CHICAGO, June 18, 2026
MAIA Biotechnology, Inc. announced that Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Georgia’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been activated as the third U.S. clinical site in the Phase 2 THIO-101 expansion trial and is now enrolling patients. The study is evaluating ateganosine (THIO), the company’s first-in-class telomere-targeting agent, followed by cemiplimab (Libtayo®) as a third-line (3L) treatment for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have progressed after checkpoint inhibitor therapy and chemotherapy. The expansion strengthens patient access to the ongoing multicenter trial while supporting the development of a novel immuno-oncology strategy for treatment-resistant lung cancer.
Winship Activation Expands U.S. Phase 2 Enrollment
MAIA Biotechnology selected Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University because of its nationally recognized thoracic oncology research program and leadership in cancer innovation. The trial at Winship will be led by Ticiana Leal, M.D., Professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. According to the company, Georgia records more than 7,300 new lung cancer cases annually, highlighting the need for innovative therapies for advanced-stage patients who currently have no FDA-approved third-line treatment options. The THIO-101 expansion aims to broaden patient enrollment while evaluating the clinical benefit of ateganosine in a population with significant unmet medical need.
Ateganosine Targets Telomeres to Enhance Immunotherapy Response
Ateganosine (THIO) is an investigational telomere-targeting therapy designed to selectively damage telomerase-positive cancer cells by inducing telomeric DNA damage, triggering cancer cell death while activating both innate (cGAS/STING) and adaptive T-cell immune responses. The ongoing Phase 2 THIO-101 trial is evaluating low-dose ateganosine followed by cemiplimab to determine whether this sequence can restore or enhance immune responses in patients whose tumors have become resistant to prior checkpoint inhibitors. The study’s primary endpoint is Overall Response Rate (ORR), with additional assessments focused on safety, tolerability, and clinical efficacy. Earlier portions of the trial have shown encouraging safety and survival exceeding two years in some heavily pretreated patients, supporting continued expansion of the program.
Clinical Development Continues for First-in-Class Immuno-Oncology Candidate
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MAIA Biotechnology continues advancing ateganosine as a potential first-in-class immuno-oncology therapy targeting telomerase-positive cancers. The activation of Winship represents another milestone in expanding the THIO-101 Phase 2 clinical program, which seeks to improve treatment outcomes for patients with advanced NSCLC who have exhausted existing therapies. If successful, the study could establish a new treatment approach that combines telomere targeting with immune checkpoint inhibition to overcome treatment resistance, addressing one of the largest unmet needs in advanced lung cancer.
Source: MAIA Biotechnology, press release
