CHICAGO, Dec. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ateganosine (THIO, 6-thio-2'-deoxyguanosine), a first-in-class telomere-targeting therapy under development by MAIA Biotechnology (NYSE American: MAIA), appears to be gaining increasing attention in the oncology community as emerging clinical results continue to surpass expectations in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). With the therapy’s Phase 2 trial ongoing and a pivotal Phase 3 program initiated this week, ateganosine is being closely watched as one o ...

Core 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]

Core Insights - MAIA Biotechnology, Inc. has published a manuscript on its Phase 2 THIO-101 clinical trial in the journal Cells, focusing on the management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the context of immunotherapy [1][2] - The company emphasizes the significance of its novel combination strategy using ateganosine with a checkpoint inhibitor, which shows promising results for patients with high unmet medical needs [2] Company Overview - MAIA Biotechnology is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing targeted immunotherapies for cancer, with a focus on first-in-class drugs that aim to improve and extend the lives of cancer patients [4] - The lead program, ateganosine (THIO), is a telomere-targeting agent currently in clinical development for NSCLC patients with telomerase-positive cancer cells [4] Product Details - Ateganosine is a first-in-class investigational agent that targets telomeres, playing a crucial role in cancer cell survival and resistance to therapies [3] - The treatment has shown to induce significant tumor regression in advanced cancer models by activating both innate and adaptive immune responses [3]