A cancer treatment modality that prioritises QoL, with Ben Zeskind

When it comes to developing new cancer treatments, too often teams are focused on finding the treatment that most effectively kills tumours. But that’s only part of the goal, argues Immuneering CEO Ben Zeskind.

By focusing on quality of life as well as quantity, his company has managed to create a drug for pancreatic cancer that doubles overall survival while also giving patients independence and a positive quality of life.

At an interview on the sidelines of the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco last month, Zeskind describes to pharmaphorum’s Jonah Comstock how deep cyclic inhibitors like atebimetinin differ from traditional small molecule drugs by blocking cancer-causing pathways intermittently, rather than absolutely.

He discusses the benefits of this approach and its prospects for other types of cancers beyond pancreatic and shares some stories from oncologists who have seen great results in their patients. He also shares some thoughts on the oncology space more broadly in 2026.

Check out the full interview below.