Phase 1 Dose-Finding Study Investigating CA-4948, an IRAK4 Kinase Inhibitor, in Patients with R/R NHL: Report of Initial Efficacy and Updated Safety Information
Authors: Younes Anas , Nowakowski Grzegorz , Rosenthal Allison C. , Leslie Lori A. , Tun Han W. , Lunning Matthew A. , Isufi Iris , Martell Robert , Patel Krish 
Published: November 2019

Introduction and Purpose

IRAK4 kinase activity is essential for signaling downstream of toll-like receptors (TLR) and the interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) family in a variety of myeloid and lymphoid cell types. Dysregulated signaling in these pathways is frequently observed in NHL, particularly in ABC-subtype of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) and Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM). A phase 1 trial in patients with NHL is being conducted to determine safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of CA-4948 as monotherapy.

Patients and Methods

At the 18-Jul-2019 data cut-off date, 22 patients have been treated with single-agent CA-4948. Five dose-escalation cohorts from 50 mg QD to 200 mg BID have been tested and cleared; a cohort of patients treated at 400 mg BID dose is currently being evaluated. Patients were diagnosed with relapsed or refractory NHL, including DLBCL (n=13), FL (n=5), HGBL with MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangement (n=1), WM (n=1), LPL (n=1) and MCL (n=1), had a performance status of 0 or 1 (ECOG) at baseline, and were treated in 21-day cycles until progression of disease or unacceptable toxicity, lost to follow-up or death. 5 patients had prior autologous bone marrow transplants.

Results

CA-4948 has been generally well tolerated. Grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events included amylase/lipase increased, diarrhea, neutrophil count decreased, rash, rhabdomyolysis. Pharmacokinetics has shown favorable characteristics with dose-proportional increases in exposure. Five patients have been on treatment through the end of Cycle 4, including one patient in Cycle 10 on study for over 7 months. Five patients experienced overall tumor burden decreases of ≥20% from baseline, including at least 2 of 4 patients treated at 200 mg BID. Downstream pharmacodynamic markers of IRAK4 activity are being evaluated. Molecular characteristics including cell-of-origin will be presented.

Conclusion

CA-4948 demonstrates preliminary clinical activity. Enrollment is on-going and the MTD has not been reached. These encouraging results warrant further clinical testing in patients with advanced hematological malignancies. Clinical trial: NCT03328078.

Disclosures

Younes: Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria; Genentech: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Merck: Honoraria, Research Funding; Curis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Biopath: Consultancy; Xynomics: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; HCM: Consultancy; BMS: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Syndax: Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria; Epizyme: Consultancy, Honoraria. Nowakowski:Selvita: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; NanoString: Research Funding; MorphoSys: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech, Inc.: Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Research Funding; Curis: Research Funding; Bayer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding. Tun:Mundi-pharma: Research Funding; DTRM Biopharma: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Curis: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding. Lunning:Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC: Consultancy, Research Funding; Curis: Research Funding; Juno Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; MiRagen: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Spectrum: Consultancy; VANIUM: Consultancy; Verastem: Consultancy; DAVA: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy; Kite: Consultancy; Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; Portola: Consultancy; OncLive: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy. Isufi:Celgene: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Astra Zeneca: Consultancy. Martell:Curis, Inc.: Employment. Patel:AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics/Janssen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Sunesis: Consultancy.