MAIA Biotechnology, Inc. (NYSE American: MAIA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm dedicated to targeted immunotherapies for cancer, announced its participation in the 2025 AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics. The event took place from October 22 to 26, 2025, in Boston, Massachusetts, and was organized by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), the National Cancer Institute (NIC), and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC).
During the conference, Victor Zaporojan, M.D., MAIA”s Senior Medical Director, presented a poster detailing the ongoing trial titled “A Phase 2 Study of Ateganosine (THIO; 6-thio-2″-deoxyguanosine) in Combination with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (ICI) in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Resistant to Prior ICI and Chemotherapy: THIO-101 Trial in Progress.” Dr. Zaporojan expressed enthusiasm about engaging with fellow oncologists and researchers at the conference, noting that updates from Part C of their expanded Phase 2 trial reveal a safety profile consistent with earlier phases.
MAIA announced that five patients from Taiwan and Turkey have been enrolled in the expansion phase of its THIO-101 trial. The company is actively screening participants in Europe and Asia to broaden its patient pool for this third-line study of ateganosine.
Saadettin Kiliçkap, a Scientific Advisor to MAIA and a leading investigator for Part C of THIO-101 in Turkey, commented on the promising potential of ateganosine as a treatment option for the significant NSCLC patient population in the region. He highlighted the serious public health issue posed by lung cancer, which is the most prevalent cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, particularly among men. Despite public health efforts reducing incidence rates in men, cases among women continue to rise, underscoring the need for innovative therapies to enhance the quality of life for patients with advanced NSCLC.
Dr. Kiliçkap has considerable experience, having participated as an investigator in over 100 national and international multi-center phase 2 and phase 3 clinical studies, focusing on various types of solid tumors and treatment modalities.
The high rates of smoking, exacerbated by air pollution, are significant contributors to NSCLC in Turkey. A study conducted in 2018 indicated that smoking was responsible for nearly 90 percent of lung cancer cases in the country, with further research suggesting that exposure to ambient air pollution may have led to a notable portion of lung cancer fatalities.
The Trial in Progress poster from MAIA is available for viewing at maiabiotech.com/publications.
Ateganosine (THIO, 6-thio-dG or 6-thio-2″-deoxyguanosine) is an investigational agent designed to target telomeres, which play a critical role in cancer cell survival and resistance to existing therapies. This modified nucleotide promotes telomerase-dependent telomeric DNA damage, leading to cancer cell death, and activates immune responses. Current research is focused on its potential as a second or later line of treatment for NSCLC patients who have exhausted standard therapies.
THIO-101 is a multicenter, open-label, dose-finding Phase 2 clinical trial that aims to assess the efficacy of ateganosine followed by PD-(L)1 inhibition in treating advanced NSCLC. The trial”s design includes two key objectives: evaluating ateganosine”s safety and tolerability, and measuring clinical efficacy through overall response rates. The ongoing expansion will further explore the response rates in patients receiving third-line therapy.
For more information regarding this Phase 2 trial, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov and search using the identifier NCT05208944.
MAIA Biotechnology, Inc. is devoted to developing innovative targeted therapies in immuno-oncology aimed at significantly enhancing the lives of cancer patients. Its primary focus is on ateganosine, a potential first-in-class agent for treating NSCLC with telomerase-positive cancer cells. More details can be found at www.maiabiotech.com.
The company emphasizes that all statements in this release, aside from historical facts, are forward-looking and should not be interpreted as guarantees of future events, given the inherent uncertainties involved.
For investor inquiries, contact MAIA at +1 (872) 270-3518 or via email at [email protected].
