Clinical development strategy

• Following the clinical success of the first wave of checkpoint inhibitors, what will move the needle again in terms of combinations in I-O?
• Rational combination therapy development: which modalities/approaches will be involved, and how should trials be designed
• Analysis of the latest combination therapy data – prospects of specific modalities in combinations with chemo and with other I-O modalities? (e.g., adjuvant and neoadjuvant/CI combinations) Harnessing increased biological understanding and precision medicine for combination therapy decision-making.

Comparing and analyzing the preclinical and clinical data generated to date for key emerging modalities to provide both pointers and address remaining obstacles to success in solid tumours

• Next gen checkpoint inhibitors.
• Bispecific antibodies.
• CAR-T/TCR and NK cell therapy: progress in solid tumors. Bringing the autologous vs allogeneic debate to the clinic.
• Antibody drug conjugates: next targets.
• Oncolytyic virus therapies: what can be determined from clinical data to date.
• Cancer vaccines (including dendritic cell vaccines).
• Next gen cytokines.

Learning more about the mechanisms of adverse reactions and how to deal with them

• Understanding immune system-related safety issues, such as cytokine storms. Progress in identifying biomarkers to predict them.
• Defining the mechanisms of action of novel I-O therapies – driving their discovery earlier in R&D.
• Limiting off-target effects, particularly in solid tumors.
• Identifing an optimal therapeutic window for therapeutics in order to minimize toxicity.