Is IO102-IO103 legal in Canada?

A subcutaneous vaccine of two peptides from IDO1 and PD-L1, given with pembrolizumab for advanced melanoma. In a 407 person phase 3, median progression free survival was 19.4 versus 11.0 months, hazard ratio 0.77 (95% CI 0.58 to 1.00), p = 0.0558 against a threshold of 0.045: the primary endpoint was missed.

Most cancer vaccines try to raise T cells against the tumour. IO102-IO103 does something different: its two peptides come from indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), proteins expressed by the immunosuppressive cells that protect a tumour, so the T cells it raises attack the tumour's defences rather than the tumour itself.

Mechanism: In people, vaccination with IO102 and IO103 raises circulating T cells that recognise IDO1 and PD-L1 derived peptides; this has been measured by ELISpot in the phase 1/2 and window of opportunity studies, and the 2025 Nature Communications paper reports serum increases in CCL3, CCL4 and TNF-alpha in responders that were not seen in a matched anti-PD-1 monotherapy cohort. The proposed downstream effect, killing or reprogramming of IDO1 and PD-L1 expressing myeloid cells and tumour cells in the tumour microenvironment, is supported by functional assays on patient samples and by spatial transcriptomics of resected head and neck tumours showing more inflammation related gene expression in vaccinated patients.

Regulatory history: Not FDA approved. Phase 3 in first line advanced melanoma (407 participants) missed its primary endpoint, p = 0.0558 against a threshold of 0.045 (Annals of Oncology, 2026).

Authorises drugs for sale through a Notice of Compliance and Drug Identification Number. A compound that is not authorised for sale cannot lawfully be sold for human use, and personal importation of prescription drugs is limited.

The classification above is the The Longevity Archive reading of Health Canada, Health Products and Food Branch listings for IO102-IO103 at the reviewed date, not a legal opinion. Rules change, and importing, prescribing and possessing a compound can each be treated differently. Check the regulator directly before acting on anything here.