MAIA Biotechnology(US:MAIA) Globenewswire·2025-10-27 14:45Core Insights - MAIA Biotechnology, Inc. is advancing its THIO-101 Phase 2 clinical trial, with the first five patients enrolled in the expansion phase in Taiwan and Turkey, indicating progress in its development of targeted immunotherapies for cancer [1][2][3] Company Overview - MAIA is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing targeted immunotherapies for cancer, with its lead program being ateganosine (THIO), a potential first-in-class telomere-targeting agent for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [1][8] - The company aims to improve and extend the lives of cancer patients through innovative therapies [8] Clinical Trial Details - The THIO-101 trial is a multicenter, open-label, dose-finding Phase 2 study designed to evaluate the anti-tumor activity of ateganosine followed by PD-(L)1 inhibitors in patients with advanced NSCLC who have shown resistance to prior treatments [7] - The trial has two primary objectives: to assess the safety and tolerability of ateganosine and to evaluate its clinical efficacy using Overall Response Rate (ORR) as the primary endpoint [7] Scientific Insights - Ateganosine works by inducing telomerase-dependent telomeric DNA modification, leading to selective cancer cell death and activation of immune responses [6] - The treatment has shown promise in preclinical models, suggesting potential for profound tumor regression in advanced cancer cases [6] Market Context - Lung cancer, particularly NSCLC, remains a significant public health challenge, especially in regions like Turkey where smoking and air pollution are major contributors to the disease [3][4] - The high prevalence of smoking accounted for 89.6% of lung cancer cases in Turkey, highlighting the urgent need for effective treatment options [4]