About Us

  iOncologi, Inc. (iOi) is a pioneering biotechnology company focused on immuno-oncology. Born as a spin-out cancer immunotherapy firm from the University of Florida, iOi's founders have spearheaded the development of groundbreaking immunomodulatory therapies that have shown remarkable preclinical efficacy in the treatment of immunotherapy-resistant solid cancers. iOi’s technologies have advanced to a clinical stage of evaluation and are currently being investigated in multiple early-stage trials for refractory cancers. 

  Immunotherapies leverage the body's immune system, its primary defense against cancer, to target and eliminate cancer cells. Among these therapies, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are pivotal, as they remove the brakes that can hinder the immune response. This approach represents a groundbreaking advancement in cancer treatment, often becoming a frontline therapy, with several FDA-approved indications and global market sales projected to exceed USD 30 billion in revenue by 2026. However, despite these strides, over two-thirds of cancer patients fail to respond to ICI therapy due to inherent or acquired resistance to treatment.

iOncologi’s founders have discovered novel immuno-oncology (IO) therapeutics that overcome complete resistance to ICI therapies, such as PD-1 blockade, in multiple cancers. iOncologi has secured exclusive rights to immunomodulatory stem cell therapies (IONC201 and IONC202), which effectively overcome PD-1 resistance and elicit potent anti-tumor immune responses. Additionally, iOncologi has obtained exclusive licensing rights for the use of innovative mRNA vaccines (IONC101) that are potent inducers of innate and adaptive immunity and effective at reprogramming the immunosuppressive microenvironment of solid cancers. These specialized stem cell therapies and innovative mRNA vaccine technologies have shown efficacy against a variety of tumor types. They have received FDA-approved INDs and entered early phase clinical evaluation at University of Florida, positioning iOncologi as a leader in cancer treatment innovation.

  iOncologi Founder and President, Duane A. Mitchell, MD, PhD, is an internationally renowned leader in brain tumor immunotherapy with extensive experience in the immunologic treatment of pediatric and adult brain tumors. Dr. Mitchell holds four FDA-approved investigational new drug applications (INDs) governing first-in-human immunotherapy treatments. He has pioneered and led multiple novel immunotherapy clinical trials based on discoveries made in his research laboratory. His team's work in advancing brain tumor immunotherapy for glioblastoma was recognized as one of the Top 10 Clinical Research Achievements by the Clinical Research Forum in Washington, D.C. in 2016. He is the Phyllis Kottler Friedman Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Florida. Dr. Mitchell and Co-Founder and stem cell biologist, Catherine Flores, PhD, have partnered to develop novel stem cell-based immunotherapies for refractory cancers. Dr. Flores received her PhD in stem cell biology from the Imperial College of London and is the Principal Investigator of the Stem Cell Engineering Lab within the UF Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program. Dr. Flores' pioneering work on the novel role of stem cells in modulating immune responses has revealed exciting new therapeutic opportunities. In addition, investigators at the University of Florida have demonstrated that iOncologi's exclusive mRNA multilamellar nanoparticle platform encompasses a systemic modifier of innate and adaptive immunity and effectively reshapes the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. iOncologi, Inc. is advancing disruptive treatment paradigms that hold the potential to deliver on the promise of cancer immunotherapy to the many patients who are in dire need of groundbreaking medical solutions.