• Preclinical findings highlight PLT012’s first-in-class anti-CD36 mechanism of action that reprograms immune-metabolic pathways to suppress Tregs, enhance CD8⁺ T-cell responses, and induce durable tumor control; and

• Company advancing toward first IND for PLT012

DOVER, Del. and EPALINGES, Switzerland - October 30, 2025 - Pilatus Biosciences, a biopharmaceutical company developing novel metabolic checkpoint immunotherapies for liver and gastrointestinal cancers, today announced the Company will present new preclinical data on its lead product candidate, PLT012, in a poster presentation at the upcoming Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 2025 Annual Meeting, being held November 5-9, 2025 in National Harbor, Maryland.  

“Immunometabolism is a key lever for overcoming resistance in solid tumors,” said Dr. Yi-Ru Yu, Lead Scientist at Pilatus Biosciences and presenting author. “Our preclinical results demonstrate that PLT012, a first-in-class anti-CD36 monoclonal antibody, exerts a dual mechanism of action by reprogramming immune-metabolic pathways—suppressing immunosuppressive Tregs while enhancing CD8⁺ T-cell responses in lipid-rich tumors. These combined effects have been shown to drive durable and superior anti-tumor efficacy across multiple cancer models, outperforming anti–PD-1/PD-L1 blockade and inducing long-lasting immune memory that sustains tumor control and protects against rechallenge.” Dr. Raven Lin, CEO of Pilatus Biosciences, added “Alongside a favorable GLP toxicology profile, these data support our planned Phase I study, with first patient in (FPI) targeted for Q1 2026.”  

Details of the SITC poster presentation are as follows:

Abstract Title: PLT012, a Humanized CD36-Blocking Antibody, Induces Durable Anti-Tumor Immunity via Immunometabolic Reprogrammig

Presenting Author: Yi-Ru Yu, Ph.D., Lead Scientist, Pilatus Biosciences

Date: Friday, November 7, 2025

Time: 12:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. EST

Poster Number: 1205

The abstract for this presentation will be available on SITC’s website on November 4, 2025, and the poster presentation will be available on Pilatus’ website following the meeting.

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About PLT012

PLT012 is a humanized monoclonal antibody designed to selectively block CD36-mediated lipid uptake, a key mechanism driving immunosuppression and immune exclusion within the tumor microenvironment. By targeting lipid metabolism, PLT012 exerts a unique mechanism of action: it depletes immunosuppressive cell populations, including Tregs and pro-tumor macrophages, while simultaneously enhancing anti-tumor activities of intratumoral NK cell and cytotoxic CD8+ T cell that are otherwise susceptible to lipid-induced exhaustion. In preclinical studies, PLT012 has demonstrated potent monotherapy efficacy in models of liver malignancies, with a favorable safety profile across species. Leveraging its distinct mechanism of action, PLT012 further acts as a potent sensitizer in combination with anti–PD-L1 therapies, effectively overcoming drug resistance in immune “cold” tumors and liver metastases.

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About Pilatus Biosciences

Pilatus Biosciences is a biopharmaceutical company developing metabolic checkpoint immunotherapies to address unmet medical needs in cancer and immune-related diseases. Founded in 2022 from the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, and supported by the Cancer Research Institute, Pilatus operates internationally with R&D teams in Switzerland and Taiwan. The company’s lead program, PLT012, targets CD36 to reprogram the tumor microenvironment and restore anti-tumor immunity in solid tumors.

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Contact:
info@pilatusbio.com  

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