A Phase 1b Study of Step-up Dosing with ABBV-383, a B-Cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA) x CD3 Bispecific Antibody, in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Mian Hira , Baljevic Muhamed , Magen Hila , Gatt Moshe E , Avivi Mazza Irit , Searle Emma , Lichtman Eben I , McKay John T. , Plesner Torben , Rodriguez Cesar , Korde Neha , Safah Hana , Vaxman Iuliana , Talati Chetasi , Svensson Anders Erik , Jin Ziyi , Lee Shane , Doerr Thomas , Pothacamury Rajvineeth Kumar , Rosenberg Tanya S , Polepally Akshanth R , Ross Jeremy A. , Kumar Shaji 
Published: December 2024

Introduction
Patients (pts) with multiple myeloma (MM) eventually become refractory to current treatments. There is an unmet need for new therapies with durable efficacy, favorable safety, and simplified dosing schedules. ABBV-383 is a unique BCMA x CD3 bispecific antibody T-cell engager comprising bivalent high-avidity BCMA binding domains, a low-affinity CD3-binding domain designed to minimize cytokine release and the risk for cytokine release syndrome (CRS), and a silenced Fc tail for extended half-life enabling dosing convenience. In an ongoing first-in-human (FIH) study (NCT03933735) in heavily pretreated pts with relapsed or refractory (RR) MM, ABBV-383 monotherapy (60 mg Q4W) resulted in deep and durable responses. Introduction of a modified dexamethasone (Dex) premedication (premed) schedule in cycle (C) 1 lowered incidence and severity of CRS (43% overall; 5% grade ≥2) vs pts treated with low Dex (71% overall; 20% grade ≥2) (JCO 2024;42[suppl 16]:7531). We now report results of Arm A of the open-label, phase 1b study (NCT05650632) evaluating 1 step-up dose (SUD) of ABBV-383 as a strategy to mitigate the risk of severe CRS and further assess ABBV-383 activity in pts with RRMM.
Methods
This study is enrolling pts with RRMM, ECOG performance status ≤2, and documented evidence of progression during or after the last treatment. Pts must have received ≥3 prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory drug, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. Arm A consists of a dose-optimization (DO) and a dose-expansion (DE) part. During DO, pts received a single SUD of intravenous ABBV-383 (2/4 mg) on C1 day (D) 1, followed by the target dose of 60 mg on D4. In the DE, based on DO findings, pts received the recommended ABBV-383 SUD on C1D1, followed by 60 mg on D4. The modified premed schedule that lowered incidence and severity of CRS in the FIH study was also introduced prior to target dose on C1D4. After C1, pts received 60 mg ABBV-383 Q4W on D1 of each cycle for DO and DE until disease progression, withdrawal, or discontinuation. Primary endpoint was grade ≥2 CRS events during C1. Other endpoints included any grade CRS events, treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), immune pharmacodynamics, and clinical activity.
Results
As of April 2024, 70 pts were enrolled in Arm A: 47 in DO (2 mg SUD, n=26; 4 mg SUD, n=21) and 23 in DE. Median age was 69 years (range: 40-84), 59% were male, and 76% were triple-class refractory. Median prior lines of therapy was 4 (range: 3-10). Median follow-up time (months [mo]) was 6.5, 7.5, and 2.8 for 2 mg DO, 4 mg DO, and DE, respectively. Any grade CRS was reported in 10 (39%) and 11 (52%) pts during DO at 2 and 4 mg SUD; CRS grade ≥2 occurred in 3 (12%) pts in the 2 mg SUD and in 6 (29%) pts in the 4 mg SUD, leading to selection of 2 mg SUD for DE. In the DE, 7 (30%) pts experienced CRS; 1 (4%) pt experienced grade 2 CRS, there were no grade ≥3 events, and only 2 (9%) pts received tocilizumab to treat CRS. Overall, median time to CRS onset and resolution was 14.7 and 9 hours, respectively; no pts had CRS after C1. Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome occurred in 7 (10%) pts (grade 1: 4%; grade 2: 6%; grade 3: 4%). Most common TEAEs were CRS (40%), neutropenia (37%), diarrhea (29%), anemia (24%), and fatigue (20%); most common grade 3/4 TEAEs were neutropenia (31%), anemia (19%), thrombocytopenia (13%), and leukopenia (11%). Grade 5 TEAEs occurred in 5 pts; 1 event was deemed possibly related to ABBV-383 (COVID-19 pneumonia). In the efficacy-evaluable population (n=68), the objective response rate was 62% (95% CI: 49.2, 73.3); 35 (52%) pts had a VGPR or better. Median time to response was 1.1 mo (range: 1-4) and median duration of follow-up was 5.8 mo (range: 1-12). Response rates are expected to improve with longer follow-up. Maximum reduction in peak levels of CRS-related cytokines, including IL-6, were observed in DE compared with DO and 60 mg Q4W without SUD (FIH study). Peak activation and proliferation of CD8 T cells was comparable with ABBV-383 in DO, DE, and 60 mg Q4W-treated pts.
Conclusions
Introduction of 1 SUD of 2 mg on D1 followed by full dose of 60 mg on D4 in C1 combined with modification to the Dex premed schedule reduced the incidence and severity of CRS in pts with RRMM, further optimizing the safety profile of ABBV-383. Preliminary efficacy data show early and high response rates, consistent with outcomes from other ABBV-383 studies.