LIfT BioSciences has introduced Immunomodulatory Alpha Neutrophils (IMANs), a groundbreaking class of immunotherapy aimed at targeting solid tumors through a combination of direct cytotoxicity and immunomodulatory effects.

The company showcased preclinical data on IMANs during the ISCT 2025 Annual Meeting held in New Orleans from May 7 to May 10, 2025.

Mark A. Exley, Chief Scientific Officer of LIfT BioSciences, led a presentation titled 'IMANS: A Transformative Solution for Overcoming Challenges of Solid Tumour Immunotherapy and Rejuvenating Innate Immunity,' highlighting the potential of IMANs to address limitations of existing therapies.

The studies presented indicated that IMANs can infiltrate tumors for over 21 days and recruit natural killer (NK) cells, suggesting a potential for long-lasting immunity against cancer.

In both in vitro and in vivo studies, IMANs were shown to convert 'cold' tumors into 'hot' tumors, thereby enhancing systemic anti-cancer immunity through cytokine secretion and increased activation of CD8+ T cells.

The data also demonstrated that IMANs effectively penetrate various solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer, bladder, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers, exhibiting strong anti-cancer properties.

CEO Alex Blyth emphasized the significance of a scalable, GMP-compliant manufacturing process for producing high-quality IMANs, which could lead to more effective treatment options for resistant tumors.

LIfT BioSciences is actively developing a portfolio of engineered IMAN therapies targeting a range of solid tumors, leveraging their patented N-LIfT platform.

Unlike traditional therapies that primarily focus on adaptive immunity, IMANs address the immunosuppressive environments of tumors, offering a more comprehensive treatment approach.

The research also revealed that IMANs lead to significant increases in CD8+ T cell activation markers and sustained NK cell survival in co-culture experiments.