Agenus and Noetik Team Up to Develop AI-Enabled Predictive Biomarkers for Immuno-Oncology Combination Therapy

Agenus Inc. and Noetik have entered into a research collaboration aimed at developing AI-enabled predictive biomarkers for their lead clinical-stage immuno-oncology combination therapy—botensilimab (BOT) and balstilimab (BAL). The partnership leverages Noetik’s advanced virtual cell foundation models and large-scale, multimodal tumor data to gain deeper insights into tumor immunology and identify patients most likely to benefit from the BOT/BAL treatment. Noetik’s proprietary OCTO virtual cell model, with 1.5 billion parameters, is trained on one of the world's largest datasets of spatial proteomics, spatial transcriptomics, histopathology, DNA genotyping, and clinical metadata. This unique dataset, derived from nearly 200 million tumor and immune cells from thousands of patients with various cancers, provides a comprehensive systems-level view of the tumor microenvironment. Integrating these data types, Noetik’s models can simulate tumor behavior and identify specific patterns that correlate with therapeutic response, thereby enhancing the precision of Agenus’s clinical trials and drug development. Botensilimab, a multifunctional Fc-enhanced anti-CTLA-4 antibody, and balstilimab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, have been evaluated in over 1,200 patients across nine tumor types, including colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and sarcomas. The combination therapy has demonstrated significant clinical responses, particularly in "cold" tumors, which are typically resistant to conventional immunotherapies. Data from these trials, combined with Noetik’s AI models, are expected to generate actionable biomarkers that can predict treatment success and help stratify patient groups for future studies. Dr. Ron Alfa, CEO & Co-Founder of Noetik, emphasized the importance of this collaboration in enhancing clinical outcomes. He stated, “Enhancing clinical efficacy is the ultimate goal in developing new medicines. Our virtual cell foundation models, trained on extensive human patient data, are uniquely positioned to uncover biomarkers that can significantly improve patient response and trial outcomes.” Agenus, founded in 1994, has a strong commitment to transforming cancer care through scientific innovation. The company's portfolio includes a variety of immunological agents, including antibody therapies, adoptive cell therapies, and adjuvants. Agenus’s CEO, Dr. Garo Armen, highlighted the potential of AI in precision medicine, saying, “This collaboration with Noetik is a pivotal step towards more precise and effective cancer treatments. By combining our extensive clinical dataset with Noetik’s cutting-edge AI models, we can accelerate the identification of predictive biomarkers and ultimately deliver better outcomes for patients with limited treatment options.” The collaboration between Agenus and Noetik aligns with a broader trend in oncology towards model-driven trial design and AI-enabled precision medicine. This approach is gaining traction and support from regulatory bodies, including the FDA, which is keen on advancing more equitable and effective cancer care. By applying machine learning to real patient data, the goal is to speed up the development of personalized treatments and improve access to therapies for patients who need them most. Noetik, based in San Francisco, is an AI-native biotechnology company founded by experts from Recursion Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. The company’s platforms, OCTO and Perturb-map, are designed to identify therapeutic targets with high precision by simulating human cell behavior. Agenus, headquartered in Lexington, Massachusetts, has robust end-to-end development capabilities and a global clinical operations footprint, making it well-suited to capitalize on the insights generated from this collaboration. Industry insiders view this partnership as a promising step towards more personalized and effective cancer treatments. The integration of AI with clinical data could not only improve trial outcomes but also pave the way for more targeted therapies, potentially reducing side effects and increasing patient survival rates. Agenus’s strong reputation in immuno-oncology innovation and Noetik’s advanced AI capabilities position this collaboration as a significant advancement in the field.