• New patent would extend coverage and expand potential value of MAIA’s telomere-targeting platform globally

CHICAGO / Jan 24, 2024 / Business Wire / MAIA Biotechnology, Inc., (NYSE American: MAIA) (“MAIA”, the “Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing targeted immunotherapies for cancer, today announced that the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has published MAIA’s global Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application titled “Dinucleotides and Their Use in Treating Cancer.” These compounds are key next-generation telomere-targeting agents, an important extension of MAIA’s innovative cancer treatment platform.

The international patent application covers potential cancer therapies using dinucleotide compounds that target telomeres in cancer cells, and methods for using the dinucleotide compounds to treat cancers alone or before administration with checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs). The new dinucleotides disclosed in the patent application are telomere-targeting molecules, such as THIO fragments or other THIO analogues.

The PCT system streamlines the process for obtaining patent protection globally. Under the PCT, applicants can seek patent protection in a large number of countries.

“This new IP would expand the value of our telomere-targeting compounds as first-in-class cancer treatments in regions around the world and provide patent coverage through 2043,” said Vlad Vitoc, M.D., MAIA’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Previous preclinical studies of several of our second-generation telomere-targeting agents have shown highly significant anti-cancer efficacy in multiple in vivo and in vitro models. Importantly, this new coverage would further cement our robust and transformational cancer treatment franchise.”

About THIO

THIO (6-thio-dG or 6-thio-2’-deoxyguanosine) is a first-in-class investigational telomere-targeting agent currently in clinical development to evaluate its activity in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Telomeres, along with the enzyme telomerase, play a fundamental role in the survival of cancer cells and their resistance to current therapies. The modified nucleotide 6-thio-2’-deoxyguanosine (THIO) induces telomerase-dependent telomeric DNA modification, DNA damage responses, and selective cancer cell death. THIO-damaged telomeric fragments accumulate in cytosolic micronuclei and activates both innate (cGAS/STING) and adaptive (T-cell) immune responses. The sequential treatment with THIO followed by PD-(L)1 inhibitors resulted in profound and persistent tumor regression in advanced, in vivo cancer models by induction of cancer type–specific immune memory. THIO is presently developed as a second or later line of treatment for NSCLC for patients that have progressed beyond the standard-of-care regimen of existing checkpoint inhibitors.

About MAIA Biotechnology, Inc.

MAIA is a targeted therapy, immuno-oncology company focused on the development and commercialization of potential first-in-class drugs with novel mechanisms of action that are intended to meaningfully improve and extend the lives of people with cancer. Our lead program is THIO, a potential first-in-class cancer telomere targeting agent in clinical development for the treatment of NSCLC patients with telomerase-positive cancer cells. For more information, please visit www.maiabiotech.com.

Forward Looking Statements

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