a clinical study of melphalan flufenamide (melflufen) and dexamethasone for patients with immunoglobulin light chain (al) amyloidosis

Conditions: AL Amyloidosis

Summary: this is a phase 1/2 open label study of melphalan flufenamide (melflufen) in combination with dexamethasone for participants with al amyloidosis following at least one prior line of therapy. melflufen will be administered on day 1 of each 28-day cycle in combination with dexamethasone on days 1 and 2. in both phases, treatment of each individual participant will continue for up to 8 cycles or until any stopping events occur. approximately 46 participants will be enrolled. the study was intended to be a phase 1/2 trial but was early terminated and never moved forward to phase 2.

this is a clinical trial of melphalan flufenamide (melflufen), a peptide-conjugated alkylator which belongs to an novel class of drugs called peptidase-enhanced compounds, and targets the transformation process of tumor cells with a unique mechanism of action, as potential treatment option of al amyloidosis. al amyloidosis is a rare progressive disease caused by proteotoxic light chain protein produced by small plasma cell clone. this plasma cell dyscrasia is characterized by monoclonal plasma cell's excessive production of monoclonal immunoglobulin light-chains that tends to misfold and subsequently deposit as amyloid fibrils in visceral organs. the plasma cell dyscrasia in al amyloidosis is similar to that in multiple myeloma (mm) and therapies that are effective in mm are often used to treat al amyloidosis. melphalan flufenamide is currently been evaluated in several ongoing clinical trials in patients with multiple myeloma, with observed efficacy. there are currently no therapies approved for treatment of al amyloidosis and based on the efficacy of melphalan flufenamide and the demonstrated efficacy of melphalan (and other alkylators), it is anticipated that patients with al amyloidosis may receive benefit from treatment with melphalan flufenamide. this study consist of a screening period (up to 28 days), a treatment period (up to 8 cycles) and a follow-up period (up to 24 months). phase 1: approximately 8-30 participants will be screened to achieve 7-23 enrolled participants. phase 2: approximately 30 participants will be screened to achieve 23 enrolled participants. the study was intended to be a phase 1/2 trial but was early terminated and study never moved forward to phase 2.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: (for full list of inclusion criteria, see study protocol) * male or female, age 18 years or older at the time of signing the informed consent * proven histochemical diagnosis of al amyloidosis based on tissue specimens with congo red staining * at least one prior line of therapy, defined as either one non-transplant regimen, one asct (autologous stem cell transplantation), or one regimen of induction therapy followed by a single asct. no more that 4 cycles of melphalan containing chemotherapy is allowed. * measurable hematologic disease * objectively measurable organ amyloid involvement * ecog performance status ≤ 2 (ecog = eastern cooperative oncology group) * women of child bearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test * less than 30% plasma cells in bone marrow aspirate or biopsy * acceptable laboratory results met (absolute neutrophil count (anc), platelet count, hemoglobin, total bilirubin,alkaline phosphatase, ast (aspartate aminotransferase) and alt (alanine aminotransferase), renal function) * male participant agrees to use contraception during treatment and 90 days after last dose of melflufen exclusion criteria: (for full list of exclusion criteria, see study protocol) * amyloidosis due to known mutations of the transthyretin gene or presence of another non-al amyloidosis * evidence of gastro-intestinal bleeding * cardiac risk stage 3 * low platelets value with evidence of mucosal or internal bleeding * medical documented cardiac syncope, nyha class 3 or 4 congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, clinically significant ventricular arrhythmias (nyha=new york heart association functional classification) * clinically significant finding on 24 h holter recording * severe orthostatic hypotension * clinically significant factor x deficiency * clinically significant autonomic disease * any medical condition that would impose excessive risk to the patient * serious psychiatric illness, active alcoholism or drug addiction that may hinder or confuse compliance * known hiv or active hepatitis b or c viral infections * previous cytotoxic therapies, including cytotoxic investigational agents within 3 weeks prior to start of study treatment. monoclonal antibodies within 4 weeks. concomitant immunotherapy, investigational therapy and anticoagulation therapy are not permitted * prior autologous or allogenic stem cell transplant within 12 weeks of initiation of therapy * prior allogeneic stem cell transplant with active graft-host-disease * prior major surgical procedure or radiation therapy within 4 weeks of the first dose of study treatment