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Vanasse, K. Gary J.

Mayo Clinic

Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA

Citations 3

Complete Responses in Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Patients on a Weekly Dosing Schedule of XmAb14045, a CD123 x CD3 T Cell-Engaging Bispecific Antibody: Initial Results of a Phase 1 Study
Bashey, Asad, Foran, James M. , Mawad, Raya, Blum, William , Saville, M. Wayne, Johnson, Chelsea, Vanasse, K. Gary J., Ly, Thomas, Bhatnagar, Bhavana , Ravandi, Farhad , Stock, Wendy , Kantarjian, Hagop M. , Takahashi, Koichi , Mims, Alice S

Blood | October 15, 2019 | Volume: 132 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 763-763

10.1182/blood-2018-99-119786 Get It

Abstract Background: Blasts and leukemic stem cells of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) as well as several other hematologic malignancies express CD123, potentially providing a target for novel therapies. XmAb14045 (also known as SQZ622) is a potent bispecific antibody targeting both CD123 and CD3 that stimulates targeted T cell-mediated killing of CD123-expressing cells, regardless of T cell antigen specificity. It is a full-length immunoglobulin molecule designed to be dosed intermittently, in contrast to smaller constructs that are referred to as "DART" or "BiTE" bispecific antibodies that require a continuous infusion. Methods: Patients with relapsed or refractory AML, B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), blast phase chronic myelogenous leukemia, or blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm were eligible to enroll on this first-in-human, multicenter, open-label phase 1 dose-escalation study (XmAb14045-01) with standard 3+3 design. The primary objective was to estimate the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) or recommended dose and schedule of XmAb14045. Secondary objectives included safety, preliminary antileukemic activity, and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of XmAb14045. Treatment was administered weekly in 28 day cycles, using a weight-based dose with a single dose level in Part A and, in Part B, an initial priming dose on Day 1 followed by an escalated dose on subsequent weeks. Premedication to prevent cytokine release syndrome (CRS) was instituted as needed and included a steroid, acetaminophen, and diphenhydramine. Patients were premedicated at all XmAb14045 doses ≥0.075 µg/kg. Therapy was continued for as long as tolerated and there was continuing evidence of therapeutic benefit in the opinion of the investigator. Treatment response was assessed by the 2017 European LeukemiaNet (ELN) criteria after Cycle 1 and after each odd-numbered cycle. CRS was graded using the CRS revised grading system (Lee et al., Blood, 2014). Results: At data cut-off, 64 patients have been treated to date, 63 with relapsed/refractory AML and 1 with B-ALL. Patients had a median age of 61 years and were heavily pretreated (median of 3 prior therapies [range 1-8], including 19 [30%] who had undergone prior allogeneic stem cell transplantation). The recommended dose for Part A was 1.3 µg/kg after a single dose-limiting toxicity of Grade 4 CRS at 2.3 µg/kg; no MTD has been identified. CRS or its component symptoms was the most common treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE). CRS episodes began within approximately 1-4 hours of the start of drug infusion and occurred in 49 of 64 patients (77%). Seven patients (11%) developed Grade ≥3 CRS, the majority of these on the first dose. There were no CRS-related deaths. Excluding CRS-related events, additional TEAEs occurring in >10% of patients included fatigue (31%), febrile neutropenia (30%), peripheral edema (30%), cough (23%), elevated hepatic transaminases (19%; all recovered without sequelae), pneumonia (17%), stomatitis (14%), hyperglycemia (13%), and sepsis (11%). No myelosuppression requiring dose modification or evidence of tumor lysis syndrome was seen. In Part A, single agent antileukemic activity was documented with a best response of CR (2) or CRi (1) in 3/13 AML patients (CR/CRi rate 23%) treated at the two highest dose levels studied to date (1.3 and 2.3 µg/kg weekly); no CR, CRi, or morphologic leukemia-free state (MLFS) responses were seen at lower doses. Antileukemic activity occurred quickly; all responders had achieved at least an MLFS response after 4 doses (1 cycle). Two responders were bridged to stem cell transplantation, and the third was ineligible for medical reasons but remains in remission at 14+ weeks after initiating therapy. Conclusions: XmAb14045 demonstrated evidence of antileukemic activity in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed/refractory AML treated in Part A at the 1.3 and 2.3 µg/kg doses administered once weekly, with a 23% CR/CRi rate. CRS was the most common toxicity but was generally manageable with premedications. The study is ongoing with further optimization of dose, schedule, and premedication regimen for CRS anticipated during accrual to dose escalation cohorts in Part B. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02730312 Disclosures Ravandi: Xencor: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Sunesis: Honoraria; Astellas Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria; Abbvie: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Macrogenix: Honoraria, Research Funding; Jazz: Honoraria; Sunesis: Honoraria; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Astellas Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria; Orsenix: Honoraria; Xencor: Research Funding; Orsenix: Honoraria; Jazz: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Macrogenix: Honoraria, Research Funding. Foran:Xencor, Inc.: Research Funding; Agios: Research Funding. Stock:Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. Mawad:Swedish Cancer Institute: Employment. Blum:Astellas: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Boehringer Ingelheim: Research Funding; Forma: Research Funding; Xencor: Research Funding; Tolero: Research Funding. Saville:Xencor, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Johnson:Xencor, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Vanasse:Novartis: Employment, Equity Ownership. Ly:Xencor, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Mims:Novartis: Consultancy; Agios Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.
Phase 1 Study Of The Novel Pan-Pim Kinase Inhibitor LGH447 In Patients With Relapsed/ Refractory Multiple Myeloma
Guenther, Andreas , Lebovic, Daniel, Kumar, Shaji , Song, Dongweon, Xiang, Fang, Hynds, David, Vanasse, K. Gary J., Raab, Marc S. , Ocio, Enrique M. , Thomas, Sheeba K. , Jakubowiak, Andrzej , Xiang, Fang, Goh, Yeow Tee

Blood | October 14, 2019 | Volume: 122 | Issue: 21 | Pages: 3186-3186

10.1182/blood.v122.21.3186.3186 Get It

Abstract Background LGH447 is a novel, specific pan-Pim kinase inhibitor in development for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and other hematologic malignancies. The PIM kinase gene family encodes 3 serine/threonine protein kinases that have roles in cell cycle progression and survival. In human disease, elevated levels of Pim1 and Pim2 are associated with hematologic malignancies, with MM showing the highest level of Pim2 expression. In preclinical studies, a majority of MM cell lines proved sensitive in vitro to LGH447-mediated Pim inhibition, exhibiting a dose-dependent decrease in cell proliferation. Furthermore, LGH447 was well tolerated and demonstrated significant inhibition of tumor growth in xenograft mouse models of MM as compared with control animals, supporting the clinical development of LGH447 in MM patients. Methods Patients with relapsed/refractory MM for whom no effective treatment options exist were enrolled on this first-in-human, multicenter, open-label phase 1 dose-escalation study (CLGH447X2101). Escalating doses of single-agent LGH447 were administered orally on a continuous daily dosing schedule. Treatment continued until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, consent withdrawal, or death. The primary objective was to estimate the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of LGH447 administered as a single agent, orally, once daily. Secondary objectives included assessing the safety, tolerability, preliminary antimyeloma activity, and pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles of LGH447. Dose escalation followed a Bayesian logistic regression model based on dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) occurring in cycle 1. Adverse events (AEs) were graded according to National Cancer Institute-Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v4.03. Efficacy assessments were made by investigators according to International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) uniform response criteria with modifications. Following determination of the MTD for LGH447, additional patients will be enrolled in an expansion cohort to further characterize the safety and tolerability profile of LGH447. Results At the data cutoff, 19 patients have been treated at the following doses: 70 mg (n = 5), 150 mg (n = 6), 200 mg (n = 4), 250 mg (n = 4), with enrollment ongoing in dose escalation. Median age was 66 years (range, 41-75 years). Most patients (94.7%) presented with baseline Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-1. Most patients (73.7%) had received ≥ 2 prior regimens (median 4; range, 1-11), 89.5% had received prior bortezomib, and 84.2% had received prior lenalidomide and/or thalidomide (68.4% and 47.4%, respectively). Ten patients are ongoing at doses between 150-250 mg, with a median duration of exposure of 6 weeks (range, 1-26.6 weeks), and 9 patients discontinued (disease progression [n = 6], AEs [n = 2], withdrawal of consent [n = 1]). There was 1 DLT consisting of grade 3 thrombocytopenia at the 200 mg dose level and no reported suspected unexpected serious AEs. The majority of AEs regardless of study drug relationship were grade 1/2. Most common grade 3/4 AEs were thrombocytopenia (31.6%), anemia (21.1%), and neutropenia (15.8%). No deaths have occurred on study. LGH447 displayed time-dependent PK with a 3- to 6-fold accumulation from day 1 to steady state (day 14). After a single oral dose, area under the curve and maximum concentration increased somewhat more than in proportion to the dose from 70 to 250 mg. Evidence of single-agent activity, as determined by investigators using IMWG criteria, has been seen in multiple patients, with best response to date being a very good partial response (VGPR). Conclusion In heavily treated patients with relapsed/refractory MM, LGH447 was generally well tolerated and exhibited evidence of single-agent efficacy in multiple patients, validating Pim kinase inhibition as a promising therapeutic rationale and supporting its further clinical development in patients with MM and other hematologic malignancies. Dose escalation is ongoing and updated results will be presented. Disclosures: Ocio: BMS: Consultancy; Arry-520: Consultancy; Pharmamar: Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Onyx: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria. Thomas:Novartis: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Immunomedics: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Onyx: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Millenium: Research Funding. Günther:Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding. Lebovic:Celgene: Speakers Bureau; Allos/Spectrum: Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Speakers Bureau; Onyx: Speakers Bureau. Kumar:Onyx: Consultancy, Research Funding; Millennium: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding. Jakubowiak:Onyx: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Millennium: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria. Song:Novartis: Employment. Xiang:Novartis: Employment. Hynds:Novartis: Employment. Vanasse:Novartis: Employment. Goh:Jannsen: Research Funding; BMS: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Hospira: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.
Phase 1 Study Update of the Novel Pan-Pim Kinase Inhibitor LGH447 in Patients with Relapsed/ Refractory Multiple Myeloma
Günther, Andreas , Goh, Yeow-Tee, Lebovic, Daniel, Song, Dongweon, Xiang, F, Patel, Apurva , Vanasse, K. Gary J., Kumar, Shaji , Raab, Marc S. , Ocio, Enrique M. , Thomas, Sheeba K. , Goh, Yeow Tee , Jakubowiak, Andrzej

Blood | October 11, 2019 | Volume: 124 | Issue: 21 | Pages: 301-301

10.1182/blood.v124.21.301.301 Get It

Abstract Background: LGH447 is a novel, specific pan-Pim kinase inhibitor in development for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and other hematologic malignancies. The PIM (Provirus Integration site for Moloney leukemia) kinase gene family encodes 3 serine/threonine protein kinases that have roles in cell cycle progression and survival. In human disease, elevated levels of Pim1 and Pim2 are associated with hematologic malignancies, with MM showing the highest level of Pim2 expression. In preclinical studies, a majority of MM cell lines proved sensitive in vitro to LGH447-mediated Pim inhibition, exhibiting a dose-dependent decrease in cell proliferation. LGH447 demonstrated significant tumor growth inhibition in xenograft mouse models of MM as compared with control animals, supporting the clinical development of LGH447 in MM patients. Methods: Patients with relapsed/refractory MM for whom no effective treatment options exist were enrolled on this first-in-human, multicenter, open-label phase 1 dose-escalation study (CLGH447X2101). Escalating doses of single-agent LGH447 were administered orally on a continuous daily dosing schedule. Treatment continued until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, consent withdrawal, or death. The primary objective was to estimate the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of LGH447 administered as a single agent, orally, once daily. Secondary objectives included assessing the safety, tolerability, preliminary anti-myeloma activity, and pharmacokinetics of LGH447. Dose escalation followed a Bayesian logistic regression model based on dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) occurring in cycle 1. Adverse events (AEs) were graded according to NCI-CTCAE v4.03. Efficacy assessments were made by investigators according to International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) uniform response criteria with modifications. Results:At the data cutoff, 54 patients have been treated at the following doses: 70 mg (n = 5), 150 mg (n = 6), 200 mg (n = 6), 250 mg (n = 7), 300 mg (n = 4), 350 mg (n=10), 500 mg (n=10), 700 mg (n=6), with the MTD determined to be 500 mg once daily. Median age was 65 years (range, 41-87 years). Most patients (92.6%) presented with baseline Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-1. Patients were heavily pretreated with a median of 4 prior lines of therapy (range, 1-16). 81.5% had received prior proteasome inhibitor therapy, 83.3% had received prior immunomodulatory therapy (70.4% lenalidomide and 48.1% thalidomide), 68.5% were treated with both proteasome inhibitor and immunomodulatory therapies, and 87.0% had received prior stem cell transplant. Seventeen patients are ongoing at doses between 250-700 mg, with a median duration of exposure of 10.6 weeks (range, 0.1-56.1 weeks), and 37 patients discontinued (disease progression [n = 29], AEs [n = 4], withdrawal of consent [n = 4]). There were 8 DLTs, consisting of four grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia (1 each at 200, 250, 350, 500 mg dose levels), two grade 3 fatigue (1 each at 500 and 700 mg dose levels), one grade 3 hypophosphatemia (300 mg), and one episode of vaso-vagal syncope (700 mg). This last event was the only reported unexpected serious AE that was suspected to be due to LGH447 treatment. The majority of AEs regardless of study drug relationship were grade 1/2. Most common grade 3/4 AEs were thrombocytopenia (18.5%), anemia (18.5%), neutropenia (13%), and fatigue (11.1%). No deaths have occurred on study. Forty-eight individuals (70-500 mg) were evaluable for disease response assessments. Evidence of single agent activity was noted at doses ≥ 150 mg, including 1 VGPR at 200 mg (exposure duration > 55 weeks) and 4 PRs noted at doses ranging from 150-500 mg (respective exposure durations of 32, 29, 24, and 21 weeks). Five additional patients achieved MR, resulting in a clinical benefit rate (≥ MR) of 20.8%, and 23 patients were noted to have SD, resulting in a remarkable disease control rate (≥ SD) of 68.8%. In addition, of those patients with SD, 8 had exposure durations for > 20 weeks. Conclusions:In heavily treated patients with relapsed/refractory MM, LGH447 was generally well tolerated and exhibited evidence of durable single-agent efficacy in multiple patients, with the best response being a VGPR. These findings validate Pim kinase inhibition as a promising therapeutic rationale in MM patients and support further clinical development in patients. Disclosures Ocio: Novartis: Honoraria. Thomas:Novartis: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Millennium: Research Funding; Idera Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Immunomedics: Research Funding. Günther:Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding. Goh:Gilead Sciences: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jannsen Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Lebovic:Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Onyx: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Millennium: Consultancy. Jakubowiak:Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Millennium: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; SkylineDx: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Onyx: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Song:Novartis: Employment. Xiang:Novartis: Employment. Patel:Novartis: Employment. Vanasse:Novartis: Employment, Equity Ownership. Kumar:Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Millennium: Consultancy, Research Funding; Onyx: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Array: Research Funding; Cephalon: Research Funding.