Kent, Sean

2529 Background: Tumor expression of the antiphagocytic protein CD47 (integrin associated protein) may lead to immunotherapy resistance (IO-R). PF-07257876 is a novel, IgG1, Fc-active, bispecific antibody targeting CD47 and PD-L1 designed to reverse IO-R, decrease anemia risk, and eliminate a priming dose. We report a Phase 1 dose escalation study (NCT04881045) in patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors, both IO-refractory and IO-naïve. Methods: The study enrolled pts ≥18 yrs with advanced non–small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) with PD-L1 expression >1% post anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. Pts with other PD-L1+ tumors known to express CD47 were included (prior IO not required). Pts received PF-07257876 at escalating dose levels in 28-day cycles. Primary objectives were safety (dose-limiting toxicity [DLT] rate), tolerability, and determination of Recommended Phase 2 Dose (RP2D). Secondary and exploratory objectives included pharmacokinetics (PK), blood receptor occupancy (RO), CD47 levels by immunohistochemistry (IHC), tissue biopsy findings, and objective response rate (ORR) per RECIST v.1.1. Results: As of 20OCT2022, 18 pts were enrolled (NSCLC: n = 6; SCCHN: n = 4; other: n = 8). Median (range) age 68 (46–79) yrs. PF-07257876 was given at ascending doses, 150-2400 mg by subcutaneous (SC) injection or SC infusion every 2 weeks. 16 (89%) pts had treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs): Grades 1/2: n = 12 (67%); Grade 3: n = 1 (6%); Grade 4: n = 3 (17%); no Grade 5. Most common TRAEs: injection site reaction/erythema (n = 13, 72%), thrombocytopenia (n = 6, 33%), anemia (n = 5, 28%), and nausea (n = 4, 22%). DLTs occurred in 2 of 3 pts at the highest tested dose (Grade 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, n = 1; Grade 4 thrombocytopenia, n = 1; both pts recovered). One pt with IO-R SCCHN had a confirmed partial response (duration of response 16 wks). ORR was 5.6% (1/18). Drug exposure increase after 1st dose was not dose proportional. Blood RO was > 95% for PD-L1 and > 70% for CD47 with drug exposure. All pts’ baseline CD47 IHC levels were moderate to high. Pharmacodynamics cytokine profiling showed notable dose-response increases of IFNg, TNFa, CXCL9/10, CCL3/4, without IL-6 increase. Conclusions: PF-07257876 was well tolerated with manageable toxicity. Incidence and grade of anemia or thrombocytopenia were manageable. Target engagement of CD47 and PD-L1 in peripheral blood was high. Innate and adaptive cytokine modulation was observed. Antitumor activity was modest. Expansion is ongoing at 1800 mg. Clinical trial information: NCT04881045 .

AbstractIntroductionAvailable evidence is mixed concerning associations between smoking status and COVID-19 clinical outcomes. Effects of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and vaccination status on COVID-19 outcomes in smokers are unknown.MethodsElectronic health record data from 104 590 COVID-19 patients hospitalized February 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021 in 21 U.S. health systems were analyzed to assess associations of smoking status, in-hospital NRT prescription, and vaccination status with in-hospital death and ICU admission.ResultsCurrent (n = 7764) and never smokers (n = 57 454) did not differ on outcomes after adjustment for age, sex, race, ethnicity, insurance, body mass index, and comorbidities. Former (vs never) smokers (n = 33 101) had higher adjusted odds of death (aOR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.06–1.17) and ICU admission (aOR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.04–1.11). Among current smokers, NRT prescription was associated with reduced mortality (aOR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.50–0.82). Vaccination effects were significantly moderated by smoking status; vaccination was more strongly associated with reduced mortality among current (aOR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.16–0.66) and former smokers (aOR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.39–0.57) than for never smokers (aOR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.57, 0.79). Vaccination was associated with reduced ICU admission more strongly among former (aOR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.66–0.83) than never smokers (aOR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.79–0.97).ConclusionsFormer but not current smokers hospitalized with COVID-19 are at higher risk for severe outcomes. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is associated with better hospital outcomes in COVID-19 patients, especially current and former smokers. NRT during COVID-19 hospitalization may reduce mortality for current smokers.ImplicationsPrior findings regarding associations between smoking and severe COVID-19 disease outcomes have been inconsistent. This large cohort study suggests potential beneficial effects of nicotine replacement therapy on COVID-19 outcomes in current smokers and outsized benefits of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in current and former smokers. Such findings may influence clinical practice and prevention efforts and motivate additional research that explores mechanisms for these effects.

Abstract Background: There is mixed evidence about the relations of current versus past cancer with severe COVID-19 outcomes and how they vary by patient and cancer characteristics. Methods: Electronic health record data of 104,590 adult hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were obtained from 21 United States health systems from February 2020 through September 2021. In-hospital mortality and ICU admission were predicted from current and past cancer diagnoses. Moderation by patient characteristics, vaccination status, cancer type, and year of the pandemic was examined. Results: 6.8% of the patients had current (n = 7,141) and 6.5% had past (n = 6,749) cancer diagnoses. Current cancer predicted both severe outcomes but past cancer did not; adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for mortality were 1.58 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.46–1.70] and 1.04 (95% CI, 0.96–1.13), respectively. Mortality rates decreased over the pandemic but the incremental risk of current cancer persisted, with the increment being larger among younger vs. older patients. Prior COVID-19 vaccination reduced mortality generally and among those with current cancer (aOR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.53–0.90). Conclusions: Current cancer, especially among younger patients, posed a substantially increased risk for death and ICU admission among patients with COVID-19; prior COVID-19 vaccination mitigated the risk associated with current cancer. Past history of cancer was not associated with higher risks for severe COVID-19 outcomes for most cancer types. Impact: This study clarifies the characteristics that modify the risk associated with cancer on severe COVID-19 outcomes across the first 20 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. See related commentary by Egan et al., p. 3