Cyril Konto: I Trademarked The Word ‘Multispecific’ The Day I Arrived

A New Biotech Vision

“I’ve been hearing more about Ichnos Glenmark Innovation or IGI recently,” I said. “Tell me—what is this initiative really about?”

Cyril Konto, the President and CEO of IGI, smiled. “It’s a pleasure to be part of the OncoDaily journey,” he replied. “And I’m excited to share how we’re building something truly different in biotech.”

IGI emerged in 2019 as a spin-off from Glenmark Pharmaceuticals’ therapeutic innovation unit. The goal: create a pure biotech company focused on novel immunotherapies, independent of the generic drug business.

It began with a proprietary protein engineering platform capable of building multi-specific antibody therapeutics. “We started with a basic bispecific,” Konto explained. “But to overcome tumor resistance and more fully activate immune responses, we had to go further—toward trispecifics and beyond.”

This thinking led to the creation of BEAT®, IGI’s protein platform for engineering bispecific, trispecific and multispecific^TM antibodies.

Today, IGI operates with 150 employees across New York, Lausanne, and Mumbai as an independent company. It covers its own research, manufacturing, and clinical development. “We’re currently an R&D biotech,” Konto said. “supported by our world-class Scientific Advisory Board and governed by a Board of Directors that includes both independent members and representatives from Glenmark.”

IGI planned to go public, but geopolitical and economic challenges—including COVID-19 and the biotech market downturn—postponed that path. The company remains private, aiming to license its lead asset, ISB 2001, to fund operations for the next several years.

BEAT®: Borrowing from Nature to Engineer Precision

“What makes IGI different?” I asked.

Konto pointed to the BEAT® platform. It mimics the biology of the T-cell receptor, borrowing amino acids from its alpha and beta subunit interface. These sequences are grafted into the antibody structure to enable reliable pairing of heavy chains.

Combined with a universal light chain, this technology allows for stable, high-yield production of multispecific antibodies. The resulting molecules preserve IgG-like properties—including long half-life.

“Our trispecific ISB 2001 has a median half-life of 17 days,” Konto said. “That’s nearly identical to a standard IgG1, despite its complexity.”

The manufacturing process is just as efficient. “We’re seeing yields close to standard monoclonal antibodies. That’s critical for scalability and cost.”

The molecule is not only potent but also stable, with a manageable immunogenicity profile. Konto’s goal? To match the efficacy of engineered T-cells—but with off-the-shelf availability and lower cost.

ASCO and the Data That Stole the Spotlight

At this year’s ASCO, IGI presented full dose-escalation results for ISB 2001—a BCMA x CD38 x CD3 trispecific—in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

The results were compelling:

• 79% overall response rate
• 32% complete responses or better
• Strong efficacy in high-risk patients (extramedullary disease, poor cytogenetics risk)

Safety was also notable:

• No dose-limiting toxicities across the full dose escalation
• Only 4 patients had Grade 2 Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) all others were Grade 1 without prophylactic tocilizumab.
• No severe CRS or high-grade Immune Effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome (ICANS).
• Fewer infections compared to traditional bispecifics.

“This safety profile gives us confidence,” Konto said. “It opens the door to frontline settings—potentially treating newly diagnosed patients.”

Beyond the data, Konto used ASCO to engage with the broader field. “We’re monitoring progress in solid tumors—especially with bispecifics and their encouraging results in lung cancers. That informs how we shape our own pipeline.”

And most crucially, ASCO is where IGI seeks partnership. “We believe in ISB 2001, but we’re a small company,” Konto emphasized. “We need the right partner to bring it to more patients, faster.”

What’s Ahead for IGI

When asked what to expect from IGI in the coming year, Konto was clear: “We aim to license ISB 2001 and finalize our dose expansion to select the optimal phase 2 dose. With its strong 17-day half-life, we’re also exploring less frequent dosing schedules—monthly or longer.”

With ISB 2001’s safety profile established, the team is also prioritizing preclinical studies for combination therapies in multiple myeloma. These findings, while not yet public, are intended to guide lifecycle strategies for potential licensing partners.

He added that IGI is preparing to nominate its next clinical candidate—an NK cell engager designed to avoid known pitfalls of similar approaches. “It will be in a multispecific format, not a simple one-plus-one.”

The company has also completed its transition from Ichnos Sciences to Ichnos Glenmark Innovation, welcoming new colleagues from the Glenmark’s innovation team. “If we accomplish all this, I’ll feel I’ve fulfilled my mission for the year.”

A Team Built for Discovery

Behind the science is a hand-picked team. Konto highlighted Lida Pacaud, IGI’s Chief Medical Officer and a leading figure in myeloma drug development, formerly with Novartis and Legend Biotech. “She helped bring forward innovations like Kymriah® and Carvykti®. Her strategic leadership has been instrumental.”

Other key team members include:

• Mario Perro, PhD, formerly of Roche, who leads biologics research in Lausanne
• Roberto Giovannini, PhD, Chief Process and Manufacturing Office
• Dean Thomas, LLM, General Counsel
• Sebastien Chenuet, PhD, Head of Business Development
• Karishma Sipahimalani, PhD, Head of Human Resources

“It’s not a big team, but it’s powerful,” Konto said. “We work seamlessly across borders, driven by one goal: bringing innovative therapies to patients.”

From the Clinic to the Cutting Edge

Cyril Konto’s journey from clinical oncology in Paris to the forefront of biotech innovation is a testament to curiosity turned passion. “I joined the industry just to explore—but stayed because I loved it.”

From helping develop the first CTLA-4 inhibitor, Ipilimumab, at BMS to starting Allogene Therapeutics at Pfizer, Konto has been at the heart of cancer immunotherapy’s evolution. He reflected on the challenges of early IO drug development—especially learning to manage immune-related adverse events. “We had to write the playbook as we went.”

He later helped build an allogeneic CAR-T pipeline and spun it into Allogene, now a public company. But it was the promise of multispecific biologics that brought him to Ichnos in 2021. “I trademarked the word ‘multispecific’ the day I arrived. That’s how strongly I believed in it.”

Advice for the Next Generation

What’s his message to young scientists and physicians? “Resilience and patience,” Konto said. “Drug development takes time, no matter how fast technology moves. Don’t rush. Acquire skills, grow deliberately.”

He warned against rapid career leaps without depth: “Sometimes people move up too fast without learning what they need to truly lead.”

His view? Innovation isn’t just about ideas—it’s about enduring through challenges to bring those ideas to life.

On Mentors and Inspiration

Konto credits mentors like Prof. Jean-Pierre Lotz in Paris and Renzo Canetta at BMS for shaping his career. “They helped me see oncology not just as a specialty, but as a cause.”

He’s also guided by a belief in staying relevant. “In today’s science, it’s not just about loss of exclusivity—it’s about loss of relevance. We have to stay ahead.”

When asked who should be interviewed next, Konto didn’t hesitate: “Talk to Lida Pacaud. You’ll see why she’s so respected in this space.”

Interview by Prof. Gevorg Tamamyan, Editor-in-Chief of OncoDaily