CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — DEM BioPharma Inc. said it will present preclinical data for DEM301, a first-in-class bifunctional antibody drug conjugate, at the 2026 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, scheduled for January 8–10, 2026, in San Francisco.
DEM301 targets a novel plasma membrane–associated glycoprotein, DEM-TXX, which is overexpressed in colorectal cancer and several other gastrointestinal malignancies. The company said DEM-TXX is involved in cell adhesion and myeloid cell suppression, with expression levels that are negatively correlated with disease progression, suggesting a meaningful role in tumor biology.
“This ASCO GI presentation represents an important milestone for DEM BioPharma as we introduce DEM301 and its underlying biology to the oncology community for the first time,” said Nenad Grmusa, chief executive officer of DEM BioPharma. “DEM-TXX emerged from our scientific founders’ functional genomics screen and was validated by DEM BioPharma as a target that appears to contribute to immune suppression in GI cancers. DEM301 was purpose-built to translate that biology into a differentiated ADC designed with a dual mechanism of action to directly kill tumor cells while engaging immune-mediated mechanisms.”
According to the company, DEM301 is composed of an afucosylated monoclonal antibody directed against DEM-TXX that is conjugated to a clinically validated linker-payload. The design is intended to selectively target tumor cells expressing DEM-TXX while combining direct cytotoxic activity with immune-mediated effects.
The preclinical data to be presented will include results showing potent and durable single-agent anti-tumor activity in colorectal and other gastrointestinal tumor models, along with a favorable safety profile in a humanized DEM-TXX mouse model. DEM BioPharma said these findings support advancement of DEM301 toward clinical development.
The company is currently conducting pre-IND pharmacology and toxicology studies for DEM301 and has initiated chemistry, manufacturing, and controls process development in preparation for a planned Phase 1a/1b clinical trial expected to begin in the second half of 2026.
The poster presentation, titled “DEM301, a novel anti-DEM-TXX antibody-drug conjugate with potent anti-tumor activity for the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors,” will be presented during Poster Session C: Cancers of the Colon, Rectum, and Anus on January 10, 2026, from 7:00 to 7:55 a.m. PST. The presentation will be delivered by Sarah Carden, Ph.D., of DEM BioPharma.
