Abstract 3122: Preclinical development of a novel camptothecin-based antibody-drug conjugate targeting solid tumors expressing Claudin-6
Authors: Tsang Nicola , Veillard Nicolas , Horsley Elizabeth , Havenith Karin , Janghra Narinder , Zaitseva Kristina , Oblette Cecile , Kirby Ian , Hogg Paul W. , Zammarchi Francesca , de Haan Lolke , van Berkel Patrick H. 
Published: March 2024

Claudin-6 is a member of the claudin family and consists of four transmembrane helices, two extracellular loops, and an amino- and carboxyl-terminal tail with a PDZ-binding motif in the cytoplasm. It is involved in the formation of tight junctions and is expressed in developing human epithelial structures during early-to-mid gestation while expression in iadult tissues is mostly absent. Claudin-6 expression is upregulated in ovarian cancer, testicular cancer, endometrial cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and gastric cancer. Here, the generation and preclinical characterization of a novel Claudin-6 specific antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) is described, composed of a humanized IgG1 directed against human Claudin-6 site-specifically conjugated a novel payload containing a valine-alanine cleavable linker and a camptothecin warhead with a drug to antibody ratio of 6. FcγR-mediated effector function of the ADC was abrogated via mutations in the Fc portion of the antibody. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of Claudin-6 in different tumour indications and characterise the in vitro and in vivo anti-tumour activity in human cancer cell lines and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. In addition, the tolerability of the ADC was evaluated in a repeat-dose toxicity study cynomolgus monkeys. Cell binding studies using Fabs showed high affinity binding to Claudin-6, while affinity for Claudin-9 was 16-fold lower with no binding to Claudin-3 and Claudin-4. Cross-reactivity with cynomolgus monkey and mouse Claudin-6 was also demonstrated. Fcgamma receptor binding studies confirmed the strongly reduced binding of the antibody to FcγI, FcγI,IIa, FcγIIb and FcγIIa, consistent with the introduction of mutations in the Fc domain of the antibody. In vitro, the Claudin-6 ADC showed potent and specific cytotoxicity against various Claudin-6-expressing solid cancer cell lines, including OVCAR3, PA-1, OV-90, FU-97, BeWo, NTERA-2 and NUGC3 in comparison to a non-binding control ADC conjugated to the same payload, and it also showed potent bystander killing. In vivo, a single dose intravenous (IV) of the Claudin-6 ADC demonstrated potent anti-tumour activity in multiple solid tumour xenograft models, including OVCAR3 and PA-1. Furthermore, administration of the Claudin-6 ADC to cynomolgus monkeys was well tolerated up to 40 mg/kg IV when given on Day 1 and 22. Cell membrane expression of Claudin-6 was confirmed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in ovarian cancer (70%), testicular cancer (98%), endometrial cancer (30%), NSCLC (28%) and gastric cancer (24%), confirming expression of Claudin-6 in indications with high unmet need. In summary, this novel Claudin-6 ADC demonstrated potent, specific anti-tumour activity in Claudin-6 expressing cancer-derived models and was well tolerated in cynomolgus monkey, supporting future clinical development of this ADC.

Citation Format: Nicola Tsang, Nicolas Veillard, Elizabeth Horsley, Karin Havenith, Narinder Janghra, Kristina Zaitseva, Cecile Oblette, Ian Kirby, Paul W. Hogg, Francesca Zammarchi, Lolke de Haan, Patrick H. van Berkel. Preclinical development of a novel camptothecin-based antibody-drug conjugate targeting solid tumors expressing Claudin-6 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3122.