Clinical trial NCT04609579: Study of SNX281 in Subjects With Advanced Solid Tumors and Lymphoma
Official title: A Phase 1 Open-label Study of SNX281 Given as Monotherapy and in Combination With a Checkpoint Inhibitor in Subjects With Advanced Solid Tumors and Lymphoma
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: TERMINATED
Phase: PHASE1
Conditions: Advanced Solid Tumor
Advanced Lymphoma
Keywords: Stimulator of interferon genes
STING agonist
Ovarian Neoplasms
Colorectal Neoplasms
Microsatellite stable colorectal
Microsatellite instable colorectal
Lymphoma
B-Cell Lymphomas
Solid Tumor
Advanced Tumor
Lead sponsor: Stingthera, Inc.
Sponsor class: INDUSTRY
Collaborators: name: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
First posted: 2020-10-30
Enrollment: 27
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: SEQUENTIAL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: This clinical trial is evaluating a drug called SNX281 given by itself and in combination with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) in participants with advanced solid tumors and lymphoma. The main goals of this study are to:

* Find the recommended dose of SNX281 that can be given to participants safely alone and in combination with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®).
* Learn more about the side effects and safety profile of SNX281 alone and in combination with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®)
* Learn more about pharmacological characteristics of SNX281 alone and in combination with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®)
* Learn more about effectiveness of SNX281 alone and in combination with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®)

Detailed description: SNX281 is a small molecule activator of the Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) protein, with good drug-like properties. Activation of STING initiates the innate immune response and enhances the adaptive immune response, which could potentially activate immune responses to tumors and enhance the response to certain immunotherapies.

This study is a phase I, first in human, open-label study of SNX281 conducted in subjects with advanced solid tumors and lymphomas. The study will comprise of two treatment arms: one evaluating SNX281 as a single-agent, and the other evaluating SNX281 in combination with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®). Each treatment arm is designed to include a dose escalation phase followed by a dose expansion phase intended to establish the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D).

In the dose escalation phase of each treatment arm, successive cohorts of participants will receive increasing doses of SNX281 designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), the dose with maximum pharmacologic activity, or the maximum feasible dose, as a single-agent and in combination with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®).

The dose expansion phases of each treatment arm will begin following the determination of an MTD or alternative dose of SNX281 in each respective treatment arm. The single-agent treatment arm of SNX281 is planned to evaluate at least 2 expansion cohorts in ovarian cancer and colorectal carcinoma while the combination treatment arm of SNX281 and pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) is planned to enroll subjects with advanced cancer who have relapsed on or have become refractory to prior immune checkpoint therapy given in an indicated setting.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

Subjects must meet the following criteria in order to be included in the research study:

1. Written informed consent, according to local guidelines, signed and dated by the subject or by a legal guardian prior to the performance of any study-specific procedures, sampling, or analyses
2. At least 18 years-of-age at the time of signature of the informed consent form (ICF)
3. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status score of 0 or 1
4. Histological or cytological requirements as follows:

   a. Dose Escalation:

   i. All treatment arms: Subjects with histological or cytological documentation of advanced/recurrent solid tumors or lymphoma who have progressed on, are intolerant of, or are ineligible for existing standard therapies

   b. Dose Expansion:

   i. SNX281 Monotherapy: Subjects with histological or cytological documentation of advanced/recurrent ovarian or colorectal cancer who have progressed on, are intolerant of, or are ineligible for existing standard therapies. Subjects may be checkpoint inhibitor naïve. Subjects who qualify to add pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) to their treatment regimen, must meet all medical eligibility requirements for receiving pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) (see Inclusion Criteria 11).

   ii. SNX281 in Combination with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®): Subjects with histological or cytological documentation of advanced/recurrent solid tumors or lymphoma who have relapsed on or are refractory to prior checkpoint inhibitor therapy given in an indicated setting. (Note: recruitment will be stopped in a given anatomical indication if no evidence of clinical response is observed in 15 subjects.)
5. Measurable or evaluable disease according to disease-specific tumor assessment criteria. Subjects in dose expansion portions of the study must have at least 1 measurable lesion that has not been previously irradiated, or has progressed after prior irradiation.
6. Subjects must have progressed on treatment with an anti-Programmed Cell Death Protein 1/Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-1/L1) monoclonal antibody (mAb) administered either as monotherapy, or in combination with other checkpoint inhibitors or other therapies. PD-1/L1 treatment progression is defined by meeting all of the following criteria:

   1. Has received at least 2 doses of an approved anti-PD-1/L1 mAb.
   2. Has demonstrated disease progression (PD) after PD-1/L1 as defined by RECIST v1.1. The initial evidence of PD is to be confirmed by a second assessment no less than four weeks from the date of the first documented PD, in the absence of rapid clinical progression.
   3. Progressive disease has been documented within 12 weeks from the last dose of anti-PD-1/L1 mAb.

      * Progressive disease is determined according to iRECIST.
      * This determination is made by the Investigator. Once PD is confirmed, the initial date of PD documentation will be considered the date of disease progression.
7. Adequate organ function, defined as:

   a. Hematologic systems

   i. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1.5 × 109/L

   ii. Hemoglobin ≥9 g/dL

   iii. Platelets ≥100 × 109/L

   b. Hepatic system

   i. Total bilirubin ≤1.5 × the upper limit of normal (ULN) (for subjects with Gilbert's Syndrome ≤3.0 × ULN \[if direct bilirubin ≤35%\])

   ii. Alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase ≤2.5 × ULN; and for subjects with liver metastases ≤5.0 × ULN

   c. Renal system

   i. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) by Cockcroft-Gault formula \>50 mL/min

   d. Cardiac system

   i. Ejection fraction ≥50% by echocardiogram (ECHO) or multi-gated acquisition (MUGA) scan
8. A female subject is eligible to participate if she is not pregnant or breastfeeding, and at least one of the following conditions applies:

   1. Not a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP)
   2. A WOCBP who agrees to follow contraceptive guidance during the treatment period and for at least 6 months after the last dose of SNX281 and 120 days after the last dose of pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®), if applicable. WOCBP must have a negative urine pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to the first dose of study. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required.
9. Male subjects with female partners of childbearing potential are required to use two forms of acceptable contraception, including one barrier method, during their participation in the study and for 3 months following the last dose of SNX281, and for 120 days following the last dose of pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®). Male subjects must also refrain from donating sperm during their participation in the study and for 3 months following the last dose of SNX281 and 120 days after the last dose of pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®).
10. Life expectancy ≥12 weeks after the start of the treatment according to the Investigator's judgment.
11. Subjects considered for any combination of pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) and SNX281 must meet, in the opinion of the Investigator, any additional criteria necessary for the safe and proper use of pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®).

Exclusion Criteria:

Subjects who meet any of the following criteria will be excluded from study entry:

1. Malignancy other than the disease under study with the exception of those from which the subject has been disease-free for more than 2 years and not expected to affect the safety of the subject or the endpoints of the trial. Curatively treated non-melanoma skin cancer is permitted.
2. Symptomatic central nervous system (CNS) metastases or asymptomatic CNS metastases may participate provided they are radiologically stable, i.e., without evidence of progression for at least 4 weeks by repeat imaging (note that the repeat imaging should be performed during the study screening), clinically stable and without the requirement of steroid treatment for at least 14 days prior to first dose of study treatment. Subjects with carcinomatous meningitis or leptomeningeal spread are excluded regardless of clinical stability.
3. Active autoimmune disease that has required systemic disease modifying or immunosuppressive treatment within the last 2 years. Replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, insulin for type 1 diabetes, etc.) is permitted.
4. Concurrent medical conditions requiring the use of systemic immunosuppressive treatment within 28 days before the first dose of study treatment. Physiologic doses of corticosteroids (not exceeding 10 mg/day prednisone or equivalent) for treatment of endocrinopathies or steroids with minimal systemic absorption, including topical, inhaled, or intranasal corticosteroids may be continued if the subject is on a stable dose.
5. Current unstable liver or biliary disease per Investigator assessment defined by the presence of ascites, encephalopathy, coagulopathy, hypoalbuminemia, esophageal or gastric varices, persistent jaundice, or cirrhosis. Stable chronic liver disease (including Gilbert's syndrome or asymptomatic gallstones) or hepatobiliary involvement of malignancy is acceptable if subject otherwise meets entry criteria
6. History of vasculitis at any time prior to study treatment
7. Evidence or history of significant active bleeding or coagulation disorder that would compromise the subject's ability to adhere to the protocol.
8. Has a known history of HIV infection. No HIV testing is required unless mandated by local health authority(ies).
9. Has a known history of hepatitis B (defined as hepatitis B surface antigen \[HBsAg\] reactive) or known hepatitis C virus (defined as HCV RNA \[qualitative\] is detected) infection. No testing for hepatitis B or hepatitis C is required unless mandated by local health authority(ies).
10. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy.
11. QT interval corrected for heart rate according to Fridericia's formula \>480 msec by machine read or human over-read. Pre-existing bundle branch block is permitted at the Investigator's discretion.
12. Recent history (within the past 6 months) of acute diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease, intra-abdominal abscess, or gastrointestinal obstruction.
13. Recent history (within 4 weeks of starting study) of allergen desensitization therapy
14. History or evidence of cardiovascular risk including any of the following: recent (within the past 6 months) serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia or clinically significant electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities including second degree (Type II) or third degree atrioventricular block; cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndromes (including unstable angina pectoris), coronary angioplasty, stenting, or bypass grafting within the past 6 months before enrollment; congestive heart failure (Class II, III, or IV) as defined by the New York Heart Association functional classification system.
15. Recent (within the past 6 months) history of symptomatic pericarditis
16. History of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, organizing pneumonia, non-infection pneumonitis that required steroids, or radiation pneumonitis. Note (SNX281 monotherapy only): post-radiation changes in the lung related to prior radiotherapy and/or asymptomatic radiation-induced pneumonitis not requiring treatment may be permitted if agreed upon by the Investigator and Sponsor
17. Symptomatic ascites or pleural effusions
18. Has known hypersensitivity (Grade ≥3) to pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) and/or any of its excipients (for subjects receiving pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) only).
19. Any serious and/or unstable pre-existing medical, psychiatric, or other condition that could interfere with the subject's safety, obtaining informed consent, or compliance with study procedures
20. Prior treatment with the following agents:

    * Systemic stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist at any time (prior intra-tumoral STING agonist is acceptable)

      * Subjects treated in Treatment Arm 1 (SNX281 Monotherapy) who experience disease progression (PD) may be allowed to receive pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) in combination with SNX281 with Sponsor approval
    * Anticancer therapy or investigational therapy within 28 days or 5 half-lives of the drug, whichever is shorter
    * PD-1, PD-L1, and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors within 28 days of the start of study treatment (SNX281 Monotherapy treatment arm only)
    * Received treatment with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 agent directed to another stimulatory or co-inhibitory T-cell receptor (e.g., CTLA-4, OX40, CD137), and was discontinued from that treatment due to Grade 3 or higher immune related AE for subjects receiving pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) only.
    * Prior radiation therapy: permissible if at least 1 non-irradiated evaluable lesion is available for assessment according to disease-specific tumor response criteria, or if a solitary evaluable lesion was irradiated, objective progression of that lesion is documented. A washout period of at least 14 days before start of study treatment for radiation of any intended use to the extremities for bone metastases and 28 days for radiation to the chest or visceral organs is required. Participants must have recovered from all radiation-related toxicities, must not require corticosteroids, and must not have had radiation pneumonitis. For radiation to the brain, a washout period of at least 14 days for stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and 28 days for whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) is required. Palliative radiation with a 1-week washout is permissible at any other time for non-CNS disease before or during the study.
    * Subjects with mesothelioma, non-small cell lung cancer or small-cell lung cancer receiving pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) with a history of radiation therapy to the lung \>30Gy within 6 months of the first dose of pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) are excluded.
    * Strong inhibitors and inducers of CYP3A4 must be discontinued 7 days or for a time equivalent to 5-half-lives of the medication (whichever is longer) prior to initiation of SNX281 treatment.
21. Receipt of any live vaccine within 30 days of the start of treatment
22. Prior allogeneic or autologous bone marrow transplantation or other solid organ transplantation
23. Toxicity from previous treatment including toxicity Grade ≥3 related to prior immunotherapy and that led to study treatment discontinuation; toxicity related to prior treatment that has not resolved to Grade ≤1 (except alopecia, hearing loss, or Grade ≤2 neuropathy or endocrinopathy managed with replacement therapy).
24. Received transfusion of blood products (including platelets or red blood cells) or administration of colony stimulating factors (including granulocyte colony stimulating factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, and recombinant erythropoietin) within 7 days before the first dose of study treatment. Note: For subjects receiving pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) only, packed red blood cell transfusions are not permitted within 2 weeks of treatment with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®).
25. Major surgery ≤28 days before the first dose of study treatment. Subjects must have also fully recovered from any surgery (major or minor) and/or its complications before initiating treatment. Port-a-cath placement is permitted.
26. Active drug or alcohol abuse

Primary outcomes:
measure: Incidence of dose limiting toxicities to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and Recommended Phase 2 dose of SNX281
timeFrame: Up to 28 Days
measure: Percentage of participants who experience adverse events and serious adverse events to determine safety and tolerability of SNX281 given as a single agent and in combination with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®)
timeFrame: Up to 20 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Plasma concentration of SNX281 to characterize the pharmacokinetics (PK) parameters of SNX281 given as a single agent and in combination with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®)
timeFrame: Up to 20 weeks
measure: Plasma concentration of biomarker to determine pharmacodynamics (PD) response to SNX281 given as a single agent and in combination with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®).
timeFrame: Up to 20 weeks
measure: Objective response rate (ORR) to assess the clinical activity of SNX281 given as a single agent and in combination with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®)
timeFrame: Up to 40 months
measure: Duration of response (DoR) to assess the clinical activity of SNX281 given as a single agent and in combination with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®)
timeFrame: Up to 40 months
measure: Progression free survival (PFS) to assess the clinical activity of SNX281 given as a single agent and in combination with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®)
timeFrame: Up to 40 months
measure: Overall survival (OS) to assess the clinical activity of SNX281 given as a single agent and in combination with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®)
timeFrame: Up to 40 months
measure: Disease control rate (DCR) to assess the clinical activity of SNX281 given as a single agent and in combination with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®)
timeFrame: Up to 40 months
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Denver
country: United States
facility: Sarah Cannon Research Institute at HealthONE
state: Colorado
city: Sarasota
country: United States
facility: Florida Cancer Specialists
state: Florida
city: Philadelphia
country: United States
facility: Thomas Jefferson University, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center
state: Pennsylvania
city: Nashville
country: United States
facility: Tennessee Oncology
state: Tennessee
Study officials:
affiliation: SCRI Development Innovations, LLC
name: Melissa Johnson, MD
role: STUDY_CHAIR
References: