On November 5, 2021 Humanigen, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGEN) ("Humanigen"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on preventing and treating an immune hyper-response called ‘cytokine storm’ with its lead drug candidate, lenzilumab, reported two abstracts pertaining to the potential use of lenzilumab in CAR-T will be presented at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) taking place December 11-14, 2021 (Press release, Humanigen, NOV 5, 2021, View Source [SID1234594613]). The society counts more than 18,000 hematologists among its membership from more than 100 countries, and its annual meeting attracts over 30,000 professional attendees.
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"After completing a Phase 3 trial of lenzilumab, in 2021, for the treatment of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia, we look forward to advancing our efforts to develop lenzilumab as a complementary therapy to potentially reduce CAR-T associated toxicities and to potentially improve outcomes for non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients," said Adrian Kilcoyne, Chief Medical Officer, Humanigen. "My experience working in the development of CAR-T therapies, which are now currently commercially available, suggests preventing toxicity and optimizing durable response rates remain challenges. Our plans include initiating the Phase 3 SHIELD study of lenzilumab in the first half of 2022 and we may be able to announce interim data at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) 2022."
Abstract #2777
Optimized Inhibition of GM-CSF in Preclinical Models of Anti-CD19 Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy
Summary: The abstract describes the evaluation of differential targeting of the GM-CSF ligand using lenzilumab compared to targeting the GM-CSFα receptor using a different antibody in pre-clinical models. The research demonstrated significant differences on CAR-T cell functions and CAR-T cell-monocyte interactions when GM-CSF is neutralized with lenzilumab compared to blocking its receptor with other agents. A key finding is that lenzilumab neutralization of GM-CSF improved CAR-T cell proliferation, but the GM-CSFRα receptor blocking antibody may significantly inhibit CAR-T cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. This may have efficacy implications.
Presenter: Evandro Bezerra, MD, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.
Session: 703. Cellular Immunotherapies: Basic and Translational: Poster II
Date: December 12, 2021; 6:00-8:00 PM EST
Abstract #175
A Phase 3 Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Open-Label, Multi-Center Trial of Lenzilumab to Improve the Safety and Efficacy of CAR-T Cell Therapy in Adults with Relapsed or Refractory Large B-Cell Lymphoma* (The SHIELD Study)
Summary: The abstract describes a planned Phase 3 study of prophylactic lenzilumab administration in sequenced therapy with commercially available CAR-Ts to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The study aim is to determine if lenzilumab can break the efficacy/toxicity linkage associated with CAR-T therapy thereby improving the toxicity and tolerance of CAR-T while maintaining or improving efficacy by neutralizing GM-CSF.
Presenter: Saad Kenderian, MD, principal investigator in the T Cell Engineering Lab at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.
Session: 704. Cellular Immunotherapies: Clinical: Poster I
Date: December 11, 2021; 5:30 PM-7:30 PM EST
* The SHIELD study protocol has been adapted since submission of the abstract to include a broader patient population