Immuno-Oncology

Our Approach

We focus on the development of multifunctional modality platforms that enable simultaneous stimulation of multiple steps in the cancer immune cycle (Fig. 1). We are actively forming strategic alliances with world-leading research institutes and companies in the immuno-oncology field and have successfully built a robust and competitive pipeline (Fig. 2). We are also strengthening collaboration within Astellas to jointly address next generation immuno-oncology therapeutics based on our deep understanding of the tumor microenvironment.

Please click here to learn more about Astellas’ Primary Focus in Immuno-Oncology.

Fig.1 Cancer Immunity Cycle and Our Programs
 

Cancer immunity cycle and Our programs

 

Fig.2 Immuno-Oncology Pipeline
 

Immuno-Oncology Pipeline

 

Publications

Effect of anti-claudin 18.2 monoclonal antibody zolbetuximab alone or combined with chemotherapy or programmed cell death-1 blockade in syngeneic and xenograft gastric cancer models
Nishibata T, Weng J, Omori K, Sato Y, Nakazawa T, Suzuki T, Yamada T, Nakajo I, Kinugasa F, Türeci Ö, Şahin U, Yoshida T
J Pharmacol Sci. 2024 Jul;155(3):84-93. doi: 10.1016/j.jphs.2024.04.004.

Blockade of EP4 by ASP7657 Modulates Myeloid Cell Differentiation In Vivo and Enhances the Antitumor Effect of Radiotherapy
Nishibata T, Amino N, Tanaka-Kado R, Tsujimoto S, Kawashima T, Konagai S, Suzuki T, Takeuchi M
Biomed Res Int. 2023 Nov 28;2023:7133726. doi: 10.1155/2023/7133726.

Anti-tumor effect of antibody drug conjugate ASP1235 targeting Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 with venetoclax plus azacitidine in an acute myeloid leukemia xenograft mouse model
Tsuzuki H, Kawase T, Nakazawa T, Mori M, Yoshida T
Oncotarget. 2022 Dec 20:13:1359-1368. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.28331.

IL-7 coupled with IL-12 increases intratumoral T cell clonality, leading to complete regression of non-immunogenic tumors
Tasaki M, Yamashita M, Arai Y, Nakamura T, Nakao S.
Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2021 Dec;70(12):3557-3571. doi: 10.1007/s00262-021-02947-y. 

Characterization of ASP8374, a fully-human, antagonistic anti-TIGIT monoclonal antibody
Shirasuna K, Koelsch G, Seidel-Dugan C, Salmeron A, Steiner P, Winston WM, Brodkin HR, Nirschl CJ, Abbott S, Kinugasa F, Sugahara S, Ohori M, Takeuchi M, Hicklin DJ, Yoshida T. 
Cancer Treat Res Commun. 2021;28:100433. doi: 10.1016/j.ctarc.2021.100433.

Oncolytic vaccinia virus induces a novel phenotype of CD8+ effector T cells characterized by high ICOS expression
Yamashita M, Tasaki M, Murakami R, Arai Y, Nakamura T, Nakao S.
Mol Ther Oncolytics. 2021 Feb 4;20:422-432. doi: 10.1016/j.omto.2021.01.016.

Intratumoral expression of IL-7 and IL-12 using an oncolytic virus increases systemic sensitivity to immune checkpoint blockade 
Nakao S, Arai Y, Tasaki M, Yamashita M, Murakami R, Kawase T, Amino N, Nakatake M, Kurosaki H, Mori M, Takeuchi M, Nakamura T.
Sci Transl Med. 2020 Jan 15;12(526):eaax7992. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aax7992.
 

Press Releases

Elpiscience and Astellas Enter into Research Collaboration and License Agreement for Novel Bispecific Macrophage Engager
https://www.astellas.com/en/news/28816

Astellas Establishes Open Innovation Hub for Tumor Microenvironment Research with Cutting-Edge Spatial Biology, in Mitsui Fudosan’s “MITSUI LINK-Lab KASHIWA-NO-HA 1”
https://www.astellas.com/en/news/28106

Astellas and Sutro Biopharma Announce Worldwide Strategic Collaboration to Advance Novel Immunostimulatory Antibody-Drug Conjugates (iADCs) 
https://www.astellas.com/en/news/25916

CytomX Therapeutics and Astellas Announce Strategic Collaboration to Develop Probody® T-Cell Engaging Bispecific Therapies for Treatment of Cancer
https://www.astellas.com/en/news/22276

KaliVir Immunotherapeutics and Astellas Enter Worldwide Exclusive Licensing Agreement for Development and Commercialization of VET2-L2 Novel Oncolytic Virus
https://www.astellas.com/en/news/16246
 

Career & Contact