CHICAGO - MAIA Biotechnology, Inc. (NYSE American: MAIA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has announced positive results from its Phase 2 THIO-101 clinical trial, which evaluated the efficacy of its investigational drug THIO in combination with the immune checkpoint inhibitor cemiplimab for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
The trial specifically targeted third-line treatment in patients with NSCLC who had previously failed to respond to checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy.
As of January 8, 2024, the overall response rate (ORR) was reported at 38% in the efficacy evaluable population. This subset included patients who received at least one dose of the THIO treatment and had at least one post-baseline tumor assessment. The reported ORR is significantly higher than the standard of care for this patient group, which typically sees response rates of around 6%.
Vlad Vitoc, M.D., Chairman and CEO of MAIA, highlighted the significance of the findings, pointing out that the majority of NSCLC patients lack a targetable mutation and are in desperate need of effective treatments. The company believes that administering THIO before cemiplimab can enhance tumor responses to immunotherapy in patients who are resistant to other treatments.
The safety profile of the combination was consistent with previous reports, and the trial's early completion of enrollment was recently announced. THIO-101 is poised to be the first completed study of a telomere-targeting agent in the field of cancer drug discovery and treatment.
MAIA's THIO is a first-in-class investigational telomere-targeting agent, designed to induce selective cancer cell death by causing telomerase-dependent telomeric DNA damage. The trial's design included assessing safety, tolerability, and clinical efficacy, with ORR as the primary endpoint.
This news is based on a press release statement from MAIA Biotechnology, Inc.
InvestingPro Insights
With the positive clinical trial outcomes for MAIA Biotechnology's THIO-101, investors are closely monitoring the company's financial health and market performance. MAIA's ability to hold more cash than debt on its balance sheet is a positive signal for financial stability, an important factor when considering the long-term potential of biotech investments. This is particularly relevant for MAIA, as the company is not expected to be profitable this year and has not been profitable over the last twelve months.
Additionally, MAIA has shown a strong return over the last three months, with a price total return of 57.45%. This surge in stock performance could be reflective of investor optimism following recent developments in the company's clinical trials. However, it's worth noting that the company's Price / Book ratio stands at a high 9.21, which suggests that the stock may be trading at a premium relative to its book value. This could be a point of consideration for value-focused investors.
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