NEW YORK, April 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IO Biotech (Nasdaq: IOBT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, immune-modulating therapeutic cancer vaccines based on its T-win^® platform, today announced that Marjan Shamsaei, PharmD, joined the company as SVP, Commercial Development and Portfolio Lead for IO102-IO103, the company’s lead cancer vaccine candidate currently in a pivotal Phase 3 trial. Ms. Shamsaei joins the company’s executive team, reporting to IO Biotech CEO Mai-Britt Zocca, Ph.D., and is based in the United States.

“Marjan’s extensive oncology product commercialization and growth strategy expertise will be invaluable as we progress into the commercial readiness phase for IO102-IO103,” said Dr. Zocca. “We’re thrilled to welcome Marjan to the IO Biotech team as we continue to expand our pipeline with product candidates in multiple cancer indications where the T-Win platform may prove highly effective.”

Dr. Shamsaei added, “It is an honor to join IO Biotech’s team during this exciting growth phase in the company. I consider myself fortunate to have played a role in bringing novel and transformative cancer therapeutics to patients throughout my career. I am thrilled to help address the ongoing need to improve treatment options for people living with cancer, with our lead program potentially coming to market as early as 2025.”

Dr. Shamsaei is an accomplished executive with over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry developing commercial and portfolio strategies in multiple therapeutic areas. Most recently, she served as Vice President, Head of Commercial at Allogene Therapeutics. Prior to this role, she served in leadership roles at Five Prime Therapeutics (acquired by Amgen), Genentech, Jazz Pharmaceuticals and SUGEN/Pharmacia (acquired by Pfizer). Dr. Shamsaei holds a Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of California San Francisco and a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from the University of Colorado.

About IO102-IO103

IO102-IO103 is an investigational off-the-shelf therapeutic cancer vaccine designed to kill both tumor cells and immune-suppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) by stimulating activation and expansion of T cells against indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and/or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) cells. The company is currently conducting a pivotal Phase 3 trial (IOB-013/KN-D18; NCT05155254) investigating IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab versus pembrolizumab alone in patients with advanced melanoma, a Phase 2 basket trial (IOB-022/KN-D38; NCT05077709) investigating IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab as first line treatment in patients with solid tumors, and a Phase 2 basket trial (IOB-032/PN-E40; NCT05280314) investigating IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab as neo-adjuvant/adjuvant treatment of patients with solid tumors.

The clinical trials are sponsored by IO Biotech and conducted in collaboration with Merck and Merck is supplying pembrolizumab. IO Biotech maintains global commercial rights to IO102-IO103.

KEYTRUDA^® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.

About IO Biotech

IO Biotech is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, immune-modulating therapeutic cancer vaccines based on its T-win^® platform. The T-win platform is based on a novel approach to cancer vaccines designed to activate T cells to target the immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment. IO Biotech is advancing its lead cancer vaccine candidate, IO102-IO103, in clinical trials, and additional pipeline candidates through preclinical development. Based on positive Phase 1/2 first line metastatic melanoma data, IO102-IO103, in combination with pembrolizumab, has been granted a breakthrough therapy designation for the treatment of advanced melanoma by the US Food and Drug Administration. IO Biotech is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark and has US headquarters in New York, New York.

For further information, please visit www.iobiotech.com. Follow us on our social media channels on LinkedIn and X (@IOBiotech).

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements, including regarding the timing of the interim and primary analyses of the company’s Phase 3 trial, current or future clinical trials, their progress, enrollment or results, or the company’s financial position or cash runway, are based on IO Biotech’s current assumptions and expectations of future events and trends, which affect or may affect its business, strategy, operations or financial performance, and actual results and other events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and should not be unduly relied upon. Except to the extent required by law, IO Biotech undertakes no obligation to update these statements, whether as a result of any new information, future developments or otherwise.

Contact:
Maryann Cimino, Director of Investor Relations
IO Biotech, Inc.
617-710-7305
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