Our Approach

Unleashing the full potential of immuno-oncology therapies

Immuno-oncology (I-O) 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.

Leveraging our clinically-validated masking technology and capabilities, Xilio is developing I-O therapies designed to selectively activate within the tumor microenvironment to achieve durable efficacy without the severe side effects associated with systemically active I-O agents.

  • Our integrated biology and protein engineering approach enables us to design and develop highly potent, masked biologics that remain masked (or inactive) until they reach the tumor microenvironment, where they are unmasked (or activated) by tumor-specific matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) and other tumor-specific proteases.
  • By leveraging tumor-selective activation, Xilio’s molecules are designed to achieve durable efficacy without the severe side effects associated with systemically active I-O agents.
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Systemically Active
I-O Therapies

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’s Tumor-Selective,
Masked I-O Therapies

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 molecules are designed to remain masked (or inactive) until they reach the tumor microenvironment, where they are unmasked (or activated) by tumor-specific matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) and other tumor-specific proteases.
Xilio’s product candidates are designed to preferentially bind their targets in tumors while minimizing activity in healthy non-tumor tissues.
By leveraging tumor-selective activation, Xilio’s molecules are designed to achieve durable efficacy without the severe side effects associated with systemically active
I-O agents.