Presentation at HealthBIO event, 15 September, 2021

1. Introduction to Cancer IO
Jeroen Pouwels
HealthBIO day
Turku, 15 Sep 2021
Cancerio-office@helsinki.fi
Jeroen.Pouwels@helsinki.fi
cancerio.org

2. Immuno-oncology
https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/behind-the-science/
advancing-the-next-generation-of-immuno-oncology/
Utilizing the immune system to kill the cancer
Davies, Cancer Manag. Res., 2014

3. Immuno-oncology (IO) landscape
Increased uptake of IO drugs
Revolutionary Efficacy
The vast potential of immuno-oncology:
… But also emerging challenges:
Growing IO market
Cost of new cancer medicine Lack of biomarkers
Slow IO uptake in Finland

4. Why Cancer IO?
Facilitating IO uptake
Strategic foresight Societal discussion
Finnish IO Research
360° Outreach program
Society
Research
Healthcare
RWD to identify IO
super-responders

5. Cancer IO Partners

6. Cancer IO Office
Cancerio-office@helsinki.fi

7. Cancer IO Themes
2. IO Research 3. IO Healthcare
1. IO Society

8. 1.1. IO Ecosystem 2021
Theme 1: IO Society
360° view on IO society, IO research and IO healthcare
1.2. Strategic foresight for IO
Future scenarios, preparedness, directing the future
1.3. Communications & Societal impact
Collecting coherent and clear message to make an impact

9. Theme 1.1: IO Ecosystem 2021
https://cancerio.org/en/ecosystem/

10. Theme 1.2: Strategic Foresight for IO

11. • Signal collection
• Formulating trends
• Creating Scenarios
• Write Strategic Foresight Report (expected end of
2021)
IO trends report /
database
Scientific paper?
Interactive website
Deliverables:
Theme 1.2: Strategic Foresight for IO

12. IO360° digital outreach series:
IO360° Blog
IO360° Vlog
Social Media
Director’s letters
Webpage
www.cancerio.org FIN/ENG
Events
Previous events:
Immuunihoidot tulevat,
mutta kenelle ja milloin
Science Sebinar I
Year 2020 (1/2 years):
>10 000 views
@Cancer_IO_
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram,
LinkedIn
Tot. >1100 followers
1.3. Communications & Societal impact
Bulletin for partners

13. Two events tomorrow (16 September 2021)
https://tiedekulmamedia.helsinki.fi/fi/web/tiedekulma https://cancerio.org/en/single-cell-tumor-immunity/

14. 2.1. IO Models
3D cancer cultures with tumor immune microenvironment
2.2. IO Technology
New vision to IO through spatial transcriptomics, liquid biopsy and
matrix technology
2.3. IO Drugs
IO responses and toxicity in 3D cancer culture
Theme 2: IO Research

15. Patient-Derived Explant Models
50 – 200 mm
Maija Hollmen
Satu Mustjoki
Juha Klefström
Theme 2.1 IO Models
Haikala et al., Nature Communications, 2019
Munne et al., Nature Communications, in press
Al-Akhrass et al., Mol. Oncol., in press (collaboration with Ivaska lab)

16. Patient-Derived Explant Models
Haikala et al., Nature Communications, 2019
Theme 2.1 IO Models

17. Patient-Derived Explant Models retain immunecontexture
Untreated PDL1 Immunocult
Hu IL-1b (39)
Hu IL-1ra (25)
Hu IL-2 (38)
Hu IL-4 (52)
Hu IL-5 (33)
Hu IL-6 (19)
Hu IL-7 (74)
Hu IL-8 (54)
Hu IL-9 (77)
Hu IL-10 (56)
Hu IL-12(p70) (75)
Hu IL-13 (51)
Hu IL-15 (73)
Hu IL-17 (76)
Hu Eotaxin (43)
Hu FGF basic (44)
Hu G-CSF (57)
Hu GM-CSF (34)
Hu IFN-g (21)
Hu IP-10 (48)
Hu MCP-1(MCAF) (53)
Hu MIP-1a (55)
Hu PDGF-bb (47)
Hu MIP-1b (18)
Hu RANTES (37)
Hu TNF-a (36)
Hu VEGF (45)
0
1
2
3
Untreated PDL1 Immunocult
Hu IL-1b (39)
Hu IL-1ra (25)
Hu IL-2 (38)
Hu IL-4 (52)
Hu IL-5 (33)
Hu IL-6 (19)
Hu IL-7 (74)
Hu IL-8 (54)
Hu IL-9 (77)
Hu IL-10 (56)
Hu IL-12(p70) (75)
Hu IL-13 (51)
Hu IL-15 (73)
Hu IL-17 (76)
Hu Eotaxin (43)
Hu FGF basic (44)
Hu G-CSF (57)
Hu GM-CSF (34)
Hu IFN-g (21)
Hu IP-10 (48)
Hu MCP-1(MCAF) (53)
Hu MIP-1a (55)
Hu PDGF-bb (47)
Hu MIP-1b (18)
Hu RANTES (37)
Hu TNF-a (36)
Hu VEGF (45)
0
1
2
3
Theme 2.1 IO Models

18. • Human 3D cancer cultures with immune microenvironment
• Accessibility, logistics, distribution and storage of living 3D
cancer cultures
• Automated analysis of drug responses in 3D cancer culture
Theme 2.1 IO Models

19. • Spatial transcriptomics to accelerate IO R&D
• Next gen IO liquid biopsy
• Optimizing IO microenvironment via matrix technology
Theme 2.2 IO Technology

20. Goals:
1. Compare the suitability of different model systems for IO drug
discovery.
2. Identify detailed mechanistic insights and predictive biomarkers
for a carefully-selected small panel of IO drugs with different
modes of action (MoA).
Theme 2.3 IO Drugs

21. Theme 2.3 IO Drugs

22. 3.1. IO uptake
3.2. IO RWD
3.3. IO Clinical Trials
IO uptake in Finnish hospitals and bottlenecks
Making IO RWD transparent and actionable
Scaling up Company and Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trials
Theme 3: IO Healthcare

23. Theme 3.1: IO Uptake

24. IO uptake in Finland report
Provide understanding of the current state of the adoption and use of IO therapies in Finland and
the Nordics and factors affecting it.
• Nation-wide uptake and regional differences
• Comparison to reference countries
• Preliminary position analysis via interviews and literature surveys
First draft of the report is ready, to be published in autumn 2021.
Theme 3.1: IO Uptake

25. Theme 3.2: IO Real World Data
https://www.fda.gov/science-research/science-and-research-special-topics/real-world-evidence

26. Theme 3.2: IO Real World Data
https://www.medaffcon.fi/en/rwd-landscape-in-finland

27. 3.2.1 Scientific study with data from hospitals across Finland
• RWD study procedures: opportunities and challenges
• Identifying IO super responders
Theme 3.2: IO Real World Data
3.2.2 Database pilot: National IO registry (feasibility)

28. Aim of the study:
• To analyse the outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitor treatments (ICI treatments)
in Finland.
Primary objectives:
1. Identify the patient and disease characteristics of patients treated with ICI
2. Understand and define treatment response and super response to ICI treatments
3. Understand the outcomes of ICI treated cancer patients (survival, treatment
response, quality of life, adverse effects and symptoms)
4. Identify and describe the characteristics of super responders (patients receiving
benefits for a significant time) of ICI treatments
5. To analyse potential associations between adverse effect and symptom profiles and
treatment response
Theme 3.2.1: National IO RWD study

29. Registry holders:
• Tampere University Hospital (TAYS) / Pirkanmaa hospital district and University of
Helsinki
Principal investigator:
• Tarja Laitinen, TAYS
Research team
• Core team: Researchers from TAYS, HY, NHG and Kaiku
• Advisory team: Cancer IO Theme 3 Working Group members and interested
oncologists from participating hospitals.
Timeline:
• FINDATA application submitted in April 2021
• The data processing and analysis in winter and spring 2022.
• Manuscripts for journal articles will be finalized during 2022.
Theme 3.2.1: National IO RWD study

30. Theme 3.3: IO Clinical Trials
3.3.1 IO Finland 2020 report: Hospital Prepardness for Clinical Trials
• To describe and analyse the preparedness of Finnish hospitals for
conducting cancer clinical trials
• The report provides a comprehensive description of the research
infrastructure and environment including support services, resources and
facilities
• strategy and communication, incl. strategic plans of hospitals concerning
clinical trial activity and channels for communicating with sponsors
• incentives for conducting clinical trials at hospitals
• The report includes also recommendations by the Cancer IO consortium
to increase clinical trial activity in Finland
TAYS
OYS
KYS
HYKS
TYKS
TAYS
OYS
KYS
HYKS
TYKS
Joensuu
Lahti
Jyväskylä
Seinäjoki
Vaasa
Pori
Kotka

31. Theme 3.3: IO Clinical Trials
3.3.1 IO Finland 2020 report: Hospital Prepardness for Clinical Trials
• The report is based on the interviews of key personnel in
FICAN centers and university hospitals and heads of oncology clinics
in the 7 largest central hospitals (altogether 12 interviewees)
• The questionnaire was developed by the NHG
and Cancer IO Theme 3 working group
• Interviews were conducted by the NHG in the spring 2021
• The results are mostly reported for the university hospitals
where clinical trial activity mainly occur.
• Report will be published tomorrow (coincides with Tiedekulma event)
TAYS
OYS
KYS
HYKS
TYKS
TAYS
OYS
KYS
HYKS
TYKS
Joensuu
Lahti
Jyväskylä
Seinäjoki
Vaasa
Pori
Kotka

32. Theme 3.3: IO Clinical Trials
3.3.2 Scaling up Investigator-Initiated IO Studies
• Training for clinicians and translational scientists together with Cancer IO
CRO and other partners
• Two half-day events in the winter 2021-2022

33. THANK YOU!