Korean biotech company STCube is stepping up its global presence in oncology research with its novel immune-oncology drug candidate, nelmastobart, which targets BTN1A1.
After unveiling non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) results at the World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) in September, the company will present new preclinical and clinical findings at two upcoming international events -- the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in October and the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) meeting in November.
STCube will present two abstracts related to nelmastobart during ESMO 2025, held Oct. 17–21 in Berlin, Germany. The studies highlight BTN1A1 as a novel immune checkpoint target with therapeutic potential in colorectal cancer (CRC) and NSCLC.
The first abstract, titled “BTN1A1-Targeted Immunotherapy Enhances Standard Treatment Efficacy in NSCLC and Colorectal Cancer: Insights from Patient-Derived Organoids and Zebrafish Models,” evaluates combination strategies using patient-derived organoids and zebrafish models to demonstrate how BTN1A1 blockade could improve standard treatments.
The second abstract focuses on translational biomarker research from an investigator-initiated phase 1b/2 trial in metastatic colorectal cancer.
Presented by Professor Lee Su-hyeon of Korea University Anam Hospital, the study is titled “BTN1A1 H-Score and Multiplex Biomarker Profiling Predict Clinical Benefit from Nelmastobart plus Capecitabine in Advanced Colorectal Cancer: Phase Ib/II Study.” I
The study will report differences in progression-free survival (PFS) according to BTN1A1 expression levels (H-Score).
According to the company, BTN1A1 functions as a novel immune checkpoint that is expressed mutually exclusively with PD-L1.
This unique biology may allow nelmastobart to benefit patients who fail to respond to or develop resistance against current PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors.
“Clinical results increasingly confirm nelmastobart’s potential as a biomarker-driven precision immunotherapy with first-in-class competitiveness,” an STCube official said.
STCube is currently conducting a phase 1b/2 trial of nelmastobart in combination with trifluridine–tipiracil (TAS-102) and bevacizumab in patients with BTN1A1-positive metastatic or recurrent CRC who have failed at least two prior therapies. The study has progressed to phase 2 dosing. The company is also preparing to launch a phase 2 study of nelmastobart with docetaxel in BTN1A1-positive NSCLC patients who have received at least one prior treatment.