A new immune-boosting treatment for acute myeloid leukemia
Official title: Development of a Novel Immunotherapeutic for Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Funded at Cambium Oncology LLC · NIH-11247619 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project develops a new immune-focused medicine aimed at helping adults with acute myeloid leukemia whose cancer hides from the immune system.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cambium Oncology LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | June 12, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $999,997 |
| NIH project number | 4R44CA285206-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11247619 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with acute myeloid leukemia—especially those whose leukemia cells show high VIP expression or who have not responded to standard treatments—would be the most relevant future candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Children, patients with other types of leukemia, or AML patients whose tumors do not overexpress VIP are less likely to benefit from this specific therapy.
What this research studies
Researchers are creating a modified peptide drug called ANT308-Fc3 that blocks the VIP receptor some AML cells use to turn off T cells. They used computer screening and lab tests to design ANT308 and are fusing it to an antibody fragment to make it last longer in the body. The team will test the drug in animal models of AML to see if it restores T-cell activity and reduces leukemia burden. If preclinical results are promising, the work would support moving toward human testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could restore immune attack against AML cells and become a new treatment option for patients who do not benefit from current therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier VIP-receptor antagonists such as VIPhyb showed encouraging preclinical activity but had limited potency and short half-life, so this work builds on preclinical promise while aiming to improve stability and effectiveness.
Where this research is happening
-
Cambium Oncology LLC
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Altman, Gary G. — Cambium Oncology LLC
- Study coordinator: Altman, Gary G.
Related research
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A new approach aims to block how a specific leukemia subtype (CG-AML) takes up choline to feed its growth, potentially slowing or stopping the disease.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.