On February 16, 2022 InflaRx N.V. (Nasdaq: IFRX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing anti-inflammatory therapeutics by targeting the complement system, reported the start of the second dosing cohort of the vilobelimab and PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor, pembrolizumab, combination arm of the Phase II clinical trial in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) (Press release, InflaRx, FEB 16, 2022, View Source [SID1234608188]).
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The open label, non-comparative, two-stage, Phase II trial (NCT04812535) is ongoing at sites in Europe, the U.S. and elsewhere. The study is investigating two independent arms: vilobelimab alone (Arm A) and vilobelimab in combination with pembrolizumab (Arm B). The main objectives of the trial are to assess the safety and antitumor activity of vilobelimab monotherapy and to determine the maximum tolerated or recommended dose, safety and antitumor activity in the combination arm. The trial is expected to enroll a total of approximately 70 patients.
"We are pleased to see the progress in our first oncology study with vilobelimab and that there are to date no safety concerns in either arm," said Dr. Korinna Pilz, Global Head of Clinical Research and Development at InflaRx. "Scientific data suggest C5a involvement in tumor formation and progression, as well as in immunosuppression, and there is pre-clinical evidence of synergies between PD-1 and C5a/C5aR inhibitors in inducing anti-tumor responses. While there are PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors approved for the treatment of advanced cSCC, there currently are no treatment options for patients who are PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor resistant or refractory. We look forward to continuing to advance the development of vilobelimab with the hope of bringing a new therapy to treat the advanced stages of this potentially deadly skin cancer."
In the combination Arm B, three patients have been treated for at least 36 days in the first dosing cohort of the study, receiving intravenous infusions of 400 mg of vilobelimab on Days 1, 4, 8, and 15 and from Day 22 onwards, 800 mg every two weeks. Patients are also receiving 400 mg of pembrolizumab starting on Day 8 of the first cycle and every six weeks thereafter. The data from the first 36 days of treatment have been reviewed by the Steering Committee and no safety concerns were raised. The Steering Committee recommended to continue the study as planned and to open enrollment for the second dosing cohort with 1200 mg vilobelimab every two weeks after administration of 600 mg vilobelimab on Days 1,4, 8 and 15. The interim analysis in Arm B required to move to the second stage of the Phase II trial is expected after ten patients have been treated and are evaluable for response assessment at the recommended Phase II dose level, which will be selected based on data from the safety run-in phase of the study. These data are expected to be available in the first quarter of 2023.
In parallel, enrollment continues in the monotherapy Arm A. In this arm, patients are receiving a dose of 800 mg vilobelimab on Days 1, 4, 8, and 15 of the first cycle, followed by a dose of 1600 mg vilobelimab every two weeks starting on Day 22. Six patients are now enrolled in this arm. The interim analysis in Arm A required to proceed to the second stage is expected to be available after ten patients are evaluable for response assessment. These data are expected to be available in the third quarter of 2022.
About Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC)
cSCC is the second most common form of skin cancer and, if caught early, it is generally curable. In the U.S. alone, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, an estimated 1.8 million cases are diagnosed each year, which translates to about 205 cases diagnosed every hour. The incidence of cSCC has increased up to 200% in the past three decades. Approximately 5% of patients with cSCC develop locally advanced or metastatic disease. These forms of cSCC have a poor prognosis with low survival rates. Over 15,000 people in the U.S. die each year from this disease.
About Vilobelimab (IFX-1)
Vilobelimab is a first-in-class monoclonal anti-human complement factor C5a antibody, which highly and effectively blocks the biological activity of C5a and demonstrates high selectivity towards its target in human blood. Thus, vilobelimab leaves the formation of the membrane attack complex (C5b-9) intact as an important defense mechanism, which is not the case for molecules blocking the cleavage of C5. Vilobelimab has been demonstrated in pre-clinical studies to control the inflammatory response driven tissue and organ damage by specifically blocking C5a as a key "amplifier" of this response. Vilobelimab is believed to be the first monoclonal anti-C5a antibody introduced into clinical development. Over 300 people have been treated with vilobelimab in completed clinical trials, and the antibody has been shown to be well tolerated. Vilobelimab is currently being developed for various indications, including hidradenitis suppurativa, ANCA-associated vasculitis and pyoderma gangraenosum, as well as other areas, such as critical COVID-19 and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).