Our peptide-drug conjugate, “Mactide-V”, reprograms tumor-promoting macrophages, transforming them into tumor-fighting macrophages and stimulating an immune response.
In murine models, Mactide-V treatment slowed primary tumor growth, prevented lung metastases, and increased phagocytic/antigen-presenting macrophages, natural killer (NK) cells, and cytotoxic T lymphocytes within the tumor. It demonstrated a more potent antitumor effect than anti-PD-1 alone, without causing liver or kidney toxicity or systemic inflammation. Furthermore, Mactide can be administered orally.
In the proof-of-concept project, we will advance the preclinical validation of Mactide-V in breast cancer in mice and evaluate its clinical potential using patient samples.