Factor Bioscience Reveals New Macrophage Attack on Ovarian Cancer

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – April 30, 2026 – In a significant development for oncology, Factor Bioscience today announced it will present groundbreaking pre-clinical data on a novel cell therapy for solid tumors. The Cambridge-based biotechnology firm will unveil findings at the upcoming International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT) 2026 Annual Meeting in Dublin, showcasing how its engineered immune cells, known as FACT-112, demonstrated potent anti-tumor activity in models of ovarian cancer.

The therapy utilizes iPSC-derived macrophages (iMacrophages) engineered to express Interleukin-12 (IL-12), a powerful immune-stimulating molecule. This approach represents a new frontier in cancer immunotherapy, aiming to overcome the defenses of notoriously difficult-to-treat solid tumors.

"The striking anti-tumor activity of our engineered iMacrophages, demonstrated in vivo, represents a major milestone for the company," said Dr. Matt Angel, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Factor Bioscience, in a statement. The announcement signals a potential paradigm shift, moving beyond conventional immunotherapies to harness a different part of the body's immune arsenal.

A New Strategy for a Formidable Foe

Ovarian cancer remains one of the most lethal gynecologic cancers, largely because it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage and develops resistance to standard treatments. The current standard of care typically involves aggressive surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy. While effective initially, many patients see their cancer return, often in a more aggressive, platinum-resistant form.

For these patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC), therapeutic options are limited and offer only modest benefits. The five-year survival rate for metastatic ovarian cancer is grim, highlighting a desperate unmet medical need for innovative treatments that can tackle the disease's complex biology.

A key reason solid tumors like ovarian cancer are so difficult to treat is their ability to create an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). This TME acts as a shield, deactivating the body's natural immune responders and rendering many therapies, including some immunotherapies, ineffective.

Reprogramming the Battlefield with Engineered Macrophages

Factor Bioscience's FACT-112 tackles this challenge head-on by re-engineering the very immune cells that tumors often corrupt. Macrophages are a type of white blood cell that can either fight invaders (M1 phenotype) or promote healing and suppress inflammation (M2 phenotype). Tumors are known to hijack macrophages, converting them into the M2-like state, where they help the tumor grow and hide from the immune system.

FACT-112 uses macrophages derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), creating a uniform and scalable supply. These cells are then genetically engineered using Factor's proprietary mRNA platform to become mobile factories for IL-12. When introduced into the body, these engineered iMacrophages are designed to traffic to the tumor site. Once there, they release IL-12 directly into the tumor microenvironment.

IL-12 is a potent cytokine known for its ability to orchestrate a powerful anti-tumor immune response, primarily by activating T-cells and Natural Killer (NK) cells. However, direct systemic administration of IL-12 has been plagued by severe toxicity. By using macrophages as a targeted delivery vehicle, FACT-112 aims to concentrate IL-12's power where it's needed most, minimizing side effects while maximizing efficacy.

The upcoming presentation in Dublin will provide the first public look at the in vivo evidence supporting this strategy. Ian Hay, Factor's Associate Director of Cell Engineering, who will deliver the presentation, explained the mechanism. "These data illustrate the intrinsic capacity of IL12-expressing iMacrophages to repolarize the immunosuppressive ovarian tumor microenvironment and elicit immune-mediated tumor rejection," he stated. "We are excited about the potential to develop FACT-112 into a safe, effective option to patients with solid tumors."

Validating a Cutting-Edge Gene-Editing Platform

The success of FACT-112 is not just a win for a single therapeutic candidate; it serves as a powerful validation of Factor Bioscience's underlying technology. Founded in 2011, the private company has built its strategy around a pioneering mRNA-based gene-editing platform. This technology avoids the use of viruses or DNA-based vectors, which can carry risks of unwanted genetic integration.

By using messenger RNA to deliver gene-editing tools, the company can make precise changes to cells with high efficiency and a more favorable safety profile. This platform is the foundation for Factor's entire pipeline, which aims to develop allogeneic, or "off-the-shelf," cell therapies. The use of iPSCs, which can be expanded and differentiated indefinitely, allows for the creation of standardized, readily available treatments, a significant logistical and cost advantage over patient-specific autologous therapies.

The company has built an extensive patent portfolio to protect its innovations and has demonstrated a willingness to defend its intellectual property, underscoring the perceived value of its platform in the highly competitive cell and gene therapy space.

The Road Ahead in Cancer Immunotherapy

The emergence of therapies like FACT-112 signals a broader evolution in immunotherapy. While the first wave of immuno-oncology was dominated by T-cell-centric approaches like CAR-T therapy, researchers are increasingly turning their attention to the innate immune system. This includes developing CAR-Macrophages (CAR-M) and other engineered innate immune cells to overcome the limitations of T-cell therapies, especially in solid tumors.

The data to be presented at the ISCT meeting, titled "iPSC-Derived Macrophages Engineered to Express IL-12 Modulate the Tumor Microenvironment and Support T Cell Lysis of Ovarian Cancer Models," will be closely watched by scientists, clinicians, and investors. It represents a critical step in translating a sophisticated scientific concept into a tangible therapeutic strategy.

While the path from pre-clinical data to an approved therapy is long and challenging, the promise shown by FACT-112 provides a vital beacon of hope. For patients battling ovarian cancer and other solid tumors, this new approach of turning the body's own immune cells into precisely targeted cancer killers could one day change the landscape of treatment.