Biomunex to Present Breakthrough Preclinical Data on Its MAIT Engager Immuno-Oncology Platform at the 2025 SITC Annual Meeting
Biomunex Pharmaceuticals, a French biopharmaceutical company advancing the frontiers of cancer immunotherapy through its pioneering bispecific and multispecific antibody technologies, has announced that it will present preclinical data from its MAIT Engager platform at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer’s (SITC) 40th Annual Meeting, held from November 5–9, 2025, in National Harbor, USA.
The presentation marks an important milestone for Biomunex, as it showcases the company’s novel therapeutic approach using MAIT Engagers — a new class of bispecific antibodies designed to activate a unique subset of immune cells known as MAIT (Mucosal-Associated Invariant T) cells to target and destroy cancer cells.
A New Frontier in Cancer Immunotherapy
The field of immuno-oncology has made significant strides in recent years, particularly with the emergence of T cell engager (TCE) therapies that redirect the body’s own immune system to attack tumors. However, many existing TCEs—especially those targeting the CD3+ T cells—face challenges related to safety, cytokine release syndrome (CRS), and the activation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) that can suppress anti-tumor activity.
Biomunex aims to address these challenges with its MAIT Engager platform, which represents a distinct class of T cell engager designed to leverage the natural biology of MAIT cells. These cells, typically involved in the immune defense of mucosal tissues such as the lungs, gut, and liver, are capable of rapid activation and release of cytotoxic molecules. By developing bispecific antibodies that connect MAIT cells directly to cancer cells, Biomunex seeks to harness their anti-tumor potential while reducing the severe immune-related toxicities commonly seen with traditional CD3-based therapies.
Presentation of Preclinical Findings at SITC 2025
Biomunex’s Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Simon Plyte, will deliver an oral presentation on November 8, 2025, titled:
“The MAIT Engager Platform: Rapid Generation of Several MAIT T Cell Engagers with Significantly Improved Safety Profile and Large Therapeutic Window” (Abstract #1197).
In addition, Dr. Plyte will present a poster on November 7, expanding on the preclinical data and mechanisms behind the company’s new MAIT-based therapeutic approach.
According to Biomunex, its preclinical findings show that MAIT Engagers can bridge MAIT cells and tumor cells effectively, leading to robust tumor cell killing while maintaining a superior safety profile compared to conventional CD3+ T cell engagers. These results suggest a potentially broader therapeutic window — meaning the drugs can be administered at doses high enough to be effective without reaching toxic levels.
MAIT Engagers: A Potentially Safer, More Durable Cancer Therapy
The company’s data indicate that MAIT Engagers could overcome several of the key limitations of current CD3-based T cell engager therapies. Traditional CD3+ TCEs, while potent, are often associated with unpredictable immune activation that can result in cytokine release syndrome — a potentially life-threatening inflammatory response — and the undesired activation of Tregs, which can suppress immune attacks against cancer.
In contrast, MAIT Engagers demonstrate controlled activation and reduced cytokine release, leading to a markedly improved safety profile. Furthermore, these bispecific antibodies are capable of inducing what Biomunex refers to as the “SPARK effect”, a long-term and durable anti-cancer immune response that persists beyond initial treatment.
This combination of potency, safety, and durability makes MAIT Engagers an exciting new class of therapeutics with potential applications across a range of solid tumors — a setting where many other immune therapies have struggled to achieve sustained efficacy.
Rapid and Scalable Development Through the BiXAb® Platform
Biomunex’s innovation extends beyond the biology of MAIT cells. Its proprietary BiXAb® “Plug-and-Play” technology underpins the development of both its MAIT Engager portfolio and other bispecific or multispecific antibody candidates. The BiXAb® platform allows the company to generate novel antibody constructs rapidly and efficiently, offering flexibility in designing therapeutics that target different immune cell receptors or tumor antigens.
Compared to other bispecific antibody platforms, BiXAb® is distinguished by its simplicity, high industrial yield, and excellent drug-like properties, making it well-suited for large-scale pharmaceutical production. This capability enables Biomunex to accelerate its R&D timeline, moving promising candidates from discovery to clinical evaluation more quickly than many competitors in the field.
A Growing Portfolio of Next-Generation Immunotherapies
In addition to its MAIT Engager programs, Biomunex has been actively advancing a broad pipeline of bispecific and multispecific antibodies targeting both solid and hematological malignancies. One of its most advanced programs, BMX-502, has been licensed to Ipsen, a major French pharmaceutical company, under a strategic partnership that reflects growing industry confidence in Biomunex’s technology.
The Ipsen agreement represents a key milestone for Biomunex, validating the company’s ability to generate innovative drug candidates that attract the attention of global pharma partners. The collaboration enables Ipsen to leverage Biomunex’s BiXAb® technology to expand its own oncology pipeline, while Biomunex benefits from milestone payments, shared expertise, and long-term commercial potential.
“The last few months have marked the beginning of a new chapter in Biomunex’s development,” said Dr. Pierre-Emmanuel Gerard, founder and President of Biomunex. “The signing of a major agreement with Ipsen, following other partnerships, underscores our team’s ability to create transformative drugs and technologies. The MAIT Engager platform, being presented at the 2025 SITC Annual Meeting, exemplifies our mission to deliver innovative immunotherapies that have real clinical impact for cancer patients.”
From Preclinical Promise to Clinical Translation
Biomunex’s preclinical data have demonstrated that MAIT Engagers can selectively activate immune cells within the tumor microenvironment while sparing healthy tissues, potentially widening the therapeutic window compared to CD3-based therapies. These findings have laid the groundwork for upcoming clinical trials, which the company expects to launch in the near future.
The transition from preclinical to clinical development will mark a crucial next step in validating MAIT Engagers as a viable and safe therapeutic modality for oncology. If early human studies replicate the preclinical promise, MAIT Engagers could redefine the immunotherapy landscape — offering oncologists a new class of drugs that combine the precision of bispecific antibody targeting with reduced risk of immune toxicity.
Building Momentum in the Immuno-Oncology Landscape
Biomunex’s participation at the 2025 SITC Annual Meeting places it alongside global leaders in the rapidly evolving field of cancer immunotherapy. The SITC meeting is one of the world’s most influential gatherings for immuno-oncology research, providing a platform for scientists, clinicians, and industry innovators to share breakthroughs that may shape future standards of care.
By securing both an oral presentation and a poster session, Biomunex has earned significant visibility within this highly competitive scientific forum — an acknowledgment of the novelty and potential impact of its research.
“MAIT Engagers represent a new frontier in immune-oncology,” said Dr. Plyte. “They offer an attractive therapeutic approach that could redefine how we treat solid tumors. Presenting these data at SITC 2025 is an exciting opportunity to engage with the global scientific community and highlight the unique potential of this innovative platform.”
The Road Ahead
With multiple MAIT Engager candidates advancing toward clinical evaluation and a robust partnership network that includes leading pharmaceutical companies, Biomunex is positioning itself as a rising innovator in next-generation cancer immunotherapy. The company’s combination of scientific innovation, flexible technology platforms, and strategic collaborations is accelerating its mission to deliver safer, more effective treatments for patients who currently have limited options.
The MAIT Engager platform, in particular, embodies Biomunex’s philosophy of combining cutting-edge antibody engineering with deep immunological insight. By unlocking the untapped potential of MAIT cells — a previously underexplored component of the immune system — the company aims to chart a new course in the fight against cancer.
About Biomunex Pharmaceuticals
Founded in Paris, Biomunex Pharmaceuticals is dedicated to developing next-generation immunotherapies using bispecific and multispecific antibody technologies. Its proprietary BiXAb® platform enables the creation of highly stable, easily manufacturable antibody constructs designed to engage multiple immune pathways simultaneously. The company’s pipeline spans oncology and other therapeutic areas, with several preclinical and clinical-stage programs under development, including its groundbreaking MAIT Engager platform.
As Biomunex continues to expand its research and partnerships, it remains focused on a single goal — delivering transformative therapies that harness the power of the immune system to fight cancer more safely and effectively.
