Masked T-cell engagers: cancer immunotherapies for the future?

T-cells, a type of immune cell, can be used to attack cancer cells. Lightspring/ Shutterstock

A new immunotherapy drug has demonstrated early promise in a recent prostate cancer clinical trial. The drug, called VIR-5500, is a “masked T-cell engager”. This type of immunotherapy ignites our own immune arsenal to fight cancer.

In the trial, which is still in progress and has not yet undergone peer-review, patients with advanced prostate cancer who had failed to respond to other treatments were given VIR-5500.