BOSTON, Feb. 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cue Biopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: CUE), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a novel class of injectable biologics to selectively engage and modulate disease-specific T cells directly within the patient’s body, announced today that world-renowned immunologist and distinguished thought leader Dr. Rafi Ahmed, Ph.D., has joined its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB).

Dr. Ahmed’s research has significantly shaped the scientific community’s current understanding of immunity in the context of viral infections and cancer. His extensive work on defining T cell exhaustion along with detailing molecular underpinnings of T cell differentiation and effector responses have been seminal in establishing novel areas of research and therapeutic applications. His laboratory has pioneered highly sophisticated and leading-edge cellular and molecular techniques to study antigen-specific responses and immunological memory in murine, primate, and human systems.

“We are most excited and honored to have Dr. Ahmed join our SAB,” said Anish Suri, Ph.D., president and chief scientific officer of Cue Biopharma. “Rafi’s insights in defining the functional characteristics of potent T cell responses against foreign threats, including cancer, are directly pertinent to our IL-2-based CUE-100 series which selectively targets IL-2 to the tumor-specific T cells while avoiding broad activation of the immune system. The clinical validation and tolerability of our approach is exemplified by the maturing clinical data observed with our first clinical candidate, CUE-101, in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and in the potential of our second clinical candidate, CUE-102, currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 dose-escalation monotherapy trial, in multiple solid tumors. We look forward to Rafi’s insights and contributions as we further develop datasets that highlight our differentiated and targeted approach to cancer immunotherapy.”

Dr. Ahmed, added, “I am delighted to be joining Cue Biopharma’s Scientific Advisory Board. The Immuno-STAT™ platform and biologics represent a differentiated approach, demonstrating the ability to engage and activate disease-specific T cells within the patient’s body with off-the-shelf molecules. As a new core member of the SAB, I look forward to providing additional translational immunology expertise and accompany Cue Biopharma as it advances its clinical programs. I’m excited with its potential to bring much needed targeted therapies to patients that can improve clinical performance and reduce life-threatening side effects.”

Dr. Ahmed is the Director of the Emory Vaccine Center at Emory University. He is also the co-leader of the Cancer Immunology research program at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University and a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Emory University School of Medicine. For his ground-breaking research contributions, Dr. Ahmed is an elected member of the National Academy of Science. He is also recognized as a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar and a Fellow of the Academy of Immuno-Oncology.

About Cue Biopharma
Cue Biopharma, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, is developing a novel class of injectable biologics to selectively engage and modulate disease-specific T cells directly within the patient’s body. The company’s proprietary platform, Immuno-STAT™ (Selective Targeting and Alteration of T cells) and biologics are designed to harness the body’s intrinsic immune system as T cell engagers without the need for ex vivo manipulation or broad systemic modulation.

Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, we are led by an experienced management team and independent Board of Directors with deep expertise in immunology and immuno-oncology as well as the design and clinical development of protein biologics.

For more information please visit www.cuebiopharma.com and follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/CueBiopharma.

Forward-Looking Statements 
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Investor Contact
Marie Campinell
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
Cue Biopharma, Inc.
mcampinell@cuebio.com 

Media Contact
Maya Romanchuk
LifeSci Communications
mromanchuk@lifescicomms.com