On December 2, 2018 Unum Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: UMRX), reported preliminary results from the ongoing, multicenter Phase 1 ATTCK-20-03 study of ACTR707 in combination with rituximab in patients with relapsed/refractory CD20+ B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (r/r NHL) at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) meeting in San Diego, CA (Press release, Unum Therapeutics, DEC 2, 2018, View Source [SID1234531811]).
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Unum presented updated data from all patients in the first two dose levels of ACTR707 in combination with rituximab. First-in-human dosing was well tolerated, with no dose-limiting toxicities observed and no serious or severe adverse events of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) or neurological events observed in any patients. Three of the six patients treated at dose level 1 achieved a complete response, two of which were ongoing with greater than 6 months follow up, as of the November 1, 2018 cutoff. One of the three patients in dose level 2 also achieved a complete response, which remained ongoing as of the November 1 cutoff. Based on these data, enrollment in dose level 3 is progressing as planned.
"These preliminary results demonstrate ACTR T cell activity with complete responses at both dose levels, dose-dependent ACTR707 expansion, and a well-tolerated safety profile, supporting further dose escalation," said Michael Vasconcelles, Chief Medical Officer of Unum. "We are encouraged by these data and the potential of ACTR707 plus rituximab to have a best-in-class profile relative to CD19-directed CAR-T therapies in this heavily pretreated patient population with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma."
Pharmacodynamic evidence of activity of ACTR707 in combination with rituximab supporting the proof of mechanism includes dose-dependent peak ACTR707 expansion and ACTR707 persistence, detectable > 200 days in the peripheral blood post ACTR707 infusion. Additionally, no impact of ACTR707 on the pharmacokinetics of rituximab has been observed. ACTR707-related serious adverse events were febrile neutropenia in 2 patients and 1 case of pancytopenia.
About the ATTCK-20-03 Trial
ATTCK-20-03 is a Phase I, multi-center, open label, single arm clinical trial evaluating ACTR707 in combination with rituximab in patients with r/r NHL. Eligible patients for enrollment must have, among other criteria, received adequate prior anti-lymphoma therapy, including anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody and chemotherapy, for their CD20+ r/r NHL. Key eligibility criteria include: pre-specified eligible NHL subtypes, including DLBCL, disease progression following immediate prior therapy, adequate organ function and performance status, and measurable disease. The trial design includes a dose escalation phase using an adaptive design, followed by a cohort expansion phase. Primary study objectives are to characterize the safety of ACTR707 in combination with rituximab and to determine the maximum tolerated dose and proposed recommended Phase 2 dose. Secondary study objectives include: assessment of the anti-lymphoma activity of the combination, ACTR707 persistence, rituximab pharmacokinetics, and inflammatory markers and cytokine levels. Following leukapheresis, each patient receives lymphodepletion followed by the first infusion of rituximab and then a single infusion of ACTR707. Rituximab infusions continue on a regular, pre-specified schedule.
About ACTR707
ACTR707 is an investigational drug that is being evaluated in adult patients with CD20+ r/r NHL in combination with rituximab as well as in adult patients with other cancer types in combination with other antibodies. ACTR707 was identified through a comprehensive high-throughput screening effort aimed at identifying receptors with improved functional characteristics across several dimensions. In preclinical testing, ACTR707 demonstrated potent activity against a wide range of hematologic and solid tumor cancers. Given the challenges of the immunosuppressive solid tumor microenvironment, Unum believes that ACTR707’s increased activity may be particularly important in addressing solid tumor cancers. ACTR707 is currently being tested in combination with rituximab in patients with r/r NHL in a Phase I multi-center open label clinical trial, ATTCK-20-03. Testing is expected to be initiated later in 2018 in ATTCK-34-01, a Phase I multi-center open label clinical trial exploring the combination of ACTR707 with trastuzumab in patients with HER2+ advanced cancers.