Nov 14, 2025

Dr. Jay Lalezari, CEO of CytoDyn, is focused on solid tumor immunology, particularly in triple-negative breast cancer, where their lead drug, leronlimab, is showing significant long-term survival benefits.  This monoclonal antibody targets the CCR5 receptor, converting cold tumors into hot tumors and making them more susceptible to immunotherapy checkpoint inhibitors. Work with leronlimab for 20 years has demonstrated the potential for use in colorectal cancer as well as TNBC, and to vastly expand the patient population that could benefit from immunotherapy.

Jay explains, "When I became CEO back in November of 2023, my first order of business was to figure out where CytoDyn should go with this intriguing monoclonal antibody called leronlimab that targets CCR5. And we looked at a number of indications, and by far and away, the data that we found in solid tumor oncology is clearly the place CytoDyn will go to create the most benefit for patients and the most benefit for our shareholders. We recently presented some data in triple-negative breast cancer that is truly remarkable and potentially paradigm-shifting in the world of solid tumor oncology."  

"Over the years, it became clear that CCR5 was not just for the virus to get inside the cell, but was playing a key role in setting up the tumor microenvironment in a variety of solid tumors that were CCR5 positive. That included typically triple-negative breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, sarcoma, glioblastoma, and the urothelial cancers in particular. So CCR5 helps the cancer set up a tumor microenvironment that helps it both build blood vessels to provide nourishment for the cancer and attract suppressor cells that keep the host immune system at bay." 

#CytoDyn #Oncology #Leronlimab #TNBC #ColorectalCancer #CCR5

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