The Future of Immuno-Oncology | Ep. 655

What Comes After Checkpoints?

Hello Avatar! Welcome back for another week of biotech analysis. Today is Sunday, which means this is our Building Biotech newsletter that is focused on discussing biopharma strategy topics. In today’s newsletter, we’re diving deep into immuno-oncology (IO), a field that has already reshaped cancer treatment and continues to push scientific boundaries. We’ll walk through the eight core classes of IO therapies, from checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cells to emerging platforms like oncolytic viruses and cancer vaccines. For each modality, we’ll break down the underlying cell types, mechanisms of action, clinical progress, and where the next wave of innovation is likely to come from. Along the way, we’ll include visual summaries, highlight the leaders in the space, and discuss how combinations, biomarkers, and expansion into non-cancer indications are setting the stage for the next decade of immune-based medicine.

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Enough shilling for the day, lots to cover this week, let's get started!

Immuno-oncology (IO) has transformed the landscape of cancer therapy by harnessing the body’s immune system to selectively target and eliminate malignant cells.

Since the approval of the first immune checkpoint inhibitor in 2011, IO has rapidly expanded across tumor types and now represents one of the most active and diverse areas of oncology drug development. Unlike traditional therapies that directly attack tumors, IO leverages the innate and adaptive immune arms, often with long-lasting effects and the potential for durable remission.

Yet, despite its successes, challenges remain - many tumors remain unresponsive, resistance mechanisms are emerging, and biomarkers for patient selection are still evolving.

Today, we explore the eight core classes of immuno-oncology therapies, from checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cells to cancer vaccines and oncolytic viruses.