Taparia, Minakshi

Abstract Background: SL-401 is a novel targeted therapy directed to the interleukin-3 receptor (CD123), a target overexpressed by many hematologic malignancies. SL-401 is currently being advanced through clinical trials in patients with a variety of CD123+ malignancies including blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in remission with high relapse risk, and multiple myeloma. CD123 has been shown to be expressed on myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) cells as well as microenvironmental immune cells, namely plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), in the bone marrows of some patients with MPN including chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). Microenvironmental pDCs have been implicated in promoting plasma cell disorders and preliminary data suggest that pDCs could play a related role in some myeloid neoplasms. Accordingly, a therapy directed at both CD123-expressing myeloid cells and neighboring CD123-expressing pDCs could provide therapeutic benefit. SL-401 is being evaluated in patients with advanced, high-risk MPN, including systemic mastocytosis (SM), myelofibrosis (MF), primary eosinophilic disorders (PED), and CMML. Preliminary results are reported here. Methods & Results: This multicenter, single-arm Phase 2 trial of patients with advanced, high risk MPN includes a lead-in (stage 1) and expansion (stage 2). In stage 1, patients receive SL-401 as a daily IV infusion at 7, 9, 12 ug/kg/day, or higher for days 1-3 of a 21-28 day cycle in a 3x3 design. In stage 2, patients receive SL-401 at the dose determined in stage 1. Study objectives include characterization of the safety profile, including determination of the maximum tolerated or tested dose, and detection of preliminary efficacy signals including evaluation of tumor response and progression free survival by standard criteria. As of 7/20/16, 6 patients with MPN (MF, n=3; CMML-2, n=2; CMML-1, n=1) received SL-401 (7 ug/kg, n=3; 9 ug/kg, n=3). The median age was 66 years (range: 42-81 years). Patients treated at all doses received 1+ to 2+ cycles (ongoing) of SL-401. The most common treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were thrombocytopenia (2/6; 33%) and fatigue (2/6; 33%); the most common ≥ Grade 3 treatment-related AEs were thrombocytopenia (2/6; 33%) and anemia (1/6; 17%); there has been no DLT. Efficacy assessments are ongoing. Patients are currently enrolling in the 12 ug/kg/day cohort. Conclusions: Initial dosing of SL-401 appears to be well-tolerated in patients with MPN and CMML, with no unexpected AEs observed. Given CD123 expression on myeloid neoplastic cells as well as microenvironmental immune cells (namely, pDCs), SL-401 may offer a novel, targeted therapeutic approach in patients with high-risk MPN and CMML of unmet medical need. Enrollment continues in stage 1 of this ongoing Phase 2 trial and updated safety and efficacy data will be presented. Clinical trial information: NCT02268253. Disclosures Gupta: Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Incyte Corporation: Consultancy, Research Funding. Carraway:Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Baxalta: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Schiller:Incyte Corporation: Research Funding. Talpaz:Incyte Corporation: Other: Travel expense reimbursement, Research Funding; Ariad: Other: Expense reimbursement, travel accomodation expenses, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Other: travel accomodation expenses, Research Funding. McCloskey:Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Consultancy; Ariad: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Speakers Bureau. Lee:Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Baxalta: Consultancy; Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy; Pfizer Inc: Consultancy. Yacoub:Alexion: Honoraria; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Ali:Incyte Corporation: Research Funding. Chen:Stemline Therapeutics, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Shemesh:Stemline Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Brooks:Stemline Therapeutics, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties.

Background:Patients with myelofibrosis (MF) who fail or are intolerant to JAK inhibitors (JAKi) have limited treatment options. Tagraxofusp is a targeted therapy directed to CD123 that was approved by the US FDA for the treatment of patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN). CD123 is expressed on a variety of malignancies including BPDCN, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and certain myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), including MF. Moreover, CD123+ plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), the cell of origin of BPDCN, have been detected in the microenvironment of certain myeloid neoplasms, including MF, where they may play a tumor‐promoting role.1,2,3 Notably, pDCs share a common precursor cell with monocytes, and monocytosis has been reported as a poor prognostic factor, associated with rapid disease progression and shortened survival, suggesting an accelerated disease phase in MF.4 As such, tagraxofusp may offer a novel and rational therapeutic approach in patients with relapsed/refractory MF, including patients with monocytosis.Aims:Primary objectives include assessment of safety, determining the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) and schedule, and evaluating efficacy in patients with MF who were relapsed, refractory, or unable to tolerate JAKi.Methods:This multicenter, open‐label Phase 1/2 trial is enrolling patients with MF. In the Stage 1 (dose escalation), tagraxofusp was administered as a daily IV infusion at 7, 9, and 12 mcg/kg on days 1–3 every 21 days (cycle 1–4), 28 days (cycles 5–7), and 42 days (cycles 8+). In Stage 2 (expansion), patients are receiving the RP2D (12 mcg/kg).Results:23 patients with MF received tagraxofusp, including 12 patients who received ≥ 3 prior lines of therapy. Median age 69 years (range 55–81), 61% were female, and 30% had baseline monocytosis (≥ 1x109/L). Baseline risk assessment based on the DIPSS Plus risk group assessment showed 1 patient (4%) with intermediate‐1, 12 patients (52%) with intermediate‐2, and 10 patients (44%) with high‐risk. At study entry, the median platelet count was 59 K/uL with 71% of patients had baseline platelets <100 K/uL, of which 8 patients had platelets <50 K/uL. 87% of patients had baseline splenomegaly (spleen palpable ≥ 5 cm below the left costal margin [LCM]). Most common treatment‐related adverse events (TRAEs, incidence ≥ 15%) include headache, hypoalbuminemia, alanine aminotransferase increased and thrombocytopenia. The most common ≥ grade 3 TRAE was thrombocytopenia (8%). Capillary leak syndrome was reported in 1 patient (grade 3). Among the 14 evaluable patients with baseline splenomegaly, 57% had spleen size reductions: 43% (6/14) had reductions of > 25%, of which 3 patients had reductions of ≥ 45%. In 5 patients with baseline splenomegaly and monocytosis, 80% (4/5) had reductions of > 25%, of which 2 had reductions of ≥ 45%. Six patients, including 3 patients with monocytosis and 5 patients with platelets <100 K/uL, had treatment duration of 6 months or more.Summary/Conclusion:Tagraxofusp demonstrated single agent activity, with a predictable and manageable safety profile, in patients with relapsed/refractory MF, including in patients with monocytosis, a poor prognostic factor, both constituting potential areas of unmet medical need. Enrollment continues, and updated trial data will be presented. Registrational trial designs are being evaluated. Trial information: NCT02268253.

Background:Patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) have historically poor outcomes, with ∼6–7 month median overall survival (OS) in the relapsed/refractory (r/r) setting. Splenomegaly is a major cause of morbidity, is a poor prognostic factor and has emerged as a potential therapeutic target in CMML. Tagraxofusp (SL‐401) is a targeted therapy directed to CD123, a target expressed on CMML blasts, monocytes and neoplastic microenvironmental plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) that are part of the CMML malignant clone, as well as on a variety of additional malignancies. Tagraxofusp was approved by the US FDA for the treatment of blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) and is being investigated in other CD123‐expressing malignancies.Aims:Primary objectives include assessment of safety, determining the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) and schedule, and evaluating efficacy in patients with CMML.Methods:This multicenter, open‐label, Phase 1/2 clinical trial is enrolling patients with CMML. In Stage 1 (dose escalation), tagraxofusp was administered as a daily IV infusion at 7, 9, and 12 mcg/kg on days 1–3 every 21 days (cycle 1–4), every 28 days (cycles 5–7), and every 42 days (cycles 8 and beyond). In Stage 2 (expansion), patients receive the RP2D (12 mcg/kg).Results:20 patients with CMML (CMML‐1 [n = 12]; CMML‐2 [n = 8]) were treated with tagraxofusp, including 18 in the relapsed/refractory setting, with hypomethylating agents (HMAs) being the most commonly administered prior therapy. Median age was 69 years (range 43–80) and 80% were male. 10 patients (50%) had baseline splenomegaly (defined as spleen palpable below the left costal margin [BCM]), of which 6 had baseline splenomegaly ≥ 5 cm BCM. Most common treatment‐related adverse events (TRAEs, incidence ≥ 20%) were hypoalbuminaemia, thrombocytopenia, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. Most common ≥ grade 3 TRAEs were thrombocytopenia (35%) and nausea (5%). Capillary leak syndrome was reported in 3 patients (grade 1–2). 100% (10/10) of patients with baseline splenomegaly had a spleen response by physical exam: 80% (8/10) had spleen size reduction of ≥ 50% and 67% (4/6) with baseline spleen size ≥ 5 cm had spleen size reduction of ≥ 50%. Three patients treated with tagraxofusp achieved bone marrow complete responses (BMCRs), including 1 patient who was bridged to stem cell transplant in remission on tagraxofusp.Summary/Conclusion:Tagraxofusp demonstrated single agent activity in patients with CMML and splenomegaly, an area of potential unmet medical need. Given the expression of CD123 in CMML, tagraxofusp represents a rational therapeutic approach in this disease. Updated data will be presented, and a registrational trial is planned. Trial information: NCT02268253.