A phase II study of AK112 (PD-1/VEGF bispecific) in combination with chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
Authors: Zhao Yuangyuan , Fang Wenfeng , Yang Yunpeng , Chen Jianhua , Zhuang Li , Du Yingying , Yu Qitao , Zhao Yanqiu , Zhuang Wu , Zhou Ming , Zhang Weidong , Zhang Yu , Wan Yixin , Wang Ziping , Wang Lin , Xia Yu , Li Baiyong , Wang Zhongmin Maxwell , Song Weifeng , Zhang Li 
Published: June 2022

9019 Background: Based on IMPOWER 150, atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab and platinum-based chemotherapy has been the first-line treatment for advanced non-squamous NSCLC with negative driver genes. AK112 is a global first-in-class anti-PD-1/VEGF bi-specific antibody developed by Akesobio. Preclinical and clinical studies have indicated that AK112 possess potential anti-tumor efficacy in solid tumors. Therefore, we aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of AK112 in combination with chemotherapy for patients with advanced NSCLC. Methods: This was an open-label, multi-center phase II study evaluating the efficacy and safety of AK112 in combination with chemotherapy in pts with advanced NSCLC. Enrolled pts were divided into three cohorts: Previously untreated advanced NSCLC pts with wide-type EGFR/ALK (Cohort 1), pts with EGFR mutations who had failed prior EGFR-TKI therapies without T790M mutation or failed osimertinib treatment (Cohort 2), and pts who progressed after anti-PD-1/L1 and platinum-based chemotherapy (Cohort 3). Pts were treated with 10mg/kg or 20mg/kg AK112 once every 3 weeks in combination with carboplatin and pemetrexed or carboplatin and paclitaxel for Cohort 1/2, and docetaxel for Cohort 3. Primary endpoint was ORR as assessed by investigator per RECIST v1.1. Results: 133 pts were enrolled from Feb 03, 2021 to Dec 31, 2021 and received AK112 plus chemotherapy (44 received AK112 10 mg/kg and 89 received AK112 20 mg/kg). As of Dec 31, 2021, in cohort-1, among 26 evaluable pts with squamous cell carcinoma, 20 partial response and 6 stable disease were observed for a 76.9% ORR and a 100.0% DCR, median DOR and median PFS was not reached while 6-month PFS rate was 86.2%. In Cohort-2, among 19 evaluable pts, 13 partial response and 5 stable disease were observed for a 68.4% ORR and a 94.7% DCR while median DOR was 5.5 months, and median PFS was 8.3 months. In Cohort-3, among 20 evaluable pts, 8 partial response and 8 stable disease were observed for a 40.0% ORR and a 80.0% DCR, median DOR and median PFS was not reached while 6-month PFS rate was 71.1%. Treatment emergent adverse events (TEAE) occurred in 86.5% (115/133) of the pts, and grade ≥3 AEs occurred in 28.6% (38/133) of pts including two deaths. Most common AE (incidence ≥ 5%) included alanine/aspartate aminotransferase increased, epistaxis, anemia, vomiting, nausea, rash, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia. Treatment discontinuation due to AE occurred in 3.0% (4/133) of the pts. Conclusions: AK112 plus chemotherapy has shown a promising anti-tumor efficacy in each cohort and warrants potentially superior safety in comparison to anti-PD-(L)1 and anti-VEGF combination therapies in advanced NSCLC. PFS and ORR were also significantly improved with AK112 plus chemotherapy. Therefore, phase III registration studies of AK112 plus chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC will be initiated in 2022. Clinical trial information: NCT04736823.