Turnstone Biologics is a privately-held immuno-oncology company dedicated to delivering breakthrough viral immunotherapies to improve survival for patients with cancer. With an experienced leadership team passionate about helping people with cancer, comprehensive capabilities in immuno-oncology discovery, basic research, translation, clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization, Turnstone Biologics is the sole company developing viral immunotherapies to drive benefit through simultaneous generation of a targeted immune response and modulation of the tumor environment.
The company's engineered oncolytic Maraba virus, known as MG1, is the first therapeutic 2-in-1 approach to combine an oncolytic virus and an antigen-specific cancer vaccine. With its unprecedented dual-mechanism approach, MG1 kills cancer cells both locally and at metastatic sites throughout the body, and generates a durable immune response resulting in long-term memory to prevent recurrence. The company has developed a robust pipeline of new medicines for multiple solid tumors. The most advanced program, called Ad-MG1-MAGEA3, is being evaluated in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), breast cancer and esophageal cancer in two clinical trials. A second Maraba-based therapy designed for patients with human papillomavirus (HPV) positive tumors and multiple other viral immunotherapies are in development.
Turnstone Biologics has entered into a research, option and license agreement with AbbVie for its next-generation viral immunotherapies. In 2017, the company was selected as a Fierce 15 winner - a designation signifying that it is considered one of the up-and-coming biotech companies expected to make big waves in the industry. Based in Ottawa, Ontario, and New York, Turnstone Biologics has raised approximately $50 million in venture capital financing since inception.