Geneva is hosting the ESMO Immuno-Oncology Congress 2019, and among the studies presented is one that marks an important milestone for us: the first clinical results of BO-112, our lead candidate in the fight against cancer.

The data were presented by Dr. Iván Márquez-Rodas, principal investigator of the phase I study. The results correspond to patients with different tumor types who had already stopped responding to previous immunotherapies and in whom BO-112 was combined with an anti-PD-1 inhibitor. The findings point in a promising direction: the combination proved to be safe, well tolerated, and showed early signals of clinical activity in tumors that had developed resistance.

The challenge: awakening dormant tumors

BO-112 is a double-stranded RNA–based molecule that is not administered systemically but directly into the tumor. Its goal is to activate the patient’s innate immune system where it is most needed: within the tumor itself.

In other words, it aims to convert “cold” tumors—those invisible to the body’s immune defenses—into “hot” tumors that can be recognized and attacked.

In this context, this first-in-human trial had the primary objective of evaluating the safety and tolerability of BO-112, while also exploring its initial signs of efficacy.

The results met these objectives: the data presented in Geneva provide a solid foundation for advancing into further stages of clinical development.

Why combine with anti-PD-1?

Anti-PD-1 therapies have transformed oncology over the past several years, but they do not work for all patients. Some fail to respond from the beginning, while others eventually lose their response over time.

This is where BO-112 may play an important role: by activating the immune system within the tumor, it may enhance the response to these drugs and open a therapeutic window in cases that previously appeared closed.

The phase I study has allowed researchers to define the optimal dose and intratumoral administration protocol, laying the groundwork for larger phase II trials that will explore additional indications and therapeutic combinations.

A Spanish milestone on the global stage

For us, presenting these data at a leading congress such as ESMO IO is not only a scientific achievement; it also confirms that a strategy developed in Spain can compete with—and contribute to—the global immuno-oncology landscape.

The journey continues, step by step, with a clear goal: to transform scientific discoveries into real treatment options for those who need them most.