NeoImmuneTech Highlights Publication of NT-I7 Study in Genes & Diseases, Demonstrating TLS Formation and Tumor Microenvironment Remodeling

NT-I7 induces formation of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) and improves survival in tumor models Findings suggest mechanistic rationale for combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors March 18, 2026 — ROCKVILLE, MD : NeoImmuneTech, Inc., a T cell-focused immunotherapy company, announced that new research elucidating the mechanism of action of NT-I7 (efineptakin alfa), its IL-7-based T cell amplifier, has been published in the international peer-reviewed journal Genes & Diseases (Impact Factor: 9.4). The study was led by Professor Rebecca C. Obeng and her team at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and investigated how NT-I7 modulates the tumor immune microenvironment using murine models of lung and colorectal cancer. Recent advances in cancer immunotherapy have highlighted that not only the quantity of immune cells but also their spatial organization and functional coordination within the tumor are critical determinants of therapeutic response. In this context, NeoImmuneTech has focused on whether NT-I7 can reshape immune architecture within tumors beyond enhancing T cell survival and proliferation. The study demonstrated that NT-I7 induces the formation of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS)—organized immune cell aggregates within tumors—thereby creating an immune-reactive tumor microenvironment. Treatment with NT-I7 also resulted in a significant improvement in survival. TLS are known to function as localized immune hubs associated with improved responses to immunotherapy and play a key role in maintaining stem-like CD8+ T cells (Tpex), which are critical mediators of anti-PD-1 therapeutic efficacy. In NT-I7-treated tumors, TLS-like immune aggregates were observed (mean density: 0.096/mm²), whereas such structures were absent in control groups. Notably, NT-I7 significantly increased infiltration of Tpex cells, with approximately 73–79% of these cells localized in proximity to the immune aggregates, suggesting enhanced durability of the anti-tumor immune response. Spatial transcriptomic analysis further revealed that these NT-I7-induced immune aggregates exhibit structural and molecular characteristics of TLS, including increased expression of the PD-L1-related gene Cd274 within these regions. These findings provide mechanistic evidence supporting a combinatorial strategy in which NT-I7 establishes immune hubs that can be further activated by immune checkpoint inhibitors. “Tpex expansion by NT-I7 has been consistently demonstrated in previous studies. This research further shows that NT-I7 promotes the formation of TLS, which are essential for the survival and maintenance of Tpex,” said Tae Woo Kim, Acting CEO of NeoImmuneTech. “These findings highlight NT-I7’s ability to enhance both immune cell organization and the durability of anti-tumor responses within the tumor microenvironment, providing a strong scientific rationale for combination strategies with immune checkpoint inhibitors and other immunotherapies.” *** END ***

The release as fetched from its publisher. neoimmunetech.com ↗