetable for the completion of this strategic review process, and the company will not disclose developments until deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors [2] Group 2: Cost Reduction Efforts - IO Biotech is evaluating a further reduction-in-force and other measures to significantly reduce operating expenses while exploring strategic alternatives [1] Group 3: Company Overview - IO Biotech is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing immune-modulatory, off-the-shelf therapeutic cancer vaccines based on its T-win platform, which activates T cells to target tumor cells and immune-suppressive cells [3]

Group 1: Market Activity - Several biotech and healthcare companies experienced notable gains in after-hours trading, indicating renewed investor interest in drug development and healthcare services [1] - Zentalis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ZNTL) surged 17.65% to close at $4.40, attributed to a recent corporate update that boosted investor confidence in its azenosertib development program [2] - LifeMD, Inc. (LFMD) climbed 12.18% to $4.33 following the announcement of a new senior secured revolving credit facility with Citizens Bank, providing up to $50 million in total availability [3] Group 2: Company-Specific Developments - NanoViricides, Inc. (NNVC) advanced 11.11% to $1.24, driven by speculative interest despite no recent news [4] - Intelligent Bio Solutions Inc. (INBS) posted a 9.10% increase, closing at $19.55, continuing to gain momentum from overall investor enthusiasm in the biotech sector [4] - IO Biotech, Inc. (IOBT) rose 6.49% to $0.60, suggesting bargain-hunting activity at lower price levels [5] Group 3: Financing and Agreements - China SXT Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (SXTC) advanced 2.06% to $18.29 after disclosing a definitive agreement for the purchase of 66,666,666 Class A ordinary shares at $0.15 per share, highlighting efforts to strengthen its capital position [6]

Core Insights - IO Biotech announced the publication of long-term clinical and immunological outcomes from the MM1636 trial, which evaluated the investigational peptide vaccine IO102-IO103 in combination with PD-1 blockade for treating first-line metastatic melanoma [1][2] Group 1: Clinical Trial Results - The five-year follow-up analysis of the MM1636 trial showed a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 25.5 months, indicating durable clinical activity [2][7] - The trial identified potential vaccine-specific immune biomarkers associated with long-term benefits, which were not observed in a matched anti-PD-1 monotherapy cohort, suggesting enhanced anti-tumor activity through vaccine-induced immune modulation [2][7] - The median duration of response exceeded 53 months, and the median overall survival reached 60 months, supporting the potential of IO102-IO103 as a first-line therapy for melanoma [3] Group 2: Company Strategy and Future Trials - IO Biotech is advancing its lead cancer vaccine candidate, Cylembio (IO102-IO103), in clinical trials, with plans to initiate a Phase 3 clinical trial (IOB-013/KN-D18) for first-line advanced melanoma [1][9] - The IOB-013/KN-D18 trial has enrolled 407 patients across multiple countries, with primary endpoints focused on progression-free survival and secondary endpoints including overall response rate and safety assessments [9] - The company emphasizes the significant unmet need for innovative therapies in cancer treatment, reinforcing its commitment to developing off-the-shelf immune-modulatory therapeutics with potential applications across various cancers [4]

Summary of IO Biotech Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: IO Biotech - **Key Personnel**: CEO Mai-Britt Zocca, CFO Amy Sullivan - **Event**: Piper Sandler Healthcare Conference Industry Context - **Focus**: Biotech industry, specifically cancer therapeutics - **Key Product**: IO102-IO103, a therapeutic cancer vaccine Core Points and Arguments 1. **Phase 3 Trial Results**: The phase 3 trial for IO102-IO103 in combination with Pembrolizumab for first-line metastatic melanoma showed a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 19.4 months compared to 11 months in the control arm, with a hazard ratio of 0.77, indicating a clinically meaningful outcome despite a narrow P-value [3][13][15] 2. **Safety Profile**: The drug demonstrated a clear safety profile, which is crucial for its acceptance in the market [3][16] 3. **Mechanism of Action**: The approach targets IDO-expressing cells and aims to modify the tumor microenvironment to enhance immune response, differentiating it from previous IDO inhibitors like Epacadostat [6][7][9] 4. **Regulatory Feedback**: The FDA recommended against submitting a Biologics License Application (BLA) based on the pivotal study data due to the missed P-value, despite the observed efficacy and safety [17][18] 5. **New Trial Design**: A proposed global adaptive phase 2-3 clinical trial will evaluate IO102-IO103 in combination with Opdualag, reflecting the changing standard of care in the US [19][21][23] 6. **European Market Engagement**: IO Biotech plans to engage with EU regulators for a potential Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) submission by 2026, with expectations for positive feedback based on different regulatory guidelines [24] 7. **Adjuvant and Neoadjuvant Studies**: Ongoing studies in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings aim to prolong time to recurrence in melanoma and head and neck cancers [25][26] 8. **Broader Applications**: The company is exploring the use of IO102-IO103 beyond melanoma, with promising data in other indications like non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) [29] 9. **Pipeline Development**: IO Biotech is advancing other candidates like IO112 and IO170, targeting Arginase 1 and TGF- respectively, with positive early data and plans for clinical trials [32][34] 10. **Financial Position**: The company ended Q3 with approximately $31 million in cash, expected to last through Q1 2026, with plans to raise additional capital for upcoming trials [35][36] 11. **Market Perception**: There is a perceived disconnect between the company's valuation and investor understanding of the potential market impact of IO102-IO103 and its broader applications [37] Additional Important Insights - **KOL Feedback**: Key opinion leaders have expressed excitement about the data, noting the significance of a therapeutic cancer vaccine showing clear benefits in metastatic settings [16] - **Future Outlook**: The company is optimistic about 2026 being a pivotal year for its growth and product development [39][41]