Impact of magrolimab treatment in combination with azacitidine on red blood cells in patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (HR-MDS).
Authors: Chen James Yuhtyng , Johnson Lisa , McKenna Kelly Marie , Choi Timothy S. , Duan Jiaqi , Feng Dongdong , Tsai Jonathan M. , Garcia-Martin Natalia , Sompalli Kavitha , Maute Roy , Vyas Paresh , Majeti Ravindra , Takimoto Chris H.M. , Liu Jie , Ramsingh Giridharan , Chao Mark , Volkmer Jens-Peter , Weissman Irving L. 
Published: June 2022

7054

Background: Magrolimab is a monoclonal antibody that blocks CD47, a “don’t eat me” signal expressed on cancer cells to escape immune surveillance and macrophage-mediated clearance. Prior preclinical studies have shown that CD47 is critical to RBC homeostasis, with CD47 deficiency decreasing RBC half-life. Fc-mediated opsonization also depletes RBCs, raising concerns for potential on-target anemia from anti-CD47 agents via multiple mechanisms. Notwithstanding, several clinical trials have demonstrated that magrolimab can be safely administered as a monotherapy with initial lower “priming” dose yielding transient anemia with compensatory reticulocytosis, with anemia not observed at subsequent higher maintenance doses. However, the mechanism underlying this observed protection has not been fully defined. Here we describe manageable anemia in patients (pts) with HR-MDS treated with magrolimab in combination with azacitidine (AZA) (NCT03248479) and further investigate these underlying mechanisms in preclinical models. Methods: In a multicenter prospective study, CBCs, peripheral blood, and bone marrow (BM) were collected at prespecified timepoints from HR-MDS pts (n = 57) treated with magrolimab in combination with AZA. CBCs were measured, and blood and BM samples were analyzed by flow cytometry for expression of CD47 on RBCs and WBCs. Magrolimab was initially dosed with a priming dose (1mg/kg) followed by an initial weekly maintenance dosing (30mg/kg) before transitioning to every 2 weeks maintenance dosing. AZA 75mg/m2 was administered on days 1-7 of the 28-day cycle. Preclinical modeling studies were conducted with intact and Fc-deficient anti-mouse CD47 (MIAP410) and anti-human CD47 (magrolimab) antibodies in murine models, including C57BL/6J B-hSIRPA/hCD47 mice. Results: Combination treatment of magrolimab with AZA resulted in a tolerable anemia that correlated with rapid, near complete loss of CD47 from RBCs, but not WBCs. The initial 1mg/kg priming dose was sufficient for this CD47 loss, which persisted under subsequent 30mg/kg maintenance doses. Both findings are consistent with prior clinical observations in solid tumor pts with magrolimab monotherapy and lymphoma pts in combination with rituximab. Our preclinical studies with mouse models revealed that the CD47 removal is mechanistically independent of previously described RBC antigen modulation mechanisms and cellular compartments. Instead, this CD47 loss requires anti-CD47 crosslinking between RBCs and non-RBCs. Conclusions: Overall, these results support that on-target magrolimab mediated anemia is mitigated by a near complete loss of RBC CD47. HR-MDS patients treated with magrolimab in combination with AZA exhibit a tolerable anemia through priming and maintenance doses. Clinical trial information: NCT03248479.