Pyxis Oncology to Present Translational Data and Key Biology Findings Elucidating the Mechanism of Action of MICVO at Upcoming Medical Meetings

Core Insights - Pyxis Oncology is advancing micvotabart pelidotin (MICVO), a first-in-concept antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting extradomain-B of fibronectin, with promising translational data to be presented at ESMO 2025 and AACR-NCI-EORTC conferences [1][2][10] Mechanism of Action - MICVO operates through a three-pronged mechanism: direct tumor cell killing, bystander effect, and immunogenic cell death, which contributes to its potential effectiveness against solid tumors [1][2][12] - The ADC's unique extracellular-cleaving mechanism distinguishes it from traditional ADCs that target cell surfaces and internalize [2][12] Clinical Development - Ongoing clinical studies focus on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), with a Phase 1/2 combination study of MICVO and pembrolizumab initiated for recurrent and metastatic cases [10][13] - Data from 37 clinical samples indicate a reduction in circulating tumor DNA tumor fraction after treatment with MICVO, particularly at a dose of 5.4 mg/kg, supporting its development in HNSCC [2][10] Presentation Details - At ESMO 2025, two posters will present histological biomarker analysis and longitudinal changes in circulating tumor DNA from the Phase 1 dose escalation study [4][5] - Six additional posters at the AACR-NCI-EORTC conference will further explore MICVO's mechanism of action and its impact on tumor microenvironment remodeling [5][6] Future Directions - The company aims to continue developing MICVO based on the positive signals observed in HNSCC and its potential as both a monotherapy and in combination with anti-PD1 therapy [2][10]