Frontiers in therapy - exploring the future of medicine

Viruses are likely as old as life. HIV and Influenza are highly adaptable, difficult to treat and claim millions of deaths every year. They are masters of hijacking our our cell’s machinery and getting by our defenses. Yet, every innovation viruses evolved our immune system has evolved methods to combat them. Mechanisms for cells to detect infection and interfere with virus reproduction is hard coded in our genome and evolved over eons. In this presentation I will introduce you to this billion-year-old evolutionary arms race between viruses and us. Spoiler alert: We win.

Uveal melanoma is a rare cancer resulting from the abnormal growth of melanocytes in the eye. While the primary tumor is usually managed through eye enucleation or other non-invasive treatments, metastasis occurs in 50% of patients within 1 to 5 years, most commonly spreading to the liver, but also in lungs, bones and peritoneum. Unlike cutaneous melanoma, metastatic uveal melanoma has shown limited response to immunotherapy. At iOnctura, we are developing a PI3Kδ inhibitor—an oral small molecule that has shown promising results in extending survival for these patients, who are in urgent need of more effective treatment options.

Alzheimer's is one of the world's greatest healthcare challenges. Recent scientific and clinical advances in diagnosing and treating this devasting disease hold promise to ultimately enable prevention. Active immunotherapies will play a major role towards this world-wide goal. At AC Immune, a clinical stage biotech company, our deep knowledge and cutting-edge technology platforms drive the engines of our diverse pipeline of clinical and preclinical candidates to tackle Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.