SMCMA Physician

Leading the I-O Resistance

Immuno-oncology has undoubtedly changed survival expectations for patients with a variety of different tumor types. However, some patients do not respond to I-O, either from the outset, or later on in their treatment journey. Bristol-Myers Squibb is determined to find out why tumors are resistant to I-O and in turn, eventually leverage those insights to help more patients. Recently, the company established a dedicated Immuno-Oncology Resistance team, focused on uncovering the biologic and genetic causes of resistance. 

To facilitate this research, Bristol-Myers Squibb has built state-of-the-art labs dedicated to studying I-O resistance at our research sites in Redwood City and Cambridge. 

This new lab – located in Redwood City campus – allows for collaboration between the translational and discovery teams, facilitating knowledge-sharing that could have an impact on the work being done within the lab. Additionally, in conjunction with our newly established Cambridge site, the teams will work collaboratively across the country on solving the challenge of I-O resistance.

“These labs really foster the communication and collaboration that’s integral to developing new therapies aimed at tackling resistance to immunotherapy, so it’s really a win-win,” Quigley says. “Integration of the discovery and translational research groups facilitates fast, real-time decisions that can inform the science in earlier stages.”

The close integration of translational science and discovery is a model applied across all R&D sites. And, with research centers in major biotech hubs on both coasts, Quigley is hopeful that the team has tapped into the ideal environment to lead the charge against I-O resistance.

“The question we get, often, is what does success look like for our new efforts within the resistance biology team? And, it’s really both short term and long term views that we have in that respect. One is to enable the deep understanding of resistance pathways that are present within patients that have primary or acquired resistance,” Quigley says. “And, the ultimate success, in my mind, is really to develop therapeutic options for patients who don’t respond to immunotherapy or that go on to relapse with their disease. And, it’s really what brings us in every day, and keeps us working as hard as we do here at Bristol-Myers Squibb.”

Mike Quigley is the Executive Director of Immuno-Oncology (I-O) at Bristol-Myers Squibb