Overview

• University of Michigan researchers identified the balance of STAT3 and STAT5 in dendritic cells as a key factor in tumor response to immune checkpoint therapy.
• New molecules, SD-36 and SD-2301, were engineered to degrade STAT3, enhancing dendritic cell function and T cell activation.
• Preclinical studies demonstrated the efficacy of STAT3 degraders in treating large, advanced, and checkpoint-resistant tumors across skin, ovarian, breast, lung, and colon cancer models.
• The STAT3 degradation approach leverages the body's protein degradation machinery, addressing the long-standing challenge of targeting 'undruggable' proteins.
• The research team is preparing clinical trials to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of these molecules in human cancer patients.