NeoPhore Press Release: AACR 2026 and AACR Cancer Discovery Article
London UK, 21 April 2026 NeoPhore, an immuno-oncology company, announces the publication in AACR Cancer Discovery of the article "Pharmacological inhibition of PMS2 induces MMR deficiency and response to immune checkpoint blockade", coincident with a Major Symposium presentation by NeoPhore co-founder Prof. Alberto Bardelli at the 2026 AACR Annual Meeting in San Diego.
The article and presentation describe the discovery and characterisation of a first-in-class inhibitor of DNA Mismatch Repair (MMR) protein PMS2.
Inhibition of PMS2 converts immune-resistant cancer cells into check-point inhibitor responsive tumour cells, thereby opening potential new therapeutic opportunities for those patients who are currently unlikely to respond to immunotherapies.
The study demonstrates that PMS2 inhibition in vitro is associated with increased tumor mutational burden (TMB), the emergence of MMR-deficient mutational patterns, and microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) features.
NeoPhore CEO Michael Shih commented “This highly collaborative endeavour between NeoPhore scientists, our academic founders, and expert partner organisations, highlights the path forward for NeoPhore’s development of novel oral small molecule MMR inhibitors with the potential to benefit cancer patients with MMR-proficient tumours who are currently ineligible for potentially transformative immunotherapy treatments.”
To view the Cancer Discovery Manuscript, please click here.
About NeoPhore Ltd.
NeoPhore, UK is focused on the discovery and development of novel small molecule therapies to treat cancer through stimulation of the immune system. Generation of cancer neoantigens in tumours can be exploited by the patients’ immune system to overcome natural defence mechanisms in cancer. The Company’s approach targets the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) pathway, which has been proven to promote neoantigen creation and subsequent immunity against numerous cancers. Using these insights, NeoPhore aims to generate next-generation immuno-oncology therapeutics to improve clinical outcomes for cancer patients. NeoPhore was spun-out of the University of Turin and PhoreMost Ltd by the CRT Pioneer Fund.
For more information, please visit www.neophore.com