Abstract LB128: A novel tri-specific T cell engager targeting BCMA and GPRC5D for treatment of multiple myeloma
Authors: Tan Yongcong , Li Xuezhen , Yu Fan , Xu Juehua , Qian Zhen , Cao Yiqi , Yang Xueyan , Du Qinglin , Peng Fei , Han Shuhua , Ding Qian 
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Multiple myeloma (MM) accounts for 10% of all hematologic cancers. Recent advances in MM therapy have greatly increased the overall response and survival rate. However, almost all patients eventually relapse. The prognosis still remains poor. BCMA and GPRC5D are overexpressed in myeloma cells. Although CAR-T and T cell engager (TCE) targeting BCMA or GPRC5D have been efficacious in MM patients, resistance does occur. Since the expression of BCMA and GPRC5D in MM are heterogeneous, to further improve the overall response and survival, we have recently generated a novel tri-specific T-cell engager, GBD218, targeting both BCMA and GPRC5D. GBD218 has demonstrated potent in vitro and in vivo activity against myeloma cells.

Methods

Anti-BCMA and GPRC5D nanobodies were screened from alpaca immune libraries, and anti-CD3 antibody was engineered from mouse hybridoma clone. The tri-specific antibodies were constructed in a “1+1+1” format through “knob into hole” technology fused with silenced IgG1 Fc. The format of the tri-specific antibodies was optimized by multiple rounds of in vitro activity and druggability evaluation. The in vivo tumor growth inhibition effects were evaluated in PBMC-humanized xenograft mouse models.

Results

GBD218 has been designed to potently bind hBCMA (KD=0.4nM) and hGPRC5D (cell binding EC50 ~ 2nM). To reduce CRS and other potential AEs associated with TCEs, a low affinity of anti-CD3 Fab was used. In cell-based functional assays, GBD218 showed efficient cytotoxicity against single and double positive MM cell lines with various expression levels of BCMA and GPRC5D. T cell activation and cytokine release induced by GBD218, in the presence or absence of MM cancer cells, is nicely balanced for great killing efficacy and the low risk of CRS. Importantly, the results showed that GBD218 exhibited superior in vitro killing activity compared to benchmarks, including teclistamab, talquetamab, the combination of teclistamab and talquetamab, suggesting a synergistic effect of GBD218 by targeting BCMA and GPRC5D. In xenograft models, GBD218 showed excellent anti-tumor activity, indicating great potential for GBD218 as a promising therapeutics for MM.

Conclusion

GBD218 is a novel tri-specific antibody that showed potent in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor activity. GBD218 efficiently kills both BCMA and/or GPRC5D expressing MM cells, which may hold promise to increase response rate and improve survival in MM patients in clinic.

Citation Format: Yongcong Tan, Xuezhen Li, Fan Yu, Juehua Xu, Zhen Qian, Yiqi Cao, Xueyan Yang, Qinglin Du, Fei Peng, Shuhua Han, Qian Ding. A novel tri-specific T cell engager targeting BCMA and GPRC5D for treatment of multiple myeloma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(7_Suppl):Abstract nr LB128.