Citations

Background: Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) occur in ~3% of individuals with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and have been associated with increased transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Ivosidenib (AG-120) is an oral, potent, targeted inhibitor of the mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 enzyme (mIDH1) and is approved in the US for the treatment of newly diagnosed AML with a susceptible IDH1 mutation in patients ≥75 years of age or who have comorbidities that preclude the use of intensive induction chemotherapy, and in adult patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) AML. The first-in-human, phase 1 dose escalation and expansion study of ivosidenib (NCT02074839) enrolled adults with mIDH1 advanced hematologic malignancies, including R/R MDS, and the study is ongoing. In the initial phase of the study (DiNardo et al. N Engl J Med 2018), the 12 patients with R/R MDS received 500 mg ivosidenib once daily and were characterized as follows: 75% were male, median age was 72.5 years (range 52-78), and 42% were ≥75 years of age; median number of prior therapies was 1 (range 1-3). Adverse events (AEs) of any grade, irrespective of causality, occurring in ≥20% of the 12 patients were diarrhea, fatigue, back pain, rash (n=4 each, 33.3%), anemia, urinary tract infection, decreased appetite, hypokalemia, arthralgia, dyspnea, pruritus, and hypotension (n=3 each, 25.0%). No AEs led to permanent discontinuation of treatment. Response was assessed according to International Working Group 2006 criteria for MDS. According to investigators, five of 12 patients achieved complete remission (CR) (41.7%; 95% CI 15.2%, 72.3%); median duration of CR was not estimable for these patients (95% CI 2.8 months, not estimable). Nine of 12 patients were transfusion independent for at least 56 days during study treatment. Mutation clearance was observed in one of the 5 CR patients. Here we report the design of a new sub-study of this trial, which is being undertaken to further assess the safety, tolerability, and clinical activity of treatment with ivosidenib in patients with R/R MDS. Methods: This sub-study is evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and clinical activity of ivosidenib. Adults with R/R MDS with an IDH1 mutation will be enrolled in the MDS sub-study. These individuals must have R/R disease after treatment with standard agents indicated for MDS. Eligible patients must have a platelet count of ≥20,000/μL, and adequate hepatic function (total bilirubin ≤1.5 × upper limit of normal [ULN]; aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase ≤3.0 × ULN) and renal function (serum creatinine ≤2.0 × ULN or creatinine clearance >40 mL/min). Additional key inclusion criteria are bone marrow blasts >5% and/or transfusion dependence. Ivosidenib is to be administered at a dose of 500 mg once daily orally on Days 1 to 28 of 28-day cycles. The addition of the MDS sub-study to this phase 1 clinical study in patients with hematological malignancies will provide additional insights into the use of ivosidenib for the treatment of mIDH1 R/R MDS. Disclosures Foran: Agios: Honoraria, Research Funding. DiNardo:notable labs: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; medimmune: Honoraria; daiichi sankyo: Honoraria; abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; agios: Consultancy, Honoraria; jazz: Honoraria; celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; syros: Honoraria. Watts:Takeda: Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Stein:Agios: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astellas Pharma US, Inc: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bioline: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genentech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; PTC Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Syros: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. De Botton:Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy; Syros: Consultancy; Forma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Servier: Consultancy; Pierre Fabre: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Agios: Consultancy, Research Funding. Fathi:Amphivena, Kite, Jazz, NewLink Genetics,: Honoraria; Agios, Astellas, Celgene, Daiichi Sankyo, Novartis, Takeda, Amphivena, Kite, Forty Seven,Trovagene, NewLink genetics, Jazz, Abbvie, and PTC Therapeutics: Consultancy. Stein:Stemline: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Speakers Bureau. Stone:AbbVie, Actinium, Agios, Argenx, Arog, Astellas, AstraZeneca, Biolinerx, Celgene, Cornerstone Biopharma, Fujifilm, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Amgen, Ono, Orsenix, Otsuka, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Sumitomo, Trovagene: Consultancy; Argenx, Celgene, Takeda Oncology: Other: Data and Safety Monitoring Board/Committee: ; Novartis, Agios, Arog: Research Funding. Patel:France Foundation: Honoraria; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Dava Oncology: Honoraria. Tallman:UpToDate: Patents & Royalties; Daiichi-Sankyo: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BioLineRx: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Rigel: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Cellerant: Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Delta Fly Pharma: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Nohla: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding; Tetraphase: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Orsenix: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Biosight: Research Funding; Oncolyze: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; KAHR: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Choe:Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership; Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership. Wang:Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership. Zhang:Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership; Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership. Fan:Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership. Yen:Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership. Oluyadi:Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership. Winkler:Agios: Employment. Hickman:Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership. Agresta:Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership. Liu:Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership. Wu:Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership. Attar:Aprea Therapeutics: Employment; Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership. Kantarjian:Astex: Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria; Actinium: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Immunogen: Research Funding; AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Jazz Pharma: Research Funding; Agios: Honoraria, Research Funding; Ariad: Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Cyclacel: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Daiichi-Sankyo: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: Ivosidenib (AG-120) is an IDH1 inhibitor indicated for the treatment of AML with a susceptible IDH1 mutation as detected by an FDA-approved test in: 1) adult patients with newly-diagnosed AML who are more than 75 years old or who have comorbidities that preclude use of intensive induction chemotherapy and 2) adult patients with relapsed or refractory AML. It is being evaluated in clinical trials for mutant IDH1 advanced hematologic malignancies.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Recurrent mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) are observed in approximately 4% of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and have been linked with increased transformation to acute myeloid leukemia. Ivosidenib (AG-120), an oral, potent, targeted, small-molecule inhibitor of the mutant IDH1 protein (mIDH1), is a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of patients with mIDH1 MDS. Through inhibition of mIDH1, ivosidenib suppresses the production of the oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG), leading to clinical responses via differentiation of malignant cells. AIM: To report safety and efficacy data from patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) MDS enrolled in the first-in-human, phase 1, dose escalation and expansion study of ivosidenib in patients with mIDH1 advanced hematologic malignancies (NCT02074839). METHODS: This ongoing study is evaluating the safety, maximum tolerated dose (MTD), pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and clinical activity of ivosidenib. Trial enrollment was completed on 08May2017. In dose escalation, patients received single-agent ivosidenib orally once daily (QD) or twice daily in 28-day cycles. The MTD was not reached and 500 mg QD was selected as the dose to be tested in expansion. Expansion Arm 3 enrolled patients with mIDH1 advanced hematologic malignancies, including MDS. The overall response rate (ORR) for MDS was defined as complete remission (CR) + partial remission + marrow CR. Exploratory biomarker assessments included baseline co-occurring mutations (next-generation sequencing panel for hematologic malignancies) and mIDH1 variant allele frequency (VAF) in bone marrow mononuclear cells (BEAMing Digital PCR; lower limit of detection for mIDH1, 0.02-0.04%). Here, we present safety and efficacy data for patients with MDS in expansion Arm 3 and in dose escalation whose starting dose was 500 mg QD. RESULTS: In all, 258 patients (78 in dose escalation, 180 in expansion) received ivosidenib, including 12 patients with MDS (9 from expansion and 3 from escalation) whose starting dose was 500 mg QD. Baseline characteristics for these 12 patients were: 9 men/3 women; median age, 72.5 years (range, 52-78) and 42% were ≥75 years of age; median number of prior therapies, 1 (range, 1-3). As of 10Nov2017, 7 of 12 (58.3%) patients remained on treatment and 5 (41.7%) had discontinued (one for allogeneic stem cell transplantation). The median duration of exposure to ivosidenib was 11.0 months (range, 3.3-31.1). The most common adverse events (AEs) of any grade, irrespective of causality, occurring in ≥20% of the 12 patients were back pain (n=4, 33.3%) and anemia, decreased appetite, diarrhea, dyspnea, fatigue, hypokalemia, pruritus, and rash (n=3, 25.0% each). The majority of these AEs were grade 1-2 and reported as unrelated to treatment. No AEs led to permanent discontinuation of treatment. IDH differentiation syndrome (IDH-DS) was observed in 2 of 12 (16.7%) patients; the events were grade 1 and 2, respectively. Of the 12 patients with MDS receiving ivosidenib 500 mg QD, 5 achieved CR (41.7%; 95% CI 15.2%, 72.3%) and 6 achieved marrow CR (50.0%), resulting in an ORR of 91.7% (95% CI 61.5%, 99.8%). The median durations of CR and overall response were not estimable at the time of the data cutoff. The percentages of patients who remained in CR and response at 12 months were 60.0% and 61.4%, respectively. Among 5 patients who were transfusion dependent at baseline, 4 became transfusion independent for at least 56 days on treatment. Baseline co-occurring mutations and changes in mIDH1 VAF levels on ivosidenib therapy will be presented. CONCLUSION: In patients with mIDH1 R/R MDS, ivosidenib monotherapy was well tolerated and induced durable remissions and transfusion independence. These findings support the role of ivosidenib as an effective, oral, targeted treatment for patients with mIDH1 R/R MDS. Disclosures DiNardo: Karyopharm: Other: Advisory role; Medimmune: Other: Advisory role; Celgene: Other: Advisory role; Bayer: Other: Advisory role; Agios: Consultancy, Other: Advisory role; AbbVie: Consultancy, Other: Advisory role. Watts:Jazz Pharma: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Research Funding. Stein:Celgene: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy. de Botton:Agios: Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding. Fathi:Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Jazz: Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Boston Biomedical: Consultancy, Honoraria; Astellas: Honoraria; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Agios: Honoraria, Research Funding. Stein:Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Speakers Bureau. Foran:Agios: Research Funding; Xencor, Inc.: Research Funding. Stone:AbbVie: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy, Research Funding; Cornerstone: Consultancy; Orsenix: Consultancy; Fujifilm: Consultancy; Sumitomo: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Other: Data and Safety Monitoring Board, Steering Committee; Ono: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Otsuka: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy; Merck: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Arog: Consultancy, Research Funding; Argenx: Other: Data and Safety Monitoring Board; Amgen: Consultancy. Patel:France Foundation: Honoraria; Dava Oncology: Honoraria; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Tallman:Cellerant: Research Funding; BioSight: Other: Advisory board; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Daiichi-Sankyo: Other: Advisory board; AROG: Research Funding; Orsenix: Other: Advisory board. Choe:Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership. Wang:Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership. Zhang:Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership. Dai:Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership. Fan:Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership. Yen:Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership. Kapsalis:Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hickman:Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership. Agresta:Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership. Liu:Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership. Wu:Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties. Attar:Agios: Employment, Equity Ownership.

Abstract Through the recent elucidation of molecular and cellular processes in multiple myeloma (MM) pathogenesis that effect well-defined proliferative and survival pathways, a number of molecular targets for anti-cancer agents have emerged. This includes proteins involved in cell cycle regulation. A recent model of early MM pathogenesis proposes that at least one of the cyclin D genes is dysregulated in all myeloma tumors facilitating activation of cyclin dependent kinase (CDK)4 (or CDK6), and transition from G1 to S phase. It is hypothesized that this renders myeloma cells more responsive to bone marrow (BM) derived proliferative stimuli including IL-6 that upregulates MYC expression in MM cells and cooperates with cyclin D to promote transit to S-phase. In addition, recent studies have established a causative role of MYC dysreguation in progression from monoclonal gammopathy to myeloma. Thus an approach targeting deregulated cell cycle progression and MYC may prove effective MM therapy. Purvalanol is a potent and selective inhibitor of CDK1, an important regulator of cell cycle progression and has been reported to induce MYC-dependent apoptosis. Activity of purvalanol against a panel of 14 standardized, annotated myeloma cell lines was measured in a 48 hour MTT viability assay. IC50-s of all 14 cell lines ranged between 5 uM to 7.5 uM. Western blot and real-time PCR analysis revealed variability of MYC protein and mRNA levels between the 14 myeloma cell lines. We compared potential therapeutic activity of purvalanol against 3 myeloma cell lines (U266, H929, KMS12PE) with low, intermediate, and high levels of c-MYC expression, respectively. All three cell lines demonstrated G2-M growth arrest however marked apoptosis as determined by PI/annexin V staining was observed only in the cell lines with the highest level of MYC expression. Exposure of MM patient-derived BM mononuclear cells to purvalanol preferentially induced apoptosis of CD138+ MM cells. In contrast, purvalanol was minimally cytotoxic to the non-myeloma cell fraction and to non-transformed fibroblast cell lines (MRC5, IMR90 and W138) and failed to inhibit normal bone marrow-derived CD34 colony formation. Recent studies have demonstrated that the BM microenvironment offers protection of myeloma cells from chemotherapeutic agents by common mechanisms. Myeloma cell lines were cultured in 3 different conditions to mimic the tumor’s protective microenvironment. Soluble factors produced by the BM, IL6 and IGF-1 induced a modest degree of resistance to purvalanol while co-culture on BM stroma cells was completely protective. Studies evaluating the in vivo efficacy of purvalanol in a novel Vk*myc transgenic mouse model that spontaneously develops myeloma with a low proliferative index are ongoing and will be presented. The CDK1 inhibitor, purvalanol demonstrates broad single agent activity against myeloma cells with enhanced activity against MYC overexpressing cells. However, the strong protective effect of the BM microenvironment suggest that combination with agents that can reverse cell-adhesion mediated drug resistance may prove beneficial in optimizing the efficacy of this class of drugs for the treatment of MM.

Abstract Background: Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) is an emerging clinical treatment option for patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Yttrium 90 (90Y) ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin®) RIT was approved by the FDA in February 2002 for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory low-grade, follicular, or transformed B-cell NHL, including patients with rituximab-refractory follicular NHL. In 4 registrational trials of 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan conducted between 1996 and 1999, 211 patients with B-cell NHL were treated. Of these 211 patients, 153 patients (73%) had follicular lymphoma (FL). With ongoing follow-up, long-term durable responses have been observed, but until now have not been more fully characterized. Methods: Responding patients with time to progression (TTP) of ≥12 months were identified and characterized as long-term responding (LTR) patients. Results: In the 4 registrational trials, 78 of the 211 patients (37%) were identified as LTR patients. Characteristics of these LTR patients were as follows: median age 58 years (range, 24 to 80), 44% >60 years old, 55% male, 76% with follicular lymphoma, and 41% with lymphomatous marrow involvement. LTR patients had a median of 2 prior regimens (range, 1–9): 59% had ≥2 prior therapies, 33% had ≥3 prior therapies, and 37% had no response to their last prior therapy. Thirty percent of LTR patients had bulky disease (tumor size >5 cm) and 83% had stage III/IV disease. At the time of this analysis, the median duration of response (DR) and TTP for LTR patients were 28 months (range 11–80) and 29 months (range 12–82), respectively, with a median follow-up of 50 months (range 13–82). The median DR to the last prior therapy for LTR patients was 12 months. The complete response rate (confirmed [CR] and unconfirmed [CRu]) among LTR patients was 65%, and the median DR and TTP were 29 and 31 months, respectively, for CR/CRu patients. In ongoing responders the median DR is 52 months (range 48–80). Among the 153 patients with FL, 59 (39%) were identified as LTR patients. Compared to the overall LTR patients, LTR patients with FL had similar disease characteristics, DR, TTP, and CR/CRu rates. Conclusions: Ongoing follow-up indicates that 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan frequently produces durable long-term responses (TTP ≥12 months) in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell NHL. Failure to respond to the therapy immediately prior to treatment with 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan does not appear to affect the ability to achieve long-term responses with 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan. Durable long-term responses were achieved in 37% of all patients and 39% of patients with FL treated in 4 registrational trials of 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan at 30 centers in the US. Of these LTR patients, a high proportion were >60 years old and had received ≥3 prior therapies.

Abstract Background: Simtuzumab (SIM) is a humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits lysyl oxidase-like molecule 2 (LOXL2), an extracellular matrix enzyme that catalyzes the covalent cross-linking of collagen and is widely expressed across many fibrotic diseases. In pre-clinical models, inhibition of LOXL2 blocks fibroblast activation, which plays an important role in the development of organ fibrosis. In Phase 1 studies, SIM was well-tolerated in patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors, liver fibrosis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). A Phase 2, open-label study to determine the efficacy of SIM alone (Stage 1) and combined with ruxolitinib (rux) (Stage 2) in pts with primary myelofibrosis (PMF) and post-ET/PV MF was initiated. Methods: Eligible pts had intermediate-1, intermediate-2, or high risk disease and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of <2. The primary endpoint was rate of clinical response as defined by a reduction in bone marrow fibrosis score following 24 weeks of treatment with SIM. Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive 200 mg or 700 mg SIM by intravenous infusion every 2 weeks as monotherapy (Stage 1, n=24) or combined with rux (Stage 2, n=30). Patients received SIM for up to 24 weeks. Bone marrow biopsies and aspirates were performed approximately every 3 months. Bone marrow fibrosis scoring was performed and quantified at local investigator sites using the European Consensus on Grading Bone Marrow Fibrosis. Myelofibrosis symptoms were evaluated using the Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Symptom Assessment Form (MPN-SAF) and changes in hematologic parameters and splenomegaly were assessed. Results: Between 7/14/11 and 9/22/14, 54 pts were randomized and treated (200 mg SIM [n=12], 700 mg SIM [n=12], 200 mg SIM/rux [n=15], and 700 mg SIM/rux [n=15]). In Stage 1, 0 subjects (0%) in the SIM 200 mg group and 2 subjects (16.7%; 90% CI 3.0%, 43.8%) in the SIM 700 mg group showed a reduction in bone marrow fibrosis score from Baseline to Week 24. In Stage 2, 1 subject (6.7%; 90% CI 0.3%, 27.9%) in the SIM 200 mg/rux group and 2 subjects (13.3%, 90% CI 2.4%, 36.3%) in the SIM 700 mg/rux group showed a reduction in bone marrow fibrosis score from Baseline to Week 24. In an exploratory analysis, similar numbers of subjects showed increases in bone marrow fibrosis scores. SIM treatment was not associated with meaningful improvements in hematologic parameters or reductions in MPN-SAF score or spleen size. The most frequent adverse events were those commonly associated with MF, including constitutional symptoms and reductions in hematological parameters. Conclusions: SIM treatment alone or in combination with rux is safe but does not reliably reduce bone marrow fibrosis in pts with MF. The reason for reduction of marrow fibrosis in some patients and increase in others is unclear and may be sampling variability. Clinical studies of SIM in IPF and liver fibrosis are ongoing. Disclosures Savona: Karyopharm: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc: 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; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Mesa:Incyte Corporation: Research Funding; CTI Biopharma: Research Funding; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy; Pfizer: Research Funding; Promedior: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; NS Pharma: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding. Oh:CTI Biopharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Dong:Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Equity Ownership. Thai:Gilead Sciences: Employment, Equity Ownership. Gotlib:Allakos, Inc.: Consultancy.

Abstract Abstract 2799 Background: Aurora A kinase (AAK) is important in a diverse set of mitotic processes and is amplified or overexpressed in a number of heme-lymphatic malignancies. MLN8237 is an investigational, orally administered, selective AAK inhibitor in clinical development for the treatment of hematologic and solid tumors. This multicenter study (NCT00697346) is the first phase 1 program to assess safety and pharmacology of MLN8237 in patients with advanced hematologic malignancies. Methods: Eligible patients were aged ≥18 yr, had response-evaluable, relapsed or refractory hematologic malignancies, and had ECOG performance status 0–2; there was no restriction on the number of prior therapies, but prior allogeneic transplant was excluded. Patients received escalating doses of MLN8237 as powder-in-capsule formulation in a 3+3 design. Endpoints included safety, dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), maximum tolerated dose (MTD), pharmacokinetics, and response. Results: Twenty-eight patients were included; median age was 62 yr (range 41–74), 50% were male, 86% were white, and 43% had prior transplant. Diagnoses were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (68%), including diffuse large B-cell (DLBCL), mantle cell, follicular, and small lymphocytic lymphoma; multiple myeloma (29%); and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (4%). Seventy-nine percent of patients had received ≥3 prior therapies. Patients initially received a 21-day treatment schedule of MLN8237 25 or 35 mg (BID loading dose on Day 1, then QD on Days 2–21) followed by a 7-day rest period (28-day cycles). Based on results with the first two cohorts, subsequent cohorts received a 14-day treatment schedule of MLN8237 35, 45, 65, or 90 mg (BID loading dose on Day 1, then QD on Days 2–14) followed by a 14-day rest period (28-day cycles). Median number of cycles administered was 2 (range 1–14+). After escalation to 90 mg (maximum administered dose), two DLTs per cohort led to de-escalation to 65 mg and then 45 mg, which was the MTD on the 14-day schedule. The most common treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were neutropenia (46%), thrombocytopenia (36%), and asthenic conditions (32%); grade ≥3 treatment-related AEs were reported in 14 (50%) patients, and 13 (46%) had a serious AE. DLTs included grade 3–4 myelosuppression associated with infection or delay in treatment, which were generally manageable by reduction in dose or schedule. AEs were generally reversible and manageable, although 5 (18%) patients discontinued due to AEs. Three patients died, from causes (renal failure; airway obstruction; progressive large cell lymphoma) not considered related to MLN8237. Following multiple doses, an overall median Tmax of 2 hr, a mean t1/2 of 23 hr, and a peak/trough ratio of 5 were observed. The geometric mean of steady-state AUC increased from 19,534 to 30,811 nM*hr when the daily dose was increased from 25 to 65 mg. With the 14-day schedule, antitumor activity was observed in a patient with relapsed DLBCL treated with 65 mg and reduced to 45 mg, who enrolled after disease progression following ifosfamide-carboplatin-etoposide (ICE) salvage therapy. A durable PR coupled with resolution of B symptoms sustained for >1 yr was observed in a patient with post-transplant grade 3B follicular lymphoma treated with 35 mg, escalated per protocol to 45 mg and then 65 mg. Stable disease (SD; 5 months) was observed in a patient with myeloma treated at 90 mg. Conclusions: MLN8237 toxicities were consistent with AAK inhibition in proliferating tissue (chiefly bone marrow), and were generally manageable. The MTD was 45 mg on the 14-day schedule in these patients with advanced hematologic malignancies. Antitumor activity was observed, and repeat cycles were tolerable over 6–12 months in some patients who achieved PR or SD. The results support further investigation of MLN8237 in heme-lymphatic malignancies, and ongoing clinical development includes alternative schedules and formulations. Disclosures: Padmanabhan: Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy, Research Funding. Off Label Use: Investigational agent in clinical development for the treatment of advanced hematologic malignancies. Shea:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Consultancy, Research Funding. Vose:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Research Funding. Goy:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Celgene, GSK, Genentech: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Zhou:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Liu:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Fingert:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Fowler:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Research Funding; Cephalon: Research Funding; Genentech: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria.

Abstract Hypomethylating agents have changed treatment and outcomes in MDS and are active in AML patients. However a significant number of patients do not respond to 5-Azacytidine or Decitabine and there is no clinically validated assay that predicts response to 5-Azacytidine (5-Aza) or Decitabine (DAC). Clinical parameters and recently TET2 mutations have been identified as genetic predictors of response to 5-Aza. Several recent papers report on the possible predictive value of anti-apoptotic proteins, for example BCL2L10. In previous genome-scale RNA-interference (RNAi) screens anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family members, most potently BCL-XL, were identified as top targets whose down-regulation sensitize to 5-Aza. Results were confirmed with the BCL-XL and BCL-2 inhibitor ABT-737, as well as the BCL-2-specific inhibitor ABT-199, both of which sensitized myeloid cells to 5-Aza. Although it is expected that interfering with anti-apoptotic genes would sensitize to hypomethylating similar to cytotoxics, few of the other >900 genes from our RNAi sensitizer screens, including few of the 571 kinases, sensitized to 5-Aza as potently as inhibition of BCL-XL. Thus BCL-2 family members constitute an especially potent context to modulate the activity of 5-Aza. To assess if protein expression of the top targets BCL-XL, BCL-2 or MCL-1 correlate with and may explain a preferential sensitization, 577 primary AML samples were examined by Reverse Phase Protein Array (RPPA). There was substantial overlap of expression across and within FAB subgroups and cytogenetics, and expression of neither of these genes/proteins could explain the observed effects. This may be expected due to functional redundancies amongst the different anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family members, as well as distinct, yet overlapping binding affinities between anti- and pro-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins and BH3 peptides. Thus, we next aimed to functionally interrogate the overall balance of pro- and anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family members, also described as “primedness” by BH3 profiling. This assay uses peptides derived from pro-apoptotic BH3-only proteins to determine the capacity of cells to initiate apoptosis in response to pro-apoptotic BH3 molecules [anti-apoptotic BCL-2 molecules like BCL-XL and BCL-2 bind and inhibit BH3-only molecules]. This assay is a broad functional readout that incorporates many parameters including the consequences of varying BCL2L10 expression. To establish a proof-of-concept that the functional interrogation of specific apoptotic thresholds may be an optimal readout for 5-Aza response, we first assessed a broad panel of 13 AML-derived cell lines by BH3 profiling and in parallel 5-Aza drug dose response experiments. Several BH3 profiling metrics, including NOXA plus BIM, significantly correlated with 5-Aza sensitivity in vitro (Figure 1). Next, to correlate actual clinical responses to 5-Aza with BH3 profiling, specimens from 28 AML, MDS and MDS/MPN overlap patients treated with 5-Aza or DAC-based regimens and for whom clinical outcome was available, were assayed in BH3 assays. In the clinic, the best BH3 metrics were combined values from NOXA and BIM peptides similar to cell lines. NOXA plus BIM discriminated clinical responses defined as achieving any response (sensitive) versus a patient being resistance/refractory to 5-Aza/DAC based regimens with statistical significance (Mann-Whitney two-tailed p = 0.001). This was true for the entire group of patients (5-Aza- and DAC- regimens) with a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) of an AUC=0.875, with a further increase for patients treated only with 5-Aza based regimens with an AUC=0.95.Figure 1BH3 metrics distinguish cell lines with higher EC 50 (> 2uM) from those with lower EC50 (generally < 1uM).Figure 1. BH3 metrics distinguish cell lines with higher EC 50 (> 2uM) from those with lower EC50 (generally < 1uM). In conclusion, due to significant expression overlap and functional redundancies of the BCL-2 family proteins, expression does not correlate with 5-Aza clinical or in vitro responses. However, BH3 profiling as a general functional readout of apoptotic primedness, significantly discriminated responses in patients as well as in vitro. Thus, BH3 profiling incorporates the entirety of pro- and anti-apoptotic molecules (including BCL2L10) and is promising to predict responses to hypomethylating agents. We propose to prospectively validate BH3 profiling as a predictive biomarker assay for 5-Aza or DAC based regimens. Disclosures: Pierceall: Eutropics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Lena:Eutropics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Cardone:Eutropics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Elashoff:Eutropics: Employment. Blake:Noel Blake: Employment, Equity Ownership.

Abstract INTRODUCTION Recurrent somatic mutations in the metabolic enzymes isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (IDH1/2) confer gain-of-function activity in cancer cells, resulting in accumulation of the oncometabolite, D-2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG). High levels of 2-HG result in epigenetic changes and impaired cellular differentiation. IDH mutations have been identified in multiple solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Approximately 6-10% and 9-13% of adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) carry mutations in IDH1 (mIDH1) or IDH2 (mIDH2), respectively. AG-120 is a first-in-class, oral, potent, reversible, selective inhibitor of the IDH1 mutant enzyme under evaluation in multiple ongoing single agent and combination clinical trials [NCT02074839, NCT02073994, NCT02632708, NCT02677922]. This is the first report of IDH1 mutation clearance assessed by variant allele frequency (VAF) analysis using next-generation sequencing (NGS) in patients treated on the dose escalation portion of the first-in-human phase 1 study [NCT02074839]. METHODS Patients with advanced mIDH1-positive hematologic malignancies received AG-120 as a single agent orally once daily (QD) or twice daily (BID) continuously in 28-day cycles. Primary objectives were determination of safety, maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and selection of a dose schedule for expansion cohorts and future studies. Secondary objectives included clinical activity assessed by investigators using modified 2003 International Working Group Criteria in AML. Determination of mIDH1 VAF was performed using the FoundationOne® Heme test on mononuclear cells from the bone marrow or peripheral blood at screening and subsequent time points on study. This NGS assay reports IDH1 mutations for samples with VAF ≥1%, with median coverage 500X. Patients with IDH1 mutational clearance (IDH1-MC) were defined as having mIDH1 at baseline and at least one on-study sample with no reported mIDH1. RESULTS Seventy-eight patients were treated in the dose escalation portion, which is now closed to enrollment. As of the data cut-off of May 12, 2016, the median duration on treatment was 3.2 months and 9 (11.5%) patients remain on treatment, with an additional 8 (10.3%) patients transitioned to stem cell transplant. Doses ranged from 300-1200 mg QD with 1 cohort at 100 mg BID. Though the MTD was not reached, the recommended phase 2 dose was determined to be 500 mg QD. The majority of adverse events (AEs) were grade 1 and 2, the most common (≥30%) being diarrhea, fatigue, and nausea; the most common grade ≥3 AEs (≥15%) were febrile neutropenia, anemia, leukocytosis and pneumonia. The most common serious AEs were febrile neutropenia (16.7%) and pneumonia (12.8%). The overall response rate (ORR) was 38.5% (n=30), with 17.9% (n=14) achieving a complete remission (CR). Longitudinal mIDH1 VAF data were available for 51 patients; of these, 22% (n=11) achieved a CR. IDH1-MC was observed in 27.3% (3/11) patients who achieved CR (Figure 1). In contrast, only 1/40 patients who did not achieve CR experienced IDH1-MC. This occurred in a patient with an initially low mIDH1 VAF who had clinical progression despite IDH1-MC (Figure 1, bottom right). In all 3 patients with CR who achieved IDH1-MC, an initial increase in mIDH1 VAF, or early peak, was observed prior to IDH1-MC, suggesting that early clonal expansion might have occurred as part of the mechanism of action of AG-120. CONCLUSION This is the first demonstration that treatment with single agent AG-120 can result in mIDH1 clearance as determined by NGS. Further analysis of the mutational profiles is planned. AG-120, a potent, selective, oral inhibitor of mIDH1 continues to demonstrate a well-tolerated safety profile in patients with advanced hematologic malignancies, and induced objective single-agent durable responses. The data continue to support the efficacy and safety of single agent AG-120 and provide evidence that the underlying biology of the disease is altered by treatment. Figure 1. VAF analysis using FoundationOne® Heme NGS assay in 4 AML patients with IDH1-MC treated with AG-120 Figure subscript: Y-axis is mIDH1 VAF, x-axis is days on treatment. Text indicates investigator-assessed clinical response. CR, complete remission; CRi, CR with incomplete neutrophil recovery; CRp, CR with incomplete platelet recovery; R/R, relapsed/refractory; SD, stable disease; PD, progressive disease; *post-transplant sample Figure 1. VAF analysis using FoundationOne® Heme NGS assay in 4 AML patients with IDH1-MC treated with AG-120. / Figure subscript: Y-axis is mIDH1 VAF, x-axis is days on treatment. Text indicates investigator-assessed clinical response. CR, complete remission; CRi, CR with incomplete neutrophil recovery; CRp, CR with incomplete platelet recovery; R/R, relapsed/refractory; SD, stable disease; PD, progressive disease; *post-transplant sample Disclosures DiNardo: Daiichi Sankyo: Other: advisory board, Research Funding; Novartis: Other: advisory board, Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Agios: Other: advisory board, Research Funding. de Botton:Novartis: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Consultancy; Servier: Consultancy; Pierre Fabre: Consultancy. Stein:Agios: Other: advisory board; Celgene: Other: advisory board; Novartis: Other: advisory board. Roboz:Cellectis: Research Funding; Agios, Amgen, Amphivena, Astex, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celator, Celgene, Genoptix, Janssen, Juno, MEI Pharma, MedImmune, Novartis, Onconova, Pfizer, Roche/Genentech, Sunesis, Teva: Consultancy. Pollyea:Alexion: Other: advisory board; Pfizer: Other: advisory board, Research Funding; Ariad: Other: advisory board; Glycomimetics: Other: DSMB member; Celgene: Other: advisory board, Research Funding. Fathi:Bexalata: Other: Advisory Board participation; Agios Pharmaceuticals: Other: Advisory Board participation; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Other: Advisory Board participation, Research Funding; Merck: Other: Advisory Board participation; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding. Altman:Syros: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Janssen Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria. Flinn:Janssen: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Research Funding; Gilead Sciences: Research Funding; ARIAD: Research Funding; RainTree Oncology Services: Equity Ownership. Foran:novartis: Honoraria; Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Research Funding; karyopharm: Honoraria; medscape: Honoraria; pfizer: Honoraria; boehringer ingelheim: Research Funding; agios: Research Funding; Cellerant: Research Funding. Pigneux:Sunesis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Agios: Consultancy, Honoraria. Kantarjian:ARIAD: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Pfizer Inc: Research Funding; Delta-Fly Pharma: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding. Liu:Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Attar:Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Sacolick:Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Yen:Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hurov:Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Choe:Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Wu:Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Stone:Amgen: Consultancy; Sunesis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios: Consultancy; Celator: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Jansen: Consultancy; ONO: Consultancy; Juno Therapeutics: Consultancy; Merck: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; Xenetic Biosciences: Consultancy.

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.

Abstract Abstract 576 Stat3 appears to play a critical role in sustaining and generating memory B-cells and long-lived plasma cells (PCs) the normal counterparts of myeloma cells. In contrast to the transient nature of Stat3 activation in normal cells, many hematological tumors including multiple myeloma (MM) harbor constitutive Stat3 activity. Aberrant STAT signaling is recognized as a master regulator of direct and indirect tumor processes including proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, angiogenesis and cancer inflammation and thus Stat3 represents an important therapeutic target. Using structure-based design, targeting the phosphotyrosine (pY)-SH2 domain interactions that stabilizes active Stat3 dimers, phosphopeptides have been identified that block Stat3 dimerization and DNA binding activity. Peptidic agents however suffer from limited cell permeability and metabolic lability, properties that have restricted their practical application in vivo at therapeutic doses. Here we describe the dependence of myeloma tumors on Stat3 and characterize the anti-tumor activity of BP-2-047, a novel, non-phosphorylated small molecule with reduced peptidic character. We analyzed the activity of Stat3 using a Stat3 gene expression index based on Stat3 target genes in 60 human myeloma cell lines (HMCLs). Several available myeloma cell lines (XG6, XG7, JJN3 and UTMC2) demonstrated elevated STAT3 gene expression signatures (2.3 to 14.8) with confirmed constitutive Stat3 phosphorylation by Western blot analysis. RNA interference revealed that Stat3 is essential for XG6, JJN3, and UTMC2 survival. We similarly analyzed the activity of Stat3 in publicly available gene expression profile data sets derived from newly diagnosed MM patients. Approximately a third of patients demonstrated a functionally significant level of Stat3 signature, comparable to those in the Stat3-dependent cell lines. We next evaluated the anti-myeloma activity of the BP-2-047 in cell-based assays against a panel of HMCLs with high and low STAT3 activity. BP-2-047 delivered a desirable activity profile for targeted therapy. Consistent with its predicted mechanism of action, we observed dose-dependent inhibition of Tyr705Stat3 phosphorylation in XG6, XG7, JJN3 and UTMC2 cells, presumably through the blockade of Stat3 binding to the pTyr motifs of gp130 and the prevention of de novo phosphorylation by JAKs. Using a luciferase reporter assay we confirmed inhibition of Stat3 transcriptional activity in MM cells stably expressing the Stat3-dependent luciferase reporter (pLucTKS3). Inhibition of transcription was associated with decreased expression of short half-life proteins, c-Myc and Mcl-1. BP-2-047 inhibited viability of myeloma tumors with IC50 values of 3.1–7.4 microM, in cell lines with constitutive Stat3 activity. Inhibition of Stat3 phosphorylation resulted in induction of dose-dependent apoptosis as determined by PI/annexin V staining and PARP cleavage. However, cells were resistant to BP-2-047-induced apoptosis when co-cultured with bone marrow stroma cells. Identification of factors that confer survival advantage in the presence of stroma is in progress. Exposure of MM patient derived bone marrow mononuclear cells to < 15 microM BP-2-047 preferentially induced apoptosis of CD138 + MM cells. In contrast, BP-2-047 at concentrations of 30 microM failed to inhibit normal bone marrow-derived CD34 colony formation. In vitro combination studies in cell lines demonstrate synergy with dexamethasone, bortezomib and lenalidomide. Studies assessing in vivo activity of BP-2-047 as a single agent and in combination with bortezomib against Stat3 activated myeloma tumors in xenograft mice are ongoing and will be reported. These data suggest that Stat3 may represent an important therapeutic target in a subset of myeloma patients and supports innovative drug development with a focus on Stat3. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.