Atkinson et al. report the safety and efficacy of agonistic soluble LAG3 protein (Eftilagimod alpha; efti) in combination with anti-PD-1 (pembrolizumab) in patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma. In vitro, efti was able to enhance antigen-induced human T cell responses, and in vivo, efti was well tolerated in combination with pembrolizumab without any dose-limiting toxicity. All patients treated with 30 mg efti maintained effective plasma concentration and showed a sustained increase in activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The immune-related (ir) overall response rate was 54% and ir-disease control rate (irDCR) was 75%.
Contributed by Shishir Pant
BACKGROUND: To evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of eftilagimod alpha (efti), a soluble lymphocyte activation gene-3 protein, in combination with the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) antagonist pembrolizumab. METHODS: The study was divided into two parts; parts A and B, where part A was the dose escalation part and part B was an extension part of the study. Patients with metastatic melanoma were treated with efti plus the standard dose of pembrolizumab. Blood samples were assayed to determine plasma pharmacokinetic parameters, detect efti antibody formation and determine long-lived CD8 T cell responses and associated pharmacodynamic parameters. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients with melanoma received pembrolizumab and bi-weekly subcutaneous (s.c.) injections of efti at doses 1 mg, 6 mg or 30 mg/injection for up to 6 months (part A) or 30 mg/injection for up 12 months (part B). No dose-limiting toxicities were reported and the main adverse event for efti was injection site reactions. Sustained systemic exposure to the product was obtained in all patients following s.c. injections of 30 mg dose. Treatment induced an increase in activated CD8 and CD4 T cell counts, and in some of the soluble biomarkers, particularly interferon (IFN)-_, a Th1 signature cytokine. An overall response rate (ORR) of 33% was observed in patients partly with pembrolizumab-refractory of part A and ORR of 50% was observed in patients with PD-1 nave of part B. CONCLUSIONS: Efti was well tolerated in combination with pembrolizumab with encouraging antitumor activity. This warrants further clinical studies of this new combination therapy combining an antigen-presenting cell activator with an immune checkpoint inhibitor.
Author Info: (1) Division of Cancer Services, University of Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital Clinical School, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia. Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation,
Author Info: (1) Division of Cancer Services, University of Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital Clinical School, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia. Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation, Greenslopes, Queensland, Australia. (2) Department of Medical Oncology, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia. Medical Oncology, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia. (3) Medical Oncology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. (4) Medical Oncology Clinical Trials Unit, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia. (5) Oncology Research, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia. (6) Ballarat Health Services, Ballarat Base Hospital, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. (7) Clinical Development, Immutep GmbH, Berlin, Germany. (8) Research and Development, Immutep SAS, Orsay, France. (9) Research and Development, Immutep SAS, Orsay, France ftriebel@immutep.com.
