Dash, Ajeeta B.

Abstract Introduction: A number of cytogenetic abnormalities (CAs) are associated with poorer prognosis in MM, including del(17p), t(4;14), t(14;16), and amp1q21. There is a general consensus that treatment with proteasome inhibitors (PIs) benefits pts carrying these CAs (Sonneveld Blood 2016). This meta-analysis of four phase 3 studies assesses PFS benefit in pts receiving the oral PI ixa vs pbo regarding the specific adverse CAs. Methods: Pts in TOURMALINE-MM1 (N=722; relapsed/refractory MM; Moreau N Engl J Med 2016) and MM2 (N=705; newly diagnosed MM; Facon Blood 2021) received ixa plus lenalidomide-dexamethasone (Rd) vs pbo-Rd (1:1). Pts in TOURMALINE-MM3 (N=656; Dimopoulos Lancet 2019) and TOURMALINE-MM4 (N=706; Dimopoulos J Clin Oncol 2020) received ixa vs pbo (3:2) as maintenance following autologous stem cell transplant or as post-induction maintenance in transplant-ineligible pts, respectively. In TOURMALINE-MM1/MM2, CAs were centrally assessed on CD138 positive sorted cells from bone marrow samples collected at study entry using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Cutoff values for defining the presence of del(17p), t(4;14), and t(14;16) were 5%, 3%, and 3% positive cells, respectively, based on the false-positive rates (technical cutoffs) of the FISH probes used, and cutoff values of 3% (MM1) and 20% (MM2) were used for amp1q21. In TOURMALINE-MM3/MM4, cytogenetic assessment was performed locally using FISH or conventional karyotyping with locally defined thresholds for positivity. Results: 270/1227 (22%) vs 227/1019 (22%) evaluable pts receiving ixa-based vs pbo-based therapy had high-risk CAs [del(17p), t(4;14), t(14;16)]: 75 vs 62 in MM1, 60 vs 63 in MM2, 61 vs 54 in MM3, and 74 vs 48 in MM4. 957/1227 (78%) vs 792/1019 (78%) had complementary standard-risk CAs: 200 vs 216 in MM1, 231 vs 234 in MM2, 252 vs 152 in MM3, and 275 vs 190 in MM4. 555/1142 (49%) vs 479/955 (50%) evaluable pts receiving ixa-based vs pbo-based therapy had expanded high-risk CAs (high-risk CAs ± amp1q21): 155 vs 154 in MM1, 134 vs 146 in MM2, 116 vs 88 in MM3, and 150 vs 91 in MM4. 587/1142 (51%) vs 476/955 (50%) had complementary standard-risk CAs: 122 vs 126 in MM1, 164 vs 153 in MM2, 154 vs 89 in MM3, and 148 vs 108 in MM4. After a median follow-up in the pooled analysis of 25.6 months (mos; 12.7, 54.6, 29.7, and 21.3 mos in MM1, MM2, MM3, and MM4, respectively), the hazard ratio (HR) for PFS with ixa-based vs pbo-based therapy in pts with high-risk CAs was 0.74 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59-0.93; median 17.8 vs 13.2 mos) and 0.70, (95% CI 0.62-0.80; median 26.3 vs 17.6 mos) in pts with standard-risk CAs. In the subgroup analyses of expanded high-risk CAs, the HR for PFS with ixa-based vs pbo-based therapy in pts in the expanded high-risk group was 0.75 (95% CI 0.64-0.87; median 18.1 vs 14.1 mos; Figure 1) and 0.71 (95% CI 0.59-0.85; median 36.1 vs 21.4 mos) in the complementary standard-risk group. Analyses of PFS according to the presence of individual CAs (Figure 2) indicated differing magnitudes of PFS benefit. Notably, in pts with t(4;14) (n=124 vs n=102), the HR for PFS with ixa-based vs pbo-based therapy was 0.68 (95% CI 0.48-0.96; median 22.4 vs 13.2 mos), while for pts with amp1q21 (n=380 vs n=312), the HR was 0.77 (95% CI 0.63-0.93; median 18.8 vs 14.5 mos) and for pts with del(17p) (n=141 vs n=107) the HR was 0.80 (95% CI 0.59-1.09; median 15.7 vs 13.2 mos). Conclusions: This pooled analysis demonstrated a PFS benefit with ixa-based therapy vs pbo-based therapy regardless of the presence of specific adverse CAs, with a similar magnitude of benefit in pts with (expanded) high-risk CAs and the respective complementary standard-risk groups. However, due to the differences in study eligibility criteria and pt populations, ixa combined with Rd or as single-agent maintenance therapy may not abrogate the negative impact of high-risk CAs. Analyses of PFS in subgroups with specific CAs indicated that the greatest magnitudes of benefit (lowest HRs) with ixa-based vs pbo-based therapy were in pts with t(4;14) (HR 0.68) and pts with amp1q21 (HR 0.77), suggesting that the improved outcome with ixa-based vs pbo-based therapy in the expanded high-risk subgroup was primarily driven by PFS differences in pts with these more common CAs. Further study is needed, and additional sensitivity analyses will be presented in subsequent publications. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Chng: BMS/Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Johnson and Johnson: Honoraria, Research Funding. Lonial: BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; AMGEN: Consultancy, Honoraria; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Merck: Honoraria. Morgan: Takeda: Honoraria. Iida: Amgen: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; Glaxo SmithKlein: Research Funding; Ono: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Chugai: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding. Moreau: Sanofi: Honoraria; Celgene BMS: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Oncopeptides: Honoraria. Kumar: Bluebird Bio: Consultancy; Carsgen: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Antengene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Research Funding; Oncopeptides: Consultancy; Tenebio: Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; KITE: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Roche-Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Beigene: Consultancy; Merck: Research Funding; Astra-Zeneca: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Adaptive: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding. Twumasi-Ankrah: Takeda: Current Employment. Kumar: Takeda: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Dash: Takeda: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Vorog: Takeda: Current Employment. Zhang: Takeda: Current Employment. Suryanarayan: Takeda: Current Employment. Labotka: Takeda: Current Employment. Dimopoulos: Janssen: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Beigene: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria. OffLabel Disclosure: Use of the oral proteasome inhibitor ixazomib for the initial treatment of multiple myeloma and as maintenance treatment following stem cell transplantation or induction therapy in newly diagnosed patients

AbstractThe development of novel agents has transformed the treatment paradigm for multiple myeloma, with minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity now achievable across the entire disease spectrum. Bone marrow–based technologies to assess MRD, including approaches using next-generation flow and next-generation sequencing, have provided real-time clinical tools for the sensitive detection and monitoring of MRD in patients with multiple myeloma. Complementary liquid biopsy–based assays are now quickly progressing with some, such as mass spectrometry methods, being very close to clinical use, while others utilizing nucleic acid–based technologies are still developing and will prove important to further our understanding of the biology of MRD. On the regulatory front, multiple retrospective individual patient and clinical trial level meta-analyses have already shown and will continue to assess the potential of MRD as a surrogate for patient outcome. Given all this progress, it is not surprising that a number of clinicians are now considering using MRD to inform real-world clinical care of patients across the spectrum from smoldering myeloma to relapsed refractory multiple myeloma, with each disease setting presenting key challenges and questions that will need to be addressed through clinical trials. The pace of advances in targeted and immune therapies in multiple myeloma is unprecedented, and novel MRD-driven biomarker strategies are essential to accelerate innovative clinical trials leading to regulatory approval of novel treatments and continued improvement in patient outcomes.

Background CD38 is highly expressed on MM cells, hence anti-CD38 agents are of interest as a therapeutic approach in MM. The anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, dara, as mono- or combination therapy, has substantially improved efficacy outcomes in RRMM, including in heavily pretreated pts. However, many pts relapse and new therapeutic approaches are needed, particularly for pts R/R to dara. TAK-169 is a dimeric fusion protein of an anti-CD38 antibody single chain variable fragment fused to a modified Shiga-like toxin-A subunit. Its unique mechanism of action involves specific binding to CD38+ cells, forced internalization into the target cells, retrograde transport to the cytosol, and irreversible, enzymatic inactivation of target cell ribosomes to cause apoptosis. TAK-169 showed potent, rapid in vitro activity on CD38-expressing cell lines and in vivo efficacy in MM mouse xenograft tumor models with a wide CD38 expression range when administered intravenously (IV) once weekly (QW) or once every 2 weeks (Q2W). Activity was also shown in ex vivo assays from 6 pt bone marrow aspirate (BMA) samples, including from a dara-resistant pt (EC50 5 nM). TAK-169 retained in vitro activity in the presence of dara with modest shifts in EC50 noted at higher dara concentrations. In contrast to dara, TAK-169 has direct tumor cell kill activity that is independent of a pt's immune function status and may therefore be effective in a dara-resistant setting. Accordingly, this phase 1 study will assess safety, tolerability, preliminary efficacy, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of TAK-169 in RRMM. Methods This first-in-human, multicenter, open-label study (NCT04017130; Figure) comprises dose escalation (Part 1) and expansion (Part 2). Eligible pts must be aged ≥18 years with a confirmed diagnosis of MM. Pts enrolled in Part 1 should not be candidates for available therapies known to confer clinical benefit in RRMM. In part 2, pts enrolled should have received ≥3 prior lines of therapy, or ≥2 if one included a PI and IMiD combined. Prior anti-CD38 therapy (including dara) is permitted, except in the Part 2 anti-CD38 therapy-naive expansion cohort. In Part 1, the primary objective is to assess safety/tolerability of TAK-169 in pts with RRMM, and determine maximum tolerated dose/recommended Phase 2 dose (MTD/RP2D). Secondary objectives include efficacy, PK, PD and immunogenicity of TAK-169. Approximately 60 pts are planned to be enrolled to receive IV TAK-169 QW on Days 1/8/15/22 in 28-day cycles. Dosing will start at 50 μg/kg, with subsequent dose levels of 100, 200, 335, 500, 665 μg/kg. A 2nd Q2W dose escalation cohort may be initiated, starting at the QW MTD. The Bayesian Logistic Regression Model with overdose control will be used for dose escalation cohort 2 and for all subsequent dose escalation cohorts, and other non-DLT-safety, clinical, PK, and PD data will be considered. In Part 2, the primary objective is preliminary evaluation of TAK-169 clinical activity in RRMM. Secondary objectives include further evaluating safety, efficacy, PK, PD, and immunogenicity of TAK-169. Part 2 will enroll approximately 54 pts into dara RR (QW and Q2W dosing) and anti-CD38 therapy-naïve (QW dosing) cohorts. TAK-169 will be administered at the MTD/RP2D (QW and Q2W) determined in Part 1. Response will be monitored longitudinally using orthogonal approaches. M-protein levels in serum and urine will be measured each cycle to determine objective responses by International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) criteria. Minimal residual disease status in pts suspected to be at complete response will be assessed. Circulating free DNA (cfDNA) will be collected from longitudinal plasma samples for disease monitoring. Baseline cytogenetic data will be collected, and TAK-169 efficacy will be assessed in pts with high-risk cytogenetics. Serial blood samples will be used to characterize PK and PD of TAK-169 after IV administration, and to assess the presence of antidrug antibodies. BMA samples collected at screening will be used to evaluate baseline expression of candidate biomarkers. Toxicity will be evaluated using National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE) version 5. Efficacy analyses will use descriptive statistics with a 95% confidence interval and the Kaplan-Meier method. PK parameters and immunogenicity status will be summarized using descriptive statistics. Recruitment is ongoing. Figure Disclosures Kumar: Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding. Cornell:Takeda: Consultancy; KaryoPharm: Consultancy. Landgren:Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Merck: Other: IDMC; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Theradex: Other: IDMC; Adaptive: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Ailawadhi:Cellectar: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy. Higgins:Molecular Templates, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Willert:Molecular Templates: Employment. Waltzman:Molecular Templates, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Lin:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment, Equity Ownership. Zhang:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Lublinsky:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Dash:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Hanley:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Manoharan:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Leichter:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Ottinger:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Labotka:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Newcomb:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment, Equity Ownership. Vorog:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. OffLabel Disclosure: TAK-169 is a dimeric fusion protein of an anti-CD38 antibody single chain variable fragment fused to a modified Shiga-like toxin-A subunit

Abstract Introduction Maintenance therapy has been extensively explored as a strategy for prolonging the duration of disease control and potentially survival following ASCT. To date, only lenalidomide has been approved for this indication. However, lenalidomide maintenance is associated with the development of second primary malignancies and tolerability issues. PIs are a backbone of MM treatment, and bortezomib-based maintenance has shown promising activity post-ASCT, yet the benefit of PI-based maintenance has not been demonstrated in a phase 3 trial vs placebo. Moreover, the feasibility of bortezomib maintenance in routine clinical practice is limited due to tolerability and the need for regular parenteral administration. There is a need for an oral PI maintenance therapy that can be administered for a prolonged period, improve depth of response without cumulative or late-onset toxicity, and improve convenience for patients. Methods The phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter TOURMALINE-MM3 study (NCT02181413) compared weekly ixazomib vs placebo maintenance in NDMM patients who had at least a partial response (≥PR) to induction therapy with a PI and/or immunomodulatory drug (IMiD) followed by single ASCT. Patients were randomized (3:2) to receive ixazomib or matched placebo on days 1, 8, and 15 of 28-day cycles for up to 2 years or until progressive disease (PD) or unacceptable toxicity. Randomization was stratified by induction regimen (PI without IMiD vs IMiD without PI vs PI+IMiD), pre-induction ISS stage (I vs II or III), and post-ASCT response (complete response [CR] or very good partial response [VGPR] vs PR). Patients were ineligible if they had received post-ASCT consolidation or tandem ASCT. The ixazomib dose was 3.0 mg during cycles 1-4, increasing to 4 mg from cycle 5 if tolerated during cycles 1-4. The primary endpoint was PFS per independent review committee (IRC), who were blinded to treatment assignment. The key secondary endpoint was OS. Here, we report data from the final analysis for PFS (data cut-off: April 16, 2018). Results 656 patients were randomized (395 ixazomib; 261 placebo). Patient demographics were balanced between groups; overall median age was 57 years (range, 24-73), 37% vs 63% had ISS I vs II or III, 59%/11%/30% had received PI without IMiD / IMiD without PI / PI+IMiD induction therapy, 34%/45%/21% had achieved CR / VGPR / PR following induction/ASCT, and 18% had high-risk cytogenetics [del(17p), t(4;14), or t(14;16)]. After a median follow-up of 31 months with 54% of PFS events, there was a 28% reduction in the risk of progression/death, corresponding to a 39% improvement in PFS with ixazomib vs placebo (median 26.5 vs 21.3 months; hazard ratio [HR] 0.72; 95% CI: 0.582, 0.890; p=0.002; Figure). In a landmark analysis from ASCT, PFS was 30.7 vs 24.9 months (HR 0.684; 95% CI: 0.551, 0.848; p<0.001). Median PFS2 and OS have not yet been reached in either arm. Ixazomib maintenance led to higher rates of deepened response compared with placebo (relative risk 1.41; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.80; p=0.004). Conversion from documented MRD positivity at study entry to MRD negativity occurred at a higher rate with ixazomib compared with placebo (12% vs 7%). PFS benefit was seen broadly across subgroups, including ISS III (HR 0.661), PI-exposed (HR 0.750), PI-naïve (HR 0.497), and patients with high-risk cytogenetics (HR 0.625). Discontinuation due to AEs was low (7% ixazomib vs 5% placebo). With ixazomib vs placebo, 42% vs 26% of patients had grade ≥3 AEs; 27% vs 20% had serious AEs; and 1 patient vs 0 died on treatment. Common grade ≥3 AEs were infections (15% vs 8%) including pneumonia (6% vs 4%), gastrointestinal disorders (6% vs 1%), neutropenia (5% vs 3%), and thrombocytopenia (5% vs <1%). Peripheral neuropathy rates were 19% vs 15% (<1% vs 0 grade 3). Rate of second primary malignancies was 3% in both arms. Global Quality of Life scores (EORTC QLQ-C30) on ixazomib were similar to placebo. Conclusions This study demonstrated a 28% reduction in the risk of progression/death, corresponding to a 39% improvement in PFS with ixazomib maintenance, with deepening of responses and increased conversions to MRD negativity over control, as well as a favorable safety profile, including an absence of risk of second primary malignancies and low rates of peripheral neuropathy, supporting ixazomib as a valuable option for maintenance therapy in responding patients post-ASCT. Figure. Figure. Disclosures Dimopoulos: Janssen: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria. Gay:Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen Takeda Celgene, Amgen, BMS, and Roche: Other: Advisor; Janssen, Amgen, Takeda, Celgene, BMS: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Schjesvold:Oncopeptides: Consultancy; Abbvie: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Adaptive: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Beksac:Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen Cilag: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Deva: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Hajek:Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding. Weisel:Amgen, BMS, Celgene, Janssen, and Takeda: Honoraria; Amgen, BMS, Celgene, Janssen, Juno, Sanofi, and Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen, Celgene, Janssen, and Sanofi: Research Funding. Goldschmidt:Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Adaptive Biotechnology: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Chugai: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; ArtTempi: Honoraria; Mundipharma: Research Funding. Maisnar:Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria. Moreau:Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Chng:Merck: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, accommodation, expenses; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, accommodation, expenses; Aslan: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, accommodation, expenses, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, accommodation, expenses, Research Funding. Kaiser:Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Other: Travel Support; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Other: Travel support; Chugai: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Zweegman:Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene Corp.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Mateos:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GSK: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GSK: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Spencer:Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; STA: Honoraria. Iida:Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Kyowa-Hakko Kirin: Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; Chugai: Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Ono: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Toyama Chemical: Research Funding; MSD: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Teijin Pharma: Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy. Morgan:Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria. Teng:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Suryanarayan:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Skacel:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment; Department of Hematology, Charles University General Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic: Other: Affiliation. Dash:Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Co.: Employment. Labotka:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment.

Abstract Background: Pev (TAK-924/MLN4924), a novel investigational NAE inhibitor, enhances the anti-leukemic effects of aza in AML cell lines and murine xenografts (Smith et al, Blood 2011). Single-agent pev activity was confirmed in relapsed/refractory AML pts (Swords et al, Br J Haematol 2015). This open-label, multi-center, dose-escalation study (NCT01814826) investigated pev + aza in treatment-naïve older AML pts. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs)includedG2 hyperbilirubinemia and G4 AST elevation (n=1 each) at pev 30 mg/m2. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) for the combination was pev 20 mg/m2 + aza 75 mg/m2 (Swords et al, ASH 2014).We present updated safety/efficacy results for the MTD cohort (fully enrolled). Methods: Primary objectives included safety and tolerability assessments of pev + aza in addition to defining the MTD. Secondary objectives included pharmacokinetics (PK) and disease response assessments. Treatment-naïve pts ≥60 yrs unlikely to benefit from standard induction therapy (defined by ≥1 of: antecedent hematologic disease; known adverse cytogenetic risk; ECOG PS 2; ≥75 yrs), received pev 20 or 30 mg/m2 IV on d 1, 3 and 5, + fixed-dose aza (75 mg/m2 IV/SC) on d 1-5, 8 and 9, every 28 d until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed per NCI-CTCAE v4.03; response per IWG criteria for AML. Bone marrow samples were collected at screening to assess cytogenetic risk (CALGB) and mutation profile; serial samples for PK analysis were drawn in cycle 1. Results: Demographics:As of May 17 2016, 61 pts (median age 75 yrs [range 61-89]; 54% male; 77% ECOG PS 0/1, 23% ECOG PS 2; 57% de novo, 43% secondary AML; median marrow blasts 36% [range 5-92]) had received pev 20 mg/m2, of whom 48% had intermediate-, 30% adverse-, and 3% favorable-risk cytogenetics. Safety/PK: Pts received a median of 4 cycles (range 1-33), and 23/61 pts (38%) received ≥6 cycles of pev + aza. The most common AEs were constipation (46%), nausea (44%), fatigue (43%), and anemia (39%). Fifty pts (82%) experienced ≥G3 AEs; the most frequent (≥15%) were anemia, febrile neutropenia (each 28%), thrombocytopenia (21%), neutropenia (18%), and pneumonia (15%). ≥G3 AST/ALT elevations were reported in 5% of pts. Forty-one pts (67%) experienced serious AEs; the most frequent (≥10%) were febrile neutropenia, neutropenia (each 25%), and pneumonia (11%). Two pts discontinued due to pev related toxicity (G3 febrile neutropenia). There were 11 on-study deaths unrelated to study therapy. In the MTD expansion phase (n=55), 2 pts experienced DLTs of transient G3/4 transaminase elevations, and were successfully re-challenged following dose reduction to remain on study. Pev PK was not altered by the addition of aza. Responses: Overall response rate (ORR) in 52 response-evaluable pts was 60% (18CR, 5CRi, 8PR; Figure 1), with a median duration of remission of 8.3 mos (95% CI: 5.75, 12.06); 19/31 (61%) responses occurred within the first 2 cycles.Of the 23 pts with CR/CRi, 14 had responses lasting ≥4 cycles, 2 went on to have allogeneic stem cell transplant, 9 had intermediate-, 7 adverse-, and 1 favorable-risk cytogenetics. ORR was: 64% (14/22; 7CR, 3CRi, 4PR) vs 57% (17/30; 11CR, 2CRi, 4PR) for pts with low- (<30%) vs high- (≥30%) marrow blasts; 58% (18/31; 11CR, 3CRi, 4PR) vs 62% (13/21; 7CR, 2CRi, 4PR) for de novo vs secondary AML pts; 61% (14/23; 8CR, 1CRi, 5PR) vs 50% (8/16; 5CR, 2CRi, 1PR) for intermediate- vs adverse-risk cytogenetic pts; 83% (19/23; 14CR, 2CRi, 3PR) vs 41% (12/29; 5CR, 3CRi, 4PR) for pts who received ≥6 cycles vs <6 cycles of aza, respectively. Responses were seen in pts with typically refractory disease; 7/11 pts with TP53 mutations achieved either a CR/CRi (n=3) or PR (n=4); 4 stayed on study for >10 cycles. After a median follow-up of 16.4 mos, 6-mo survival was 52%. Median overall survival was: 7.0 mos for the MTD cohort; 8.5 vs 5.2 mos for pts with low- (<30%) vs high- (≥30%) marrow blasts (Figure 2); 5.6 vs 11.2 mos for de novo vs secondary AML pts (Figure 3); and 16.1 vs 5.3 mos for pts aged 65-74 vs ≥75 yrs, respectively. Conclusion: Pev + aza was well tolerated. Response rates and durable remissions were observed with limited additional toxicity beyond what is expected for aza alone. The timing and frequency of responses suggests benefit from the addition of pev compared to aza alone (Dombret et al, Blood 2015). At the time of writing, a randomized phase 2 study in low-blast AML/high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes is ongoing. Disclosures Coutre: Janssen: Consultancy; Pharmacylics, LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding. Zeidner:Tolero: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Otsuka: Consultancy; Agios: Honoraria. Foran:medscape: Honoraria; Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Research Funding; novartis: Honoraria; pfizer: Honoraria; karyopharm: Honoraria; boehringer ingelheim: Research Funding; agios: Research Funding; Cellerant: Research Funding. Cruz:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Honoraria; Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Speakers Bureau. Erba:Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Celator: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Juno: Research Funding; Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, DSMB, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Agios: Research Funding; Sunesis: Consultancy; Gylcomimetics: Other: DSMB; Astellas: Research Funding; Ariad: Consultancy; Jannsen: Consultancy, Research Funding. Berdeja:Abbvie, Acetylon, Amgen, Bluebird, BMS, Calithera, Celgene, Constellation, Curis, Epizyme, Janssen, Karyopharm, Kesios, Novartis, Onyx, Takeda, Tragara: Research Funding. Tam:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy. Vardhanabhuti:Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Dobler:Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Faessel:Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Dash:Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Sedarati:Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Dezube:Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment, Equity Ownership. Savona:Takeda: Research Funding; Amgen Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; Sunesis: Research Funding; Ariad: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Abstract Background: Treatment of elderly AML patients considered unfit for conventional chemotherapy is inadequate and hypomethylating agents are commonly used alternatives. In the case of azacitidine, responses are typically seen after 3–6 cycles of therapy, and a recent large randomized trial in elderly unfit patients reported a complete response (CR)/CR with incomplete blood count recovery rate of 28% (Dombret et al, EHA 2014). Pevonedistat (MLN4924) is an investigational, first-in-class NEDD8-activating enzyme (NAE) inhibitor. A phase 1 trial previously reported pevonedistat single-agent clinical activity in relapsed/refractory AML patients. Preclinical studies of pevonedistat and azacitidine identified synergistic lethality in AML cell lines and murine xenografts. The current phase 1b dose-escalation study evaluated the safety and tolerability of pevonedistat combined with azacitidine in elderly AML patients considered unfit for conventional chemotherapy. Methods: The primary objective was to assess the safety and tolerability of pevonedistat combined with azacitidine. Secondary objectives included assessment of pevonedistat pharmacokinetics (PK) and clinical activity. Treatment-naïve AML patients aged ≥60 years who were considered unfit for standard induction therapy received pevonedistat via 1-hour IV infusion on days 1, 3, and 5 of 28-day cycles. Dose escalation began at 20 mg/m2 and used an adaptive Bayesian continual reassessment method. Azacitidine 75 mg/m2 was administered (IV or SC) on days 1–5 and 8–9. Patients were treated until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Adverse events (AEs) were graded per NCI-CTCAE v4.03. Responses were assessed according to International Working Group response criteria for AML. Serial blood samples were obtained for PK analysis following dosing on days 1 and 5 of cycle 1. Results: As of May 30, 2014, 25 patients (median age 75.0 years [range 63–85]; 16 [64%] male) had received pevonedistat 20 mg/m2 (n=22) and 30 mg/m2 (n=3). Primary diagnoses were 16 (64%) de novo AML and 9 (36%) secondary AML. Fourteen (56%) patients had intermediate- and 6 (24%) had adverse-risk cytogenetics (5 [20%] undetermined). During dose escalation, dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) at the 30 mg/m2 pevonedistat dose level included reversible grade 2 increased bilirubin (n=1) and grade 3/4 increased transaminases (n=1) without clinical sequelae. In 1 of the 22 patients treated at the maximum tolerated dose (20 mg/m2 pevonedistat plus 75 mg/m2 IV/SC azacitidine), 1 additional DLT (grade 4 AST/ALT elevation) was seen in the expansion cohort. This patient was successfully re-challenged with a reduced pevonedistat dose. The most common all-grade AEs are shown in table 1. Twelve (48%) patients experienced drug-related grade ≥3 AEs (table 1). The nature and frequency of the reported toxicities (excluding DLTs) were similar to previous reports for azacitidine alone. Preliminary PK data showed that addition of azacitidine did not alter the known PK profile of single-agent pevonedistat. In the 18 response-evaluable patients, there were 6 (33%) CRs and 4 (22%) PRs (table 2), for an overall response rate of 56%. Nine of the 10 responses occurred within the first two cycles of therapy and included 1 patient with bone marrow blasts >80%. Conclusions: Combination therapy with pevonedistat and azacitidine was generally well-tolerated. The characteristics of the observed responses suggest added benefit from the addition of pevonedistat compared with azacitidine alone. Table 1 Common all-grade AEs n (%) Most frequent (≥10%) drug-related grade ≥3 AEs n (%) Febrile neutropenia 9 (36) Febrile neutropenia 4 (16) Constipation 8 (32) Thrombocytopenia 3 (12) Decreased appetite 7 (28) – – Thrombocytopenia 7 (28) – – Table 2 Responders* Tumor Type Cytogenetic Risk Group Current Status Response Molecular CR 1st Response 1st CR 1 De novo AML Adverse C12 C4 – – 2 Undetermined C4† C1 C1 Y 3 Adverse C9 C1 C1 Y 4 Undetermined C5‡ C1 C2 Y 5 Intermediate C5† C1 C2 N 6 Intermediate C7 C1 C4 Y 7 Intermediate C2 C2 – – 8 Secondary AML Undetermined C4 C2 C2 – 9 Normal C4 C1 – – 10 De novo AML – C1 C1 – – Molecular CR, complete remission confirmed by molecular studies *All received 20 mg/m2 pevonedistat except #4, who started on 30 mg/m2 and had a dose reduction to 20 mg/m2. †Patient off study ‡Patient off treatment and in follow-up Disclosures Swords: Novartis: Consultancy; KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy; Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company: Consultancy. Savona:Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Erba:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Co.: Research Funding; Astellas Pharma: Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding. Foran:Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Co.: Research Funding. Hua:Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Co.: Employment. Faessel:Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Co.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Dash:Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Co.: Employment. Sedarati:Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Co.: Employment. Dezube:Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Co.: Employment. Medeiros:Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Co.: Research Funding.

Key Points RP2D of PEV 20 mg/m2 in PEV/AZA combo did not alter toxicity profile of AZA; dose-limiting toxicities were transiently elevated AST/ALT. In treatment-naive older AML patients, the intent-to-treat ORR was 50%.