health
April 26, 2026
The Colombian doctor creating a cancer therapy at a world-class hospital
At one of the best cancer treatment hospitals in the world, a Colombian is developing a promising therapy to treat this disease, the second leading cause of death globally, claiming around 10 million lives annually.
TL;DR
- Colombian oncologist Juan Carlos Osorio leads research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
- His lab focuses on developing more effective and durable cancer treatments by leveraging under-explored parts of the immune system.
- A promising therapy involves a CD40 agonist antibody designed to activate dendritic cells.
- Phase 1 human trials showed tumor reduction in 6 out of 12 patients, with 2 achieving complete and lasting remission.
- This therapy aims to reprogram immune cells, offering a novel approach beyond current T-cell based treatments.
- The research is expanding into phase 2 clinical trials for various cancers, including bladder, prostate, breast, and glioblastoma.
- The safety of the therapy has been established, and current efforts focus on demonstrating its effectiveness compared to existing treatments.