Brenus Pharma presented new preclinical and early clinical data on STC-1010 in colorectal cancer at the American Association for Cancer Research Immuno-Oncology (AACR IO) Conference 2026 in Los Angeles (February 18–21, 2026).
The company, a clinical-stage biotech focused on in vivo “off-the-shelf” immunotherapies, showcased its findings in a poster presentation. The data support STC-1010 as a potential therapeutic option for microsatellite stable (MSS), immune-cold colorectal cancer (CRC), an area of significant unmet medical need.
STC-1010 Shows Strong Preclinical Activity in Colorectal Cancer
In a syngeneic CT26 mouse model, murine STC-1010 significantly inhibited tumor growth and extended survival by 40% compared to controls. These results highlight the potential of STC-1010 to stimulate anti-tumor immunity in MSS colorectal cancer.
Researchers observed expansion of both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in draining lymph nodes. The treatment also triggered a strong humoral immune response. Together, these findings demonstrate coordinated cellular and antibody-driven immune activation in vivo.
Dendritic Cell Activation and Immune Priming
Additional studies showed that dendritic cells efficiently capture STC-1010. Transcriptomic analysis in an ex vivo model confirmed significant upregulation of key immune pathways compared to controls.
Activated dendritic cells processed and presented STC-1010 antigens. Investigators detected STC-1010 peptides both intracellularly and at the cell surface. These cells then primed autologous CD8⁺ T cells.
The primed CD8⁺ T cells mediated robust and reproducible tumor cell killing in colorectal cancer models. Researchers observed consistent apoptosis rates across pilot and GMP production batches, reinforcing the reproducibility of the immune response.
BreAK CRC 001 Phase I/IIa Trial Update
The first-in-human BreAK CRC 001 Phase I/IIa trial (NCT06934538) is evaluating STC-1010 in patients with unresectable, metastatic, or locally advanced colorectal cancer. The study assesses safety and efficacy when STC-1010 is combined with standard-of-care treatment in the first-line setting.
Preliminary data in MSS and KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer patients show a favorable safety profile. Investigators reported no dose-limiting toxicities. The company expects complete Phase Ia safety data and exploratory efficacy results across dose cohorts in Q2 2026.
Expert Collaboration in France
The program involves collaboration with leading oncology experts in France, including:
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Pr François GHIRINGHELLI (MD, PhD), CGFL Cancer Center, Dijon
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Pr Antoine ITALIANO (MD, PhD), Bergonié Institute, Bordeaux and Gustave Roussy Institute, Villejuif
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Dr Diego TOSI (MD, PhD), ICM, Montpellier
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Pr Benoit YOU (MD, PhD), HCL, Lyon
The new data presented at AACR IO 2026 reinforce the potential of STC-1010 to address immune-cold colorectal cancer and support continued clinical development.
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