Updates from Ongoing, First-in-Human Phase 1 Dose Escalation and Expansion Study of TTI-621, a Novel Biologic Targeting CD47, in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Hematologic Malignancies

Background

CD47 is an innate immune checkpoint that binds signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα) and delivers a "do not eat" signal to suppress macrophage phagocytosis. Overexpression of CD47 can allow tumor cells to escape immune surveillance. TTI-621 (SIRPαFc) is a fusion protein consisting of the CD47 binding domain of human SIRPα linked to the Fc region of human IgG1, designed to enhance phagocytosis and antitumor activity by blocking the CD47-SIRPα interaction between malignant cells and macrophages, and engaging Fcγ receptors. Here we report updates from the first-in-human study of TTI-621 (NCT02663518) in hematologic malignancies.

Methods

Study Part 1 tested increasing weekly intravenous doses of TTI-621 based on 3+3 escalation. The maximum tolerated dose was initially determined to be 0.2 mg/kg based on dose limiting toxicity (DLT) of thrombocytopenia [Grade (Gr) 4 of any duration]. Expanded testing followed in patients (pts) with hematologic malignancies, including leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. In Part 2, most pts received 0.2 mg/kg. However, based on investigator discretion, a subset of pts received escalating doses up to 0.5 mg/kg. In Part 3, pts with T-cell lymphomas received stepwise dose escalations from 0.2 to 0.5 mg/kg over the first 5−8 weeks. In over 200 pts tested in Parts 1−3, thrombocytopenia did not increase with dose, typically recovered within 2−4 days, and was not associated with clinical sequelae.

Part 4 was then undertaken to optimize TTI-621 dosing and is currently escalating doses in a 3+3 manner through pre-planned dose levels (0.5, 0.7, 1, and 1.4 mg/kg) in pts with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). The DLT criteria was modified to require Gr 4 thrombocytopenia lasting >72 hours. Safety monitoring includes weekly clinical laboratories and assessments of adverse events (AEs) per CTCAE v 4.03. Blood samples are obtained for pharmacokinetics (PK) and for pharmacodynamic (PD) assessments of receptor occupancy (RO) on normal peripheral T cells. Disease assessments are performed per Olsen’s criteria.

Results

In Parts 1−3 (n=214), the most common related AEs were infusion-related reaction (IRR, 43%; 3% Gr ≥3), thrombocytopenia (30%; 22% Gr ≥3), chills (21%; 0% Gr ≥3), and fatigue (15%; 1% Gr ≥3). Objective responses to single agent TTI-621 were achieved in 14/71 (20%) NHL pts including CTCL (n=42, 1 CR, 7 PRs), PTCL (n=22, 2 CRs, 2 PRs) and DLBCL (n=7, 1 CR, 1 PR).

In Part 4, as of July 10, 2020, 15 pts (9M/6F, median age 67 years) have enrolled into 4 dose cohorts (0.5−1.4 mg/kg). CTCL subtypes include mycosis fungoides (MF, n=10) and Sézary syndrome (n=5) with advanced (≥IIB) disease in 9 (60%) pts who received a median of 3 (range 1−12) prior systemic therapies. Related AEs have occurred in 11 (73%) pts including IRR (n=10) and thrombocytopenia (n=3); Gr ≥3 AEs have occurred in 4 (27%) pts including thrombocytopenia (n=3), IRRs (n=2), and exfoliative dermatitis (n=1). Thrombocytopenia generally occurred on dosing days, recovered in 2-4 days, and has not worsened with increasing doses. IRRs typically occurred during initial infusions. The Gr 3 IRR events occurred in 2 pts in the 1 and 1.4 mg/kg cohorts; low Gr IRRs have occurred across doses in 8 pts. IRRs typically resolved without recurrence and low Gr events often resolved allowing for completion of infusions. For initial infusions, the Gr 3 IRRs prompted increasing infusion times from 1 hour up to 4 hours and discretional use of steroid pre-medication. The exfoliative dermatitis occurred Day 80 and led to treatment discontinuation in 1 pt with MF whose underlying disease confounded the etiology. PK results reveal dose dependent increases in exposure; PD studies indicate ~60% RO at end of infusion up to 1 mg/kg. Antitumor activity to date includes 1 PR and 1 skin CR in 6 evaluable pts in the 1 mg/kg cohort; 2 responding pts bridged to allogeneic transplantation. The mean % change in mSWAT scores were -0.4%, -27%, and -37% for 0.5, 0.7 and 1 mg/kg cohorts, respectively. 1.4 mg/kg cohort results will be presented at the meeting.

Conclusions

In Parts 1−3, TTI-621 doses of 0.05 to 0.5 mg/kg were well-tolerated and demonstrated single agent activity in multiple hematologic malignancies. Preliminary data from Part 4 dose optimization indicate that weekly infusions of TTI-621 up to 1.4 mg/kg are well-tolerated without dose limiting or cumulative thrombocytopenia. Antitumor activity was seen at 1 mg/kg; dose escalation is continuing at 2 mg/kg.