Teclison to Spotlight Novel Liver Cancer Therapy at Key GI Symposium

PRINCETON, NJ – January 06, 2026 – Clinical-stage oncology firm Teclison, Inc. is set to take a prominent position in the gastrointestinal cancer landscape as it participates in the upcoming ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. The event, held in San Francisco on January 9th, will see company CEO and co-founder Ray Lee represent Teclison, signaling a pivotal moment for the company and its innovative approach to treating solid tumors.

For a clinical-stage company like Teclison, participation in a prestigious event like the ASCO GI Symposium is a critical step. It provides a platform to engage with leading oncologists, researchers, and potential strategic partners, placing its lead therapeutic candidate, TEC-001, under the scrutiny of the global scientific community. The company is focused on developing powerful immunotherapeutic treatments, with an initial focus on primary liver cancer, one of the most challenging malignancies to treat.

A Novel Three-Pronged Attack on Solid Tumors

Teclison distinguishes itself in the crowded immuno-oncology field through a unique, multi-faceted strategy. The company's platform is built on a 'three-pronged approach' designed not just to fight cancer, but to fundamentally change the tumor's environment to make it more susceptible to treatment. This method involves: (1) inducing tumor necrosis to kill cancer cells directly; (2) expanding the population of anti-tumor T cells to enhance the body's natural defenses; and (3) facilitating anti-tumor immunity from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

At the heart of this strategy is TEC-001, a potential first-in-class therapeutic agent. Its mechanism is a sophisticated blend of interventional radiology and targeted drug activation. The treatment, known as Trans-Arterial TEC-001 Embolization (TATE), begins with the delivery of TEC-001 directly into the artery feeding the tumor. This is immediately followed by an embolization procedure, which cuts off the tumor's blood supply. This induced starvation creates a state of severe hypoxia, or low oxygen, within the tumor—a condition that is typically a hallmark of aggressive, treatment-resistant cancers.

However, Teclison's technology turns this weakness into a weapon. The active agent in TEC-001 is tirapazamine, a hypoxia-activated prodrug. In the low-oxygen environment created by the embolization, tirapazamine is activated, generating a burst of free radicals. These highly reactive molecules cause extensive DNA damage, leading to the necrotic death of tumor cells, including resilient cancer stem cells. This localized, high-impact assault aims to debulk the tumor from the inside out, a key differentiator from systemic therapies that can cause widespread side effects.

Clinical Progress and Strategic Partnerships

Teclison's innovative science is backed by a growing body of clinical evidence. An early Phase 1 dose-defining study in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of primary liver cancer, yielded highly encouraging results. The study demonstrated a good safety profile and significant efficacy signals, with an impressive 47% of evaluable patients achieving a complete response. The median overall survival was 29.3 months, a promising figure for this patient population.

Building on this success, Teclison is advancing a randomized Phase 2 study comparing its TATE procedure against the current standard of care, trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE), in patients with intermediate-stage HCC. The primary goal is to demonstrate superior Progression-Free Survival, a key metric that could pave the way for a pivotal Phase 3 trial.

A significant vote of confidence in Teclison's platform came in the form of a major collaboration. The company has a Clinical Trial Collaboration and Supply Agreement with pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. This partnership is evaluating TEC-001 in combination with Merck's blockbuster anti-PD-1 therapy, Keytruda (pembrolizumab). The synergy is clear: by inducing necrosis and releasing tumor antigens, TEC-001 is hypothesized to act as an in-situ vaccine, priming the immune system and making tumors more recognizable and responsive to checkpoint inhibitors like Keytruda. These combination studies are not limited to liver cancer; they also target metastatic colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer with liver metastases, vastly expanding the potential market for TEC-001.

To fuel this ambitious clinical program, Teclison has secured significant funding, including a $5.9 million Series A round in 2022 and a subsequent $15 million later-stage venture capital deal in late 2023. This financial backing is critical as the company prepares for a planned Phase 3 registrational study in metastatic colorectal cancer, following discussions with regulators.

Navigating a Competitive Landscape

The treatment landscape for GI cancers, especially HCC, has been transformed by the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Drugs like Keytruda and nivolumab are now foundational treatments, but their effectiveness is limited. While some patients experience dramatic and durable responses, many others do not, a phenomenon often attributed to the tumor microenvironment being immunologically "cold"—lacking the T cells necessary for an effective anti-cancer attack.

This is precisely the challenge Teclison aims to overcome. Its approach is not designed to replace ICIs but to enhance their efficacy. By causing necrotic cell death, the TATE procedure releases a flood of tumor-specific antigens. This process, combined with the platform's ability to expand anti-tumor T cells, effectively turns a "cold" tumor "hot," making it visible and vulnerable to the immune system. This could potentially make an ICI like Keytruda effective in patients who were previously refractory to immunotherapy.

This strategy of active microenvironment modulation places Teclison at the forefront of the next wave of immuno-oncology innovation. While competitors explore other combination strategies, such as dual ICIs or pairings with VEGF inhibitors, Teclison's direct, localized, and hypoxia-activated mechanism offers a distinct and compelling therapeutic rationale.

The Strategic Importance of ASCO and Future Outlook

Teclison's presentation at the ASCO GI Cancers Symposium is far more than a routine scientific update. It is a strategic maneuver to build momentum and validate its platform on a major industry stage. For a company transitioning from early- to late-stage clinical development, visibility within the scientific and investment communities is paramount. The data and insights shared at the symposium will be closely watched by oncologists looking for new options for their patients and by potential pharmaceutical partners seeking to bolster their oncology pipelines.

The collaboration with Merck already provides a powerful endorsement, but strong data presented at ASCO could further solidify Teclison's standing and de-risk its path toward commercialization. With plans for a Phase 3 study on the horizon and a pipeline that includes next-generation assets like TEC-002 and TEC-003, the company is positioning itself for long-term growth. The oncology world will be observing Teclison's progress at ASCO and beyond, as its unique approach to activating the immune system within the tumor itself could offer new hope for patients with some of the most difficult-to-treat solid tumors.