Abstract 742: PYX-201, a stroma-targeting ADC composed of an anti-EDB+FN antibody conjugated to Auristatin0101, demonstrates strong anti-tumor efficacy across multiple human cancer indications in pre-clinical PDX tumor models
Authors: Severe Nicolas , Facklam Amanda , McMichael Liz , Das Biplab , Lewandowski Sara , Trickett Justin , Diao Liyang , Merriman Chengfeng , Shen Chuan , Feng Jianwen , Harriman Shawn , Crochiere Marsha , Steiner Philipp , Pinkas Jan 
Published: March 2024

Stroma is crucial to support solid tumor growth, metastasis and resistance to treatment. While most antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) directly bind to cancer cells, PYX-201, an investigational drug, is designed to target tumor stroma by binding to the extra-domain B splice variant of fibronectin (EDB+FN), a matrix protein abundantly expressed in the tumor microenvironment of many solid tumors with absent or low expression in normal adult tissues. In vitro studies demonstrated PYX-201 was strongly cytotoxic to EDB+FN positive Caki2 cells, but not to EDB+FN negative HT29 cells. In addition, PYX-201 was 30-times more potent than a non-targeted ADC control, demonstrating PYX-201 cytotoxic effects were EDB+FN dependent. Furthermore, when Caki2 and HT29-luciferase cancer cells were co-cultured, the luciferase activity was used to quantify the amount of EDB+FN negative HT29 cells only. Interestingly, PYX-201 was able to kill EDB+FN negative cancer cells in a co-culture assay as shown by a decrease in luciferase activity, demonstrating PYX-201 bystander activity. Pre-clinical mouse model studies were conducted to evaluate PYX-201 anti-tumor efficacy and pharmacokinetic (PK) properties. First, a comprehensive patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse model trial was designed to evaluate the anti-tumor efficacy of PYX-201. To fully represent the diversity and characteristics of human tumors, PDX models were pre-selected from ten solid tumor indications based on different levels of EDB+FN protein expression and stromal density. PYX-201 (Q4D × 4 at 3mg/kg) was well tolerated, and strong anti-tumor responses (% Tumor Growth Inhibition [TGI] &gt;90%) were observed in PDX models across various cancer indications. Potential correlations between EDB+FN protein expression with anti-tumor activity will be evaluated. Remarkably, long-term anti-tumor efficacy of PYX-201 was observed as tumors did not relapse even after &gt;100 days in a breast cancer PDX model. Additionally, plasma samples were analyzed from a cell line derived xenograft mouse model after a single dose of PYX-201 to determine its PK profile. At 3 mg/kg, the maximum concentration (Cmax) was 28.1 μg/mL, area under the curve (AUC) was 1,732.7 h*μg/mL, with a low clearance of 1.5 mL/h/kg, and the half-life of the mAb from PYX-201 was calculated at 81.2 h. These PK parameters were associated with strong PYX-201 anti-tumor efficacy (% TGI &gt;90%) in the H1975 xenograft model. Altogether, PYX-201 was well tolerated and demonstrated strong anti-tumor efficacy in a variety of pre-clinical human PDX models. PYX-201 is a promising and innovative ADC which is currently under investigation in a Phase I clinical trial (NCT05720117).

Citation Format: Nicolas Severe, Amanda Facklam, Liz McMichael, Biplab Das, Sara Lewandowski, Justin Trickett, Liyang Diao, Chengfeng Merriman, Chuan Shen, Jianwen Feng, Shawn Harriman, Marsha Crochiere, Philipp Steiner, Jan Pinkas. PYX-201, a stroma-targeting ADC composed of an anti-EDB+FN antibody conjugated to Auristatin0101, demonstrates strong anti-tumor efficacy across multiple human cancer indications in pre-clinical PDX tumor models [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 742.