Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, PK Characteristics and Anti-tumor Activity of FCN-159 in Adult and Pediatric Participants With Neurofibromatosis Type 1

FCN-159 is a highly active MEK1/2 inhibitor that was designed, synthesized and screened on the basis of the structure of trametinib. FCN-159 is an orally available and highly potent selective inhibitor of MEK1/2, which is expected to be a targeted therapy for the treatment of advanced solid tumors and neurofibromatosis type 1.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

General inclusion criteria for Phase I and II:

1.Cohort 1: 16-70 years of age (inclusive) with a body weight of ≥ 94 lbs or 42.5 kg.

Cohort 2: 2-15 years of age (inclusive) and able to swallow whole tablet. 2.Participants must be diagnosed with NF1-related plexiform neurofibromas (PN) and symptomatic with requirement of systematic therapy per investigator's judgment. A PN is defined as a neurofibroma that has grown along the length of a nerve and may involve multiple fascicles and branches. A spinal PN involves two or more levels with connection between the levels or extending laterally along the nerve. Diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is based on meeting at least 1 of the following 2 diagnostic criteria:

1. Genetic testing confirmation: i.e., positive for NF1 germline mutation per CLIA-certified laboratory (or equivalent) testing. Note: NF1 germline mutation positive must either be confirmed by the FCN-159-002 central laboratory or have documentation of NF1 mutation issued by a CLIA-certified laboratory (or equivalent) - OR -
2. Clinical and imaging confirmation: Meets at least 2 of the following 7 NF1 diagnostic criteria according to the clinical NIH consensus criteria:

   1. ≥ 6 cafe-au-lait macules (\>0.5 cm in prepubertal participants and \> 1.5 cm in post-pubertal participants);
   2. Axillary freckling or freckling in inguinal regions;
   3. ≥2 neurofibromas of any type, or ≥ 1 plexiform neurofibroma;
   4. An optic pathway glioma;
   5. ≥2 Lisch nodules (iris hamartomas);
   6. A distinctive bony lesion such as dysplasia of the sphenoid bone or dysplasia or thinning of long bone cortex);
   7. First-degree relative with NF1. 3. Participants should meet one of the following criteria

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   1. Must be judged by the investigator to be inoperable for complete resection without causing substantial damage, or unsuitable for surgery with high surgical risks , e.g. due to encasement of or close proximity to vital structures, invasiveness, or high vascularity、Extensive lesion scope surgery is not feasible. NF1 has to cause or has the potential to cause significant morbidity, such as (but not limited to) head and neck lesions that could compromise the airway or great vessels, paraspinal lesions that can cause myelopathy, brachial or lumbar plexus lesions that could cause nerve compression and loss of function, lesions that could result in major deformity (e.g., orbital lesions) or are significantly disfiguring, lesions of the extremity that cause limb hypertrophy or loss of function, and painful lesions.
   2. The participants who have previously received surgical treatment, if the PN resection is incomplete, the postoperative residual exceeds 15% of the primary lesion, or relapse after surgery, and the lesions of at least 3 cm are measured in one dimension, are eligible for enrollment. At least a 28-day interval is required between surgery and the first dose of FCN-159.

      4. Participants must have a measurable lesion, defined as at least 3 cm in length in at least one dimension, amenable to MRI for efficacy assessment.

      5. Adult participants: Karnofsky performance level of ≥70%; Pediatric participants: Lansky performance score ≥ 70%, see Appendix 18.

      Note: Participants who are wheelchair bound because of paralysis secondary to a plexiform neurofibroma should be considered ambulatory when they are in the wheelchair. Similarly, participants with limited mobility secondary to the need for mechanical support (such as an airway PN requiring tracheostomy or CPAP) will also be considered ambulatory for the purposes of this study.

      6. Coagulation function: International normalized ratio (INR) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) ≤ 1.5 ULN.

      7. Participants or their legal guardians (if the participant is \<18 years old) are able to understand and voluntarily sign a written informed consent form.

      8. For participants of childbearing potential: participants must agree to take effective contraception, and receive double barrier contraception, condom, oral or injectable contraceptives, intrauterine device and other contraceptive methods during treatment and for at least 90 days after the last dose. Male participants must agree to avoid sperm donation for at least 90 days after the last dose.

      9. Willing to avoid excessive sun exposure and use adequate amounts of sunscreen if sun exposure is anticipated.

      Exclusion Criteria:

      Participants who meet any of the following conditions shall not be included in this clinical study:

      Exclusion criteria for Phase I and II:
      1. Participants who have previously received one of the following:

         1. Chemotherapy for NF1 within 3 months of enrollment. Ongoing side effects of that treatment \> Grade 1 (except alopecia).
         2. Treatment with any drug or biologic therapy within 14 days of starting FCN-159, such as: tipifarnib, pirfenidone, Peg-Interferon, sorafenib or other VEGFR inhibitors
         3. Strong CYP3A4, CYP2C8 and CYP2C9 inhibitors or inducers (moderate inducers for CYP2C8 and CYP2C9) within 14 days before treatment of the study drug, except for topical skin use.
         4. Use of growth factors to increase the number or function of platelets or white blood cells within 7 days before administration of FCN-159.
         5. Radiotherapy, surgery or immunotherapy within 4 weeks before administration of FCN-159.
         6. Participation in other interventional clinical trials within 4 weeks before administration of FCN-159.
         7. Prior treatment with selumetinib or any other MEK 1/2 inhibitors (specific for phase 2 part).
      2. Participants with malignant tumors associated with NF1 requiring chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery, such as intermediate- to high-grade optic gliomas or malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors.
      3. Patients have other malignant tumor history or with other malignant tumors simultaneously (excluding cured non-melanoma skin basal cell carcinoma, breast carcinoma in situ or cervix cancer in situ, and other malignant tumors without disease evidence for the past 5 years);
      4. Participants who are unable to undergo MRI examination and/or for whom MRI examination is contraindicated (e.g., due to prostheses, orthotics or dental appliances or due to interference with volumetric analysis of target PN on MRI).
      5. Uncontrolled hypertension (despite medical therapy)

         * Adult participants: defined as systolic or diastolic blood pressures \> 140/90 mmHg on repeat examination with existing anti-hypertension therapy.
         * Pediatric participants: Blood pressure (BP) greater than or equal to the 95th percentile for age, height, and gender measured as described in (Appendix 19).
      6. Participants with dysphagia, active digestive diseases, malabsorption syndrome, or other conditions that might affect the absorption of the study drug.
      7. Previous or current retinal vein occlusion (RVO), retinal pigment epithelial detachments (RPED), glaucoma and other significant abnormality in ophthalmic examination.
      8. Interstitial pneumonia, including existing clinically significant radiation pneumonitis.
      9. Cardiac dysfunction or concomitant diseases meeting any one of the following conditions will be excluded:

         1. Three 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements performed at the study site during the screening period for which the mean value of three measurements was calculated according to the QTcF formula using the instrument, with QTcF \> 470 milliseconds; Participants with risk factors for QTcF prolongation, such as uncorrectable hypokalemia, hereditary long QT syndrome; or receiving drugs that prolong QTcF interval (mainly class Ia, Ic, III antiarrhythmic drugs). Drugs with potential to prolong QTcF interval, See Appendix 20.
         2. New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class ≥ 3 congestive heart failure;
         3. Clinically significant arrhythmia, including but not limited to complete left bundle branch block, second degree atrioventricular block;
         4. Known concurrent clinically significant coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, severe valvular disease.
         5. Ultrasound Cardiogram performed during the screening showing. Left ventricular ejection fraction LVEF \< 50%.
      10. Participants with active bacterial, fungal or viral infections, including active hepatitis B (hepatitis B virus surface antigen positive and hepatitis B virus DNA \> 1000 IU/ml or meeting the study site's diagnostic criteria for active hepatitis B infection), hepatitis C (hepatitis C virus RNA positive), or human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV positive).
      11. Pregnant or lactating women.
      12. Known hypersensitivity to the study drug, other MEK 1/2 inhibitor or its excipients.
      13. Clinically significant condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude study participation or compliance with safety requirements.
      14. Inability to attend in-person appointments per current clinical site COVID 19 guidelines and restrictions.