Presentation will feature preclinical data supporting Optieum’s lead program OPTF01, demonstrating the ability of FAPα-targeted CAR-T cells to deplete FAPα-positive tumor cells and remodel the tumor microenvironment
Ehime, Japan, April 10, 2026 – Optieum Biotechnologies, Inc. (Headquarters: Toon City, Ehime, Japan; CEO: Shun Nishioka), a biotechnology company developing next-generation CAR-T therapies, today announced that the company will present a poster at the upcoming American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, taking place April 17-22, 2026 in San Diego, California.
The presentation will highlight preclinical data supporting the development of Optieum’s lead program OPTF01, which targets fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAPα), a marker expressed on stromal cells within the tumor microenvironment as well as on a subset of tumor cells in glioblastoma.
“Glioblastoma has resisted nearly every therapeutic strategy because it presents multiple layers of biological complexity, including a microenvironment that suppresses immune responses and protects the tumor from treatment. The data we are presenting at AACR provide the scientific rationale for OPTF01, demonstrating potent activity against FAPα-positive tumor cells, together with disruption of protective stromal architecture and restoration of chemosensitivity. While our immediate focus is GBM, the relevance of FAP-expressing stroma across solid tumors suggests broader potential for this approach,” said Dan MacLeod, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Optieum Biotechnologies.
Details of the poster presentation are as follows:
Authors: Larina Tzu-Wei Shen, Afsana Islam, Daiki Fujita, Gunarta I Ketut, Kenji Nakamaru, Dan MacLeod
Title: Concurrent Targeting of Tumors and Their Microenvironment Using CAR-T Cells Specific for Fibroblast Activation Protein Alpha
Poster Number: 1521
Session Title: CAR-T Cell Targets and TME Reprogramming (Immunology)
Location: Poster Section 7
Date and Time: April 20, 2026, 9:00AM-12:00PM
The poster presentation will be made available on Optieum’s corporate website following the meeting.
Optieum Biotechnologies, Inc. is a biotechnology company developing next-generation CAR-T cell therapies. The Company leverages its proprietary Eumbody System, a functional CAR screening and optimization platform designed to identify constructs with balanced activation, persistence, and durability. Optieum’s lead program, OPTF01, targets fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAPα) to address both tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment in recurrent and newly diagnosed glioblastoma. The Company is advancing its pipeline toward global clinical development with a focus on rigorous science, disciplined execution, and international regulatory strategy.
