Tetravalent death receptor 5 (DR5) agonist ozekibart (INBRX-109) + FOLFIRI in 2L+ colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC): Preliminary results from a phase 1 study.
David Berz, Olatunji B. Alese, David S. Hong, Nehal J. Lakhani, Elena Elez, Manish R Sharma, Brianne O'Neill, Yang Li, Emily Piccione, James Kalabus, Josep Garcia, Lee P. Hartner, Christopher Hanyoung Lieu129
Background:
DR5, a proapoptotic receptor, is selectively expressed on tumor vs normal cells, making it an attractive target. DR5 binds to its ligand, TRAIL, resulting in DR5 multimerization and apoptosis; greater DR5 clustering enhances downstream effects. Ozekibart is a next-generation, recombinant, humanized, tetravalent DR5 agonist that is based on a single-domain antibody platform and precisely engineered to balance agonism and safety. Ozekibart previously demonstrated an acceptable safety profile and clinical benefit in chondrosarcoma (1), prompting a phase 2, randomized trial (ChonDRAgon; NCT04950075). An ongoing phase 1 study (NCT03715933) is evaluating ozekibart in various solid tumors, including 2L+ CRC, for which effective therapies are lacking. We present preliminary results of ozekibart + FOLFIRI in 2L+ CRC (data cutoff: Aug 9, 2024).
Methods:
Parts 1 (single-agent dose escalation) and 2 (single-agent dose expansion; recommended phase 2 dose [RP2D] ozekibart 3 mg/kg IV Q3W) of this 3-part, open-label trial are complete. Part 3 (combination dose expansion with chemo) is ongoing in pts with CRC, Ewing sarcoma, or SDH-deficient GIST. Pts with locally advanced or metastatic, unresectable CRC who received oxaliplatin-based chemo were eligible for part 3. Pts with chronic liver disease were ineligible. Pts in the part 3 CRC cohorts (N=13; enrollment complete) received ozekibart 1 mg/kg (n=5) or 3 mg/kg (n=8) IV Q28D (1 cycle) + FOLFIRI Q14D (FOLFIRI could be stopped after ≥6 cycles); in 4/5 pts, ozekibart dose was escalated to 3 mg/kg (RP2D). The primary endpoint is safety; clinical response is an exploratory endpoint.
Results:
In total, 13 pts with CRC (male, 62%) received ozekibart + FOLFIRI. Median age was 60. All pts had metastatic disease; median number of prior lines of therapy was 2 (range, 1-6). At data cutoff, 2 pts remained on treatment. Ozekibart-related adverse events (AEs) were reported in 85% of pts (grade ≥3, 31%) and led to ozekibart interruption in 3 pts and discontinuation in 1 pt. One combo-related AE (neutropenic sepsis) led to death. The most common ozekibart-related AEs were nausea (n=5) and diarrhea, fatigue, and increased alanine aminotransferase (each n=4). Four pts (31%) had responses (all partial). Disease control rate (response + stable disease) was 77% (10/13) and durable (>180 days) in 46% (6/13) of pts. Most pts had tumor shrinkage. Median PFS was 7.85 mo.
Conclusions:
Ozekibart + FOLFIRI showed encouraging preliminary efficacy, including PRs and durable disease control, as 2L+ therapy in pts with CRC. Given these promising data, a new expansion cohort (C4d) is open to validate these findings in a more homogeneous population. Eligible pts will have had 2 or 3 prior lines of systemic therapy (irinotecan allowed but not in the immediately prior line) and must have archival or fresh biopsy tissue. 1. Subbiah.
Clin Cancer Res.
2023.