Letter from the President

For 40 years, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) has been dedicated to improving patient outcomes by advancing the science, development and application of cancer immunotherapy. A major milestone of 2024 was the unveiling of SITC’s three-year strategic plan, which serves as a beacon for society initiatives lighting the way for the next wave of immuno-oncology discoveries. To accelerate this vision, SITC launched the #SITCQuestfor100 initiative, aiming for 100 novel IO agents to be approved by 2034. By the end of last year, the IO community had reason to celebrate, with six FDA approvals of novel IO therapies:

• Lifileucel
• Tislelizumab-jsgr
• Nogapendekin alfa inbakicept-pmin
• Tarlatamabb
• Afami-cel
• Obecabtagene autoleucel

Among these approvals was the first-ever cellular therapy for solid tumors – a monumental achievement that underscores the impact of this country’s world-leading research infrastructure and the unwavering support from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Recent federal actions affecting biomedical research — particularly those impacting NIH and NCI funding — pose a serious threat to continued progress. However, with the achievements of last year as our foundation, I have full confidence in the resilience, dedication and ingenuity of the SITC family. Together, we will navigate these challenges and continue driving life-saving innovations for cancer patients worldwide. Beyond these advancements, SITC remained steadfast in its six strategic goals, advanced key objectives, and continued to champion the next generation of immunotherapy experts through:

• Educating the IO community on leveraging artificial intelligence to tackle challenges and uncover opportunities in immuno-oncology through its AI in IO: SITC-NCI Computational Immuno-oncology Webinar Series and JITC special series
• Exploring key themes such as immuno-engineering and biotechnology in our Immune Engineering Workshop with ideas on how these fields can converge to address hurdles in immuno-oncology
• Presenting the Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TIL) symposium, delving into next-generation TILs and innovative pre-clinical development strategies
• Hosting the Immunomodulation of Antibody-drug Conjugates Summit highlighting the current understanding of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and their effects on the immune system and the tumor microenvironment
• Engaging the entire IO community on the continuing exploration and best practices for modern IO drug development through the Immuno-oncology Drug Development Summit

I am honored to present the 2024 Year in Review, which highlights the many ways our membership has advanced the goals outlined in the Strategic Plan and strengthened the immuno-oncology community. As we step into 2025, SITC’s commitment to improving cancer patient outcomes remains more critical than ever.

Thank you for your support of SITC and each other. Together, we will rise above and push through the challenges ahead to ensure all patients receive the best treatment for their cancer.

Sincerely,