Phase I INSIGHT platform trial: Advanced safety and efficacy data from stratum D evaluating feasibility and safety of eftilagimod alpha (soluble LAG-3 protein) combined with avelumab in advanced solid tumors.
Authors: Goetze Thorsten Oliver , Mueller Daniel Wilhelm , Rafiyan Mohammad-Reza , Kiselicki Dragan , Habibzade Timursah , Schaaf Marina , Eickhoff Regina , Jäger Elke , Al-Batran Salah-Eddin 
Published: June 2021

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Background: Stratum D of the INSIGHT platform trial evaluates s.c. eftilagimod alpha (efti, IMP321) combined with avelumab in advanced solid tumors. Efti is an MHC class II agonist which activates antigen-presenting cells followed by CD8 T-cell activation. Combination with PD-1/PD-L1 blockade aims at enhanced efficacy. Methods: This IIT platform trial consists of 5 strata: intratumoral (A) or intraperitoneal efti (B); s.c. efti with SOC (C) or with PD-L1 inhibition (D). Strat E is currently under development and starts soon with a new efti combination. This abstract focuses on preliminary data of Strat D. Patients (pts) received 800mg avelumab i.v. q2w along with s.c. efti: 6mg in cohort 1 (coh 1, 6 pts), 30mg in cohort 2 (coh 2, 6 pts). Primary endpoint: safety. Results: Recruitment has been completed with 12 pts (coh 1: gastric, gallbladder, colon cancer, pleural mesothelioma; coh 2: gastric, gastroesophageal, anal, rectum, cervix uteri). No dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) occurred. 10 serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported, none of them considered causally related (4 in 3 pts of coh 1 [1 acute renal insufficiency grade 5 in 1 pt, 2 preileus grade 3 in 1 pt, hearing impaired grade 4 in 1 pt] and 6 in 4 pts of coh 2 [1 anal hemorrhage and 1 gallbladder obstruction in 1 pt, 1 eye pain and 1 surgery to replace the feeding tube in 1 pt, each grade 3, 1 skin infection grade 2, 1 diffuse myocardial fibrosis grade 5]. 1 AE of special interest (AESI) possibly related with avelumab (sarcoidosis grade 1) occurred in coh 1. 2 pts completed max treatment duration with 24 cycles. In coh 1, 47 adverse events (AEs; grade 1-2, 29; grade 3, 14; grade 4, 3; grade 5, 1) occurred in 5 pts. Most common grade 1-2 AEs were nausea, pain in 33%, 33% of the pts. Most common grade 3 AEs were ileus, vomiting in 33%, 33% of the pts. 2 AEs grade 4 (hearing impaired, sepsis) and 1 AE grade 5 (acute renal insufficiency) were reported. All AEs grade 3-5 were considered causally unrelated. In coh 2, 51 adverse events (AEs; grade 1-2, 29; grade 3, 19; grade 4, 2; grade 5, 1) occurred in 5 pts. The most common grade 1-2 AE was hypothyroidism in 33% of the pts. 1 AE grade 5 (diffuse myocardial fibrosis) was reported. Only 1 AE grade 3-5 was considered causally related (urinary tract infection grade 3 related with avelumab). 5 pts showed partial response as best response (2 coh 1: colon, pleural mesothelioma; 3 coh 2: gastric, anal, cervical), 1 stable disease with clinical progression (coh 2) (all but one of these pts still alive), 5 disease progressions acc. to RECIST 1.1 (3 coh 1, 2 coh 2), 1 clinical progression (coh 1). Signals of activity were also observed in pre-treated MSS/PD-L1low pts. Conclusions: Combined treatment with avelumab 800mg and efti 6mg (coh 1) or 30 mg efti (coh 2) seems feasible and safe. No unexpected AEs occurred. Signals of efficacy with CPI combination were seen (DCR 50%). Clinical trial information: NCT03252938.