European Biotechs Advance Next-Generation Immunotherapy Targets Beyond PD-1/PD-L1
European biotechs are exploring new immunotherapy targets beyond PD-1/PD-L1, including BTLA, TIGIT, and SLAMF6. Lund University researchers discovered a SLAMF6-mediated immune evasion mechanism. BioNTech and GenMab are advancing next-generation ICIs and bispecific antibodies through strategic partnerships.
European biotech companies are exploring new therapeutic targets on T-cells to overcome drug resistance and improve clinical outcomes in cancer. Researchers have identified several new targets that could overcome resistance and restore T-cell immune responses, including BTLA, B7-H3, CD112R, GITR, ICOS, IDO-1, NKG2A, TIGIT, TIM-3, and VISTA. These findings have paved the way for potential new treatments to be used as monotherapies or, more likely, in combination with existing immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Researchers at Lund University, Sweden, have discovered a new immune evasion mechanism regulated by signaling lymphocytic activation molecule 6 (SLAMF6, also known as Ly108). SLAMF6 receptors are primarily expressed on progenitor or stem-like exhausted T cells and show both activating and inhibitory functions, which could be effectively utilized in immunotherapy. Preliminary data with SLAMF6-targeting monoclonal antibodies have demonstrated improvements in the functional integrity of T cells in vivo and in mouse models.
Several European biotechs are evaluating next-generation ICIs that target a variety of pathways. BioNTech (Germany) is developing a range of immunomodulators, including gotistobart (optimised Fc anti-CTLA4), pumitamig (anti PD-L1/anti VEGF A), BNT314 (anti 4-1BB/anti-EpCAM), BNT317 (anti-PD-1/CD39), and BNT3213 (anti-TIGHT/OVRIG) bi-specific antibodies. It is also evaluating HER2, TROP2, B7H3, HER3, EGFRxHER3, and ADCs as combination partners for cancer therapies. BioNTech has established relationships with multiple pharmaceutical collaborators, including BMS, Duality Biologics, Fosun Pharma, Genentech, Genmab, MediLink, OncoC4, Pfizer, and Regeneron.
GenMab (Denmark), established in 1999, has developed a broad range of antibody-based therapeutic formats, including bispecific antibodies, ADCs, immune-modulating antibodies, and other next-generation modalities. It has a strategic focus on novel drug combinations, including ICIs with immunomodulators such as TIGIT and LAG-3. In 2025, it terminated development of certain programs.
Leading commercial ICI products include Keytruda (pembrolizumab), Opdivo (nivolumab), Tecentriq (atezolizumab), and Imfinzi (durvalumab), which together represent the majority share of global ICI revenues. Leading pharma firms continue to expand their oncology pipelines through strategic collaborations and acquisitions. For example, BioNTech acquired Biotheus to gain full global rights to BNT327/PM8002 (PD-L1 × VEGF-A bispecific) and established a global strategic partnership with BMS to co-develop and co-commercialize BNT327. In October 2024, AbbVie and EvolveImmune Therapeutics signed a collaboration and option-to-license agreement to develop multispecific T cell-engaging antibodies in oncology.