INOVIQ (ASX:IIQ) has reported promising preclinical results for its CAR-NK-exosome therapy, confirming rapid and potent tumour-killing activity in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells.
The findings, validated at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, mark a significant milestone in the company’s efforts to develop next-generation, cell-free cancer treatments.
The study demonstrated that INOVIQ’s CAR-NK-exosomes, engineered vesicles derived from CAR-modified natural killer (NK) cells, eliminated more than 90 per cent of TNBC cells within just 10 hours of treatment. In comparison, untreated cells and those exposed to non-CAR-NK exosomes showed minimal tumour cell death.
Professor Phillip Darcy, Co-leader of the Cancer Immunology Program at Peter Mac and a member of INOVIQ’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Board, said the results highlighted the therapeutic potential of CAR exosomes.
“CAR-exosomes represent a next-generation, cell-free therapeutic with potential safety and efficacy advantages over autologous cell therapies for the treatment of solid tumours,” he said. “We are excited by the opportunity to collaborate with INOVIQ to evaluate their effect in animal models.”
INOVIQ’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Leearne Hinch, described the results as a foundation for advancing the program.
“Based on these promising in vitro results, INOVIQ will now progress to in vivo studies to evaluate efficacy in animal models of TNBC. Successful completion of these preclinical studies will enable us to advance CAR-NK-exosome therapy to IND-enabling studies and further clinical development,” Dr Hinch said<.
The company plans to commence in vivo trials in mouse models of TNBC in the fourth quarter of 2025, aiming to confirm therapeutic efficacy in living systems before moving towards regulatory submissions.
INOVIQ is positioning its CAR-NK-exosome platform as a safer, more scalable alternative to autologous CAR-T therapies, which can be limited by toxicity, manufacturing complexity, and reduced effectiveness in solid tumours. By contrast, exosome-based therapies could offer improved tumour penetration, reduced side effects, and broader accessibility.
The results represent a validation of INOVIQ’s exosome technology and a step forward in the development of novel treatments for aggressive cancers like TNBC, where effective options remain limited.