Immunogenic Innovation: INNOVOTEX Harnesses Oxaliplatin’s Immunogenic Power for Next-Generation Cancer Therapies.
Austin, TX – July 24, 2025 — INNOVOTEX is proud to announce a breakthrough in its ongoing effort to transform traditional chemotherapy into immune-activating cancer therapeutics. In a recent collaborative study, researchers from The University of Texas at Austin, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Korea University, Dongduk Women’s University, and INNOVOTEX uncovered striking evidence that oxaliplatin—a chemotherapy agent widely used in gastrointestinal cancers and the first payload used in INNOVOTEX’s macrocycle drug conjugate (MDC) platform—offers a unique and durable immunologic benefit beyond direct tumor cell killing.
Unlike other FDA-approved platinum drugs such as cisplatin and carboplatin, oxaliplatin is known to induce immunogenic cell death (ICD). This process triggers the release of specific damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) following endoplasmic reticulum stress, which in turn recruits CD8+ killer T-cells to attack the tumor.
In preclinical models, this immunogenic mechanism not only prevented tumor establishment but also provided long-term protection: mice remained tumor-free even after a secondary cancer challenge 12 months later.
“This discovery is truly groundbreaking—it redefines how we think about chemotherapy,” said Dr. Jong Seung Kim, Distinguished Professor at Korea University. “For years, oxaliplatin was viewed purely as a cytotoxic agent. This study reveals its hidden potential to engage the immune system, opening entirely new avenues for cancer treatment. These insights are especially significant for the development of NOVO-111, which uses oxaliplatin as its payload.”
Despite its potential, oxaliplatin use is often hampered by poor delivery, suboptimal tumor exposure, and significant side effects such as neuropathic pain. To overcome these limitations, INNOVOTEX’s MDC platform delivers oxaliplatin via NOVO-111—engineered to improve tumor targeting and reduce systemic toxicity.
“At INNOVOTEX, we’re leading a therapeutic revolution. Our lead tumor-targeting macrocycle drug conjugate, NOVO-111, is uniquely engineered to deliver ICD inducing oxaliplatin with precision,” said Dr. Jonathan Arambula, CEO of INNOVOTEX. “Activating the immune system at the tumor site while sparing healthy tissue is key, and this could enable deeper, more durable responses and a fundamentally new way to fight cancer.”
This development represents a paradigm shift in how we view chemotherapy—not just as a cytotoxic weapon, but as a strategic immunologic tool.
For more information, oxaliplatin and other experimental therapeutics were evaluated as part of a larger study. Please find access to the peer reviewed publication here: DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c03455.
About NOVO-111
NOVO-111 is a first-in-class macrocycle drug conjugate (MDC) developed by INNOVOTEX to improve the safety and efficacy of platinum-based chemotherapy. Using a proprietary tumor-localizing macrocycle platform, NOVO-111 delivers oxaliplatin directly to the tumor site, increasing local drug concentration while minimizing systemic exposure. This targeted delivery significantly reduces off-target toxicity and enhances tumor regression in preclinical models. NOVO-111 represents a promising advancement in the evolution of precision chemotherapy.
About INNOVOTEX
INNOVOTEX is a biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation cancer therapeutics through a proprietary macrocycle drug conjugate (MDC) platform. By combining targeted delivery with novel mechanisms of action, INNOVOTEX aims to overcome resistance and toxicity challenges associated with traditional chemotherapy and usher in a new era of tumor-specific, immune-enhancing cancer treatments.