Our Approach

Unleashing the full potential of immuno-oncology therapies

Immuno-oncology (IO) therapies have demonstrated curative potential for people living with cancer. However, their use to date has been significantly curtailed due to systemic toxicity caused by activity of the therapeutic molecule outside of the tumor microenvironment (TME).

Xilio is discovering and developing novel biologics to improve upon existing IO mechanisms and deliver an improved efficacy-to-toxicity ratio, or therapeutic index. We are advancing a pipeline of novel clinical and preclinical immunotherapies designed to achieve tumor-selective activation, including masked bispecifics and masked T cell engagers.

Our Platform

Xilio has developed a proprietary, clinically validated platform technology to engineer tumor-activated biologics. Each of our molecules leverages masking and other unique components that are designed to be optimized for the specific target to focus therapeutic activity within the TME.

Our platform’s masking approach aims to limit therapeutic activity in the periphery and enables selective activation of the molecules within the TME. There, matrix metalloproteases (MMPs)—enzymes essential for tumor growth and metastasis—cleave and separate a linker that connects the masking domain to the active agent. This process is intended to allow the therapeutic molecule to activate fully within the TME and directly target cancer cells.

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Systemically Active
Immunotherapies

Human body icon outlining an example of the effects of tumor-selective immunotherapies for a person with lung cancer Human body icon outlining an example of the effects of non–tumor selective immunotherapies for a person with lung cancer Human body icon outlining an example of the effects of non–tumor selective immunotherapies for a person with lung cancer Human body icon outlining an example of the effects of non–tumor selective immunotherapies for a person with lung cancer

Lung Cancer Example

With existing therapeutic options, patients receive systemically active immunotherapy in order to treat tumors locally.
The stimulation of the immune system by currently available immunotherapies is not limited to the tumor, which can lead to severe side effects in organs and tissues.
To minimize these systemic side effects, physicians may reduce the dose of the therapy, which unfortunately also reduces its efficacy within the tumor.

Xilio Tumor-Activated
Immunotherapies

Human body icon outlining an example of the effects of tumor-selective immunotherapies for a person with lung cancer Human body icon outlining an example of the effects of tumor-selective immunotherapies for a person with lung cancer Human body icon outlining an example of the effects of tumor-selective immunotherapies for a person with lung cancer Human body icon outlining an example of the effects of tumor-selective immunotherapies for a person with lung cancer

Lung Cancer Example

Xilio’s technology unleashes the anti-tumor efficacy of immunotherapy predominantly at the tumor.
Xilio’s product candidates are designed to preferentially bind their targets in tumors while minimizing activity in healthy non-tumor tissues.
By utilizing therapies created by Xilio’s technology, a highly efficacious dose of the therapy may be administered with a low risk of side effects, potentially allowing more patients to benefit from immunotherapy treatment vs. non-tumor-activated options.