Diakonos Oncology: Pioneering Immunotherapy Presentation at 2026 Conferences
Diakonos Oncology Corp., a trailblazer in clinical-stage biotechnology, is gearing up to showcase vital clinical results for its cutting-edge immunotherapy, DOC1021, at the prestigious American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting and the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting this April. As a first-in-class, patient-derived double-loaded dendritic cell investigational therapy, DOC1021 targets two of the most aggressive forms of cancer: pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma.
The AACR event, taking place from April 17-22 in San Diego, California, is set to reveal updated data from an ongoing study focusing on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Concurrently, the AAN event, occurring from April 18-22 in Chicago, Illinois, will present initial findings from the expanded access program for glioblastoma.
Jay Hartenbach, Diakonos Oncology's President and COO, emphasized the significance of sharing these data across both events, stating, "Presenting data at both of these conferences underscores the breadth and potential impact of DOC1021 across some of the most challenging cancers." He further explained that the unique mechanism of DOC1021 harnesses a patient's complete set of tumor antigens to instigate a vigorous immune response against cancer cells.
DOC1021 is engineered using dendritic cells derived from patients, incorporating both tumor lysate and amplified tumor-derived mRNA. This dual-loading technique mimics a viral infection, optimizing a comprehensive immune response geared towards eradicating cancer. Notably, this innovative treatment eliminates the need for molecular alteration or genetic engineering of immune cells, as well as preconditioning chemotherapy or high-dose interleukin-2 for administration.
Presentation Details
AACR Poster Presentation:
- - Title: Clinical and Immunologic Assessment of DOC1021 Dendritic Cell Therapy in Resectable or Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer
- - Authors: A collaboration of clinical experts.
- - Abstract/Poster Number: CT093 / Poster #24
- - Session: Phase I Clinical Trials in Progress
- - Date/Time: Monday, April 20, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM PT.
AAN Poster Presentation:
- - Title: DOC1021 Cell-based Immunotherapy in Combination with Standard Chemoradiation for Adjuvant Therapy of Glioblastoma. Early Results from an Expanded Access Protocol of a Phase I Trial.
- - Authors: A collaboration of various specialists.
- - Abstract/Poster Number: 3099 / Poster #010
- - Session: P11 Neuro-oncology Neurosurgery and Immunotherapy Trials
- - Date/Time: Wednesday, April 22, from 11:45 AM to 12:45 PM CT.
Ongoing Trials and Fast Track Designation
Currently, Diakonos Oncology is advancing two clinical trials involving DOC1021, encompassing a Phase 1 study for pancreatic cancer (NCT04157127), and a Phase 2 study for glioblastoma (NCT06805305). In an encouraging development, the company received Fast Track designation from the FDA for both programs in late 2023 and early 2024. Furthermore, the glioblastoma program was awarded Orphan Drug Designation in January 2024.
Additionally, a Phase 1/2 study targeting refractory melanoma is slated to begin soon, backed by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).
A Vision for the Future of Cancer Immunotherapy
Based in Houston, Texas, Diakonos Oncology is devoted to revolutionizing immunotherapy approaches to combat some of the deadliest forms of cancer. Their proprietary dendritic cell therapeutic platform aims to meet significant unmet medical needs, especially in late-stage and aggressive tumors. With continuous advancements and strategic partnerships, Diakonos is poised to make substantial progress in enhancing patient outcomes in oncology.
For more information about Diakonos and their groundbreaking therapies, visit
Diakonos Oncology's website.