CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MAIA Biotechnology, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the development of targeted, first-in-class oncology drugs, today announced that company management is presenting at the following virtual investor conferences:

• Keiretsu Midwest Angel Forum: March 23-25, 2021
  • Keiretsu Forum is a global investment community of accredited private equity angel investors, venture capitalists and corporate/institutional investors.

• MedInvest Spring 2021 Oncology Investor Conference: March 29 - April 2, 2021
  • MedInvest Spring is sponsored by the National Foundation for Cancer Research and is a well-known event for cancer related companies seeking investment.

During these conferences, MAIA will present an overview of the company including several recent and upcoming milestones that will advance the company and its pipeline. In February 2021, MAIA entered into a clinical supply agreement with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to evaluate its lead program, THIO (aka 6-thio-dG), followed by the PD-1 inhibitor Libtayo^® (cemiplimab), in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in second-line or later advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who have progressed following treatment with standard-of-care regimen that includes a checkpoint inhibitor. Libtayo was approved by the US FDA to treat first-line advanced NSCLC in February 2021.

This clinical trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of four dose levels of THIO, the only telomere-by-telomerase targeting agent in development for the treatment of cancer, followed by Libtayo. The lead-in portion of the study will assess the safety and immunogenic effects of each of the THIO doses and overall response rate (ORR) as the basis for potentially expanding individual patient cohorts and evaluation in other cancer types. The Phase 1/2 clinical trial is expected to begin enrolling patients in 2021.

The presentations made by MAIA at Keiretsu and MedInvest will be available to registered conference attendees.

About THIO

THIO (aka 6-thio-dG, 6-thio-2’-deoxyguanosine) is a first-in-class small molecule that is the only telomere-by-telomerase targeting agent currently in development. THIO selectively kills cancer cells by modifying telomeric DNA structure and function utilizing telomerase. Telomerase is present in >85% of human cancers and contributes significantly to the proliferation and reproductive immortality of cancer cells. THIO’s activity was shown to be cancer-specific in tumor types with active telomerase. THIO is recognized by telomerase and incorporated into telomeres selectively in cancer cells. Once incorporated, it compromises the telomere structure and function, leading to ‘uncapping’ of the chromosome ends and thus resulting in rapid tumor cell death. Low doses of THIO, followed by anti-PD-L1 or anti-PD1 therapy, completely eliminated advanced tumors in preclinical models and produced cancer cell specific immune memory, where the immune system continued to be active against the cancer cells after extended periods of time, with no additional treatment. These results demonstrate how the THIO-produced telomere stress increases innate sensing and adaptive anti-tumor immunity, which provides a strong rationale for sequentially combining telomere-targeted therapy with immunotherapy. THIO is investigational and has not been approved for any use by regulatory authorities.

About MAIA Biotechnology, Inc.

MAIA Biotechnology, Inc. is focused on the development and commercialization of targeted, first-in-class drugs with novel mechanisms of action that are intended to meaningfully improve and extend the lives of people with cancer. Drug candidates include (i) THIO, a first-in-class telomere-by-telomerase targeting agent in clinical development for the treatment of telomerase positive cancer cells; (ii) The FKBP52 preclinical program is evaluating the FKBP52 co-chaperone as a therapeutic target for prostate cancer and breast cancer; two compound families have been identified with a potentially novel mode of action targeting androgen receptor (AR) and direct FKBP52 co-chaperone inhibition, that are important in prostate and breast cancers. MAIA has entered into a clinical supply agreement with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals to evaluate THIO followed by the PD-1 inhibitor Libtayo^® (cemiplimab), in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in second-line or later advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who have progressed following treatment with standard-of-care regimen that includes a checkpoint inhibitor. For more information, please visit www.maiabiotech.com.

Forward Looking Statements

MAIA cautions that all statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this press release, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels or activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those anticipated by such statements. The use of words such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “future,” “potential,” or “continue,” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that statements are not forward-looking. For example, all statements we make regarding (i) the initiation, timing, cost, progress and results of our preclinical and clinical studies and our research and development programs, (ii) our ability to advance product candidates into, and successfully complete, clinical studies, (iii) the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, (iv) our ability to develop, manufacture and commercialize our product candidates and to improve the manufacturing process, (v) the rate and degree of market acceptance of our product candidates, (vi) the size and growth potential of the markets for our product candidates and our ability to serve those markets, and (vii) our expectations regarding our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our product candidates, are forward looking. All forward-looking statements are based on current estimates, assumptions and expectations by our management that, although we believe to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain. Any forward-looking statement expressing an expectation or belief as to future events is expressed in good faith and believed to be reasonable at the time such forward-looking statement is made. However, these statements are not guarantees of future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors beyond our control that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. In this release, unless the context requires otherwise, “MAIA,” “Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refers to MAIA Biotechnology, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

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