On November 6, 2026 HCW Biologics Inc. (the "Company" or "HCW Biologics") (NASDAQ: HCWB), a U.S.-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company and leading developer in novel multi-functional fusion immunotherapeutics, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, cancer, and senescence-associated dysplasia, reported the Company’s data update for HCW11-040 was selected as one of the Top 150 Abstracts by the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) ("SITC"), out of 1,200 abstract submissions, for its scientific rigor, novelty, clarity, and potential impact on cancer immunotherapy. The Company will present the data update at the 41st Annual Meeting of SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper), taking place from November 4 – 8, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona.
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The Poster (Abstract #394), entitled, "A tetravalent, pembrolizumab-based fusion immunotherapeutic protein targeting exhausted T cells for expansion and activation," will be presented during the Poster Session at the Poster Hall from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. MT and 6 – 8:10 p.m. MT, on Saturday, November 7.
HCW11-040 is a novel, first-in-class, fusion immunotherapeutic that is designed to block the checkpoint receptors and engage the costimulatory receptors, analogous to taking the foot off the brake and simultaneously hitting the gas. In preclinical studies, the blocking activity of PD1-PDL1 interaction demonstrated by HCW11-040 was comparable to pembrolizumab, a generic form of Keytruda. HCW11-040 outperformed pembrolizumab in rejuvenating exhausted T cells against human cancer cells. HCW11-050, the mouse homologue of HCW11-040, was also shown to exhibit better anti-solid-tumor activities against cold tumors than immune checkpoint inhibitors in various relevant tumor efficacy preclinical models. It rejuvenated exhausted T cells and promoted T-cell infiltration into tumors to support cold-to-hot tumor conversion. Thus, HCW11-040 represents a novel cancer immunotherapeutic by combining immune checkpoint blockade with potent cytokine-mediated immune activation, enhancing CD8+ T-cell migration to tumors, and reducing immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment.
KEYTRUDA is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. and the company is not affiliated with HCWB.
(Press release, HCW Biologics, NOV 6, 2026, View Source [SID1234674402])