Results of a phase 1 dose-escalation study of AMV564, a novel T-cell engager, alone and in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with relapsed/refractory solid tumors.
Authors: Mettu Niharika B. , Starodub Alexander , Piha-Paul Sarina Anne Anne , Abdul-Karim Raghad Muhsin , Tinoco Gabriel , Shafique Michael Rahman , Smith Victoria , Baccei Christina , Chun Patrick Youngwhan 
Published: June 2021

2555

Background: Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) contribute to an immunosuppressive tumor environment and are a barrier to immune therapy. CD33 signaling in immature myeloid cells promotes expansion of MDSC and production of immunosuppressive factors. AMV564 is a potent T cell engager that selectively depletes MDSC while promoting T cell activation and proliferation, via preferential binding to areas of high CD33 density. Methods: In this 3+3 dose escalation study, patients with relapsed/refractory solid tumors for whom no recognized standard therapy exists received AMV564 once daily via subcutaneous (SC) injection on Days 1-5 and 8-12 of a 21-day cycle, either alone or in combination with pembrolizumab (200 mg IV q3w). Study endpoints included incidence and severity of adverse events (AEs), pharmacokinetics (PK), and preliminary anti-tumor activity (using RECISTv1.1 criteria). Results: As of January 29, 2021, 20 patients were dosed in 3 monotherapy dose cohorts (15, 50, and 75 mcg/day), and 10 patients were dosed in 3 combination therapy cohorts (5, 15, and 50 mcg/day). Enrolled patients were: median age 64 years, 47% female, had received median 3.5 prior lines of therapy; 7 patients (35%) had received prior checkpoint inhibitor therapy (6 monotherapy patients, 1 combination therapy patient). No dose-limiting toxicity was observed and a maximum-tolerated dose was not reached in either the monotherapy or combination therapy cohorts. The most common treatment-related AEs (occurring in > 10% of patients, in order of decreasing frequency) in the monotherapy cohort were pyrexia, injection site reactions, fatigue, anemia, hypotension, pruritis, chills, and nausea. There were 2 cases of grade 2 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) at 75 mcg/day, both of which resolved after anti-IL6 therapy and study treatment was resumed. The most common treatment-related AEs in the combination cohorts (> 10% frequency) were injection site reaction, pyrexia, fatigue, pruritis, and anemia. No cases of CRS were noted in the combination cohorts. In preliminary PK analysis, estimated median plasma half-life for AMV564 after SC injection was > 48 hours, with dose-related increases in peak plasma concentration. Clinical responses were seen with monotherapy and combination therapy, including a complete response (CR) in a monotherapy-treated patient with ovarian cancer refractory to all standard therapies and anti-PD-1 therapy. Conclusions: AMV564 was well tolerated across multiple dose levels as monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab. Subcutaneous injection resulted in clinically relevant plasma exposures. Single-agent and combination therapy anti-tumor activity was observed. Further exploration of AMV564 clinical efficacy in expansion cohorts is ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT04128423.