INOVIQ (ASX:IIQ) has reported preclinical evidence supporting the potential of its chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) exosome technology as a next-generation cancer therapeutic.
In a recently completed in vivo study, the company’s EGFR-targeted CAR-natural killer extracellular vesicle (CAR-NK-EV) candidate demonstrated potent anti-tumour activity, excellent tolerability, and improved targeting specificity in a mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
The study provides proof-of-concept data for INOVIQ’s proprietary CAR-EV platform. Conducted by contract research organisation GemPharmatech, the study evaluated efficacy, safety, and biodistribution of the CAR-NK-EV therapy compared with unmodified NK-derived extracellular vesicles and vehicle controls.
Over a 28-day treatment period, bioluminescence imaging revealed that mice treated with CAR-NK-EVs experienced a 61.5 per cent reduction in tumour burden, more than double the inhibition achieved with unmodified NK-EVs. Survival outcomes further reinforced the therapeutic benefit: all animals receiving the CAR-NK-EV treatment survived throughout the study period, whereas survival rates were lower in the comparator groups.
The therapy was well tolerated. Treated animals maintained stable body weight, and no observable adverse effects were reported, supporting a favourable preliminary safety profile suitable for repeat dosing. Biodistribution analysis also showed that CAR-NK-EVs accumulated less in the liver than unmodified vesicles, indicating reduced non-specific uptake and enhanced tumour-targeting precision.
According to Chief Scientific Officer Professor Greg Rice, the findings represent a significant validation of the company’s approach. He noted that the data provide robust evidence that CAR-NK-EVs can selectively target EGFR-positive TNBC, supporting continued preclinical development focused on dose optimisation, safety, and scalable manufacturing in preparation for clinical translation.
Chief Executive Officer Dr Leearne Hinch emphasised the broader implications of the results, describing them as a validation of INOVIQ’s CAR-EV platform as a whole. She highlighted the combination of potent anti-tumour activity, strong safety signals, precision targeting, and manufacturing scalability as key differentiators that position CAR-EVs as a potential next-generation immunotherapy for solid tumours. The company expects further preclinical data readouts in 2026, with first-in-human studies targeted for 2028.