-- CDX-3379 also featured in a “clinical trials in progress” presentation --
HAMPTON, N.J., June 02, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLDX) today presented two
programs at the 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago. Data from the Phase 1/2 study of
Celldex's varlilumab, a CD27 targeting investigational immune-activating antibody, and Bristol-Myers Squibb's Opdivo®
(nivolumab), an anti-PD1 immunotherapy, for patients with ovarian cancer and colorectal cancer, were presented in an oral session
by Rachel E. Sanborn, M.D., Co-director of the Providence Thoracic Oncology Program and Phase 1 Clinical Trials Program, at the
Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, in Portland, Ore. In addition, an overview of the Phase 2 study of
the anti-ErbB3 antibody CDX-3379 in combination with Erbitux® in advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer was
presented in a “clinical trials in progress” poster session.
“The data presented today continue to support that varlilumab holds considerable potential as an immune
activator,” said Dr. Sanborn. “This was particularly noteworthy in ovarian cancer where the combination with the anti-PD1
monoclonal antibody, Opdivo, turned “immune-cold” tumors “hot,” which in turn correlated with improved clinical outcomes, including
improved response rate and progression-free survival in these patients.”
“Moving forward, we believe more work needs to be done to identify synergistic combinations and patient
populations that have the best chance of responding to varlilumab treatment,” said Tibor Keler, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and
Chief Scientific Officer of Celldex Therapeutics. “We are continuing to explore these opportunities through inclusion in our
ongoing Phase 1 study of CDX-1140, our CD40 agonist antibody, and several investigator-initiated studies.”
“We also continue to enroll patients into our ongoing Phase 2 study of CDX-3379 in combination with Erbitux in
patients with HPV negative, Erbitux-resistant, advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. We look forward to completing
enrollment to the first stage of this study in the third quarter of 2018 and are exploring other potential opportunities in
indications where ErbB3 is believed to play a role,” concluded Dr. Keler.
ASCO Highlights
Varlilumab
Varlilumab was featured in an oral presentation that highlighted the ongoing Phase 2 study of varlilumab in
combination with Opdivo. The Phase 1/2 study includes cohorts in ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, head and neck squamous cell
carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma and glioblastoma, with data from ovarian cancer (n=66) and colorectal cancer (n=42) patients
included in the presentation today. The majority of patients enrolled in the study had baseline tumors that were mostly “cold”
(PD-L1 negative or low, and low tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte [TIL] levels) with low expectation of responding to checkpoint
inhibition therapy. The combination was well tolerated at all varlilumab dose levels tested.
Results in Ovarian Cancer Experience: n=66, 8 patients in Phase 1; 58 patients in Phase 2;
median of three prior lines of therapy; 91% had Stage IV disease; 66% with PD-L1 negative tumors; multiple varlilumab dosing
regimens evaluated. Detailed information by dosing cohort is included in the presentation and is available on the Celldex website.
- Overall response rate: 14% (n=9) across 64 response-evaluable patients (7 confirmed, 2 unconfirmed)
- Response rate by PD-L1 status:
- PD-L1 positive: 20% (n=4 of 20; 3 confirmed, 1 unconfirmed)
- PD-L1 negative: 14% (n=5 of 37; 4 confirmed, 1 unconfirmed)
- Disease control rate (DCR), defined as best response of stable disease or better for greater than or equal to three months,
was 38% (n=24 of 64). As of the cut-off for analysis, five patients continued on treatment.
- For patients with tumor samples available, most patients experienced increases in tumor expression of PD-L1 (n=14 of 23; 61%)
and CD8+ TIL levels (n=14 of 24; 58%). These increases were associated with improved clinical outcome, including improved
progression-free survival (PFS) and response rate.
|
Median
PFS (months) |
Response Rate* |
PD-L1 increase
≥5% (n=8) |
7.4 |
42 |
% |
PD-L1 increase
<5% (n=15) |
3.5 |
0 |
% |
|
HR:
0.32; p=0.066 |
|
CD8 increase
≥5% (n=12) |
7.4 |
38 |
% |
CD8 increase
<5% (n=12) |
2.6 |
14 |
% |
|
HR:
0.24; p=0.015 |
*Confirmed and unconfirmed |
- 3 mg/kg dosing of varlilumab may have more clinical activity than other dosing regimens studied.
Results in Colorectal Cancer Experience: n=42; 21 patients in Phase 1; 21 patients in Phase 2;
median of four prior lines of therapy; 100% had Stage IV disease; 87% had PD-L1 negative tumors; one patient was MSI-high and 21
patients were MSI-low/mismatch repair (MMR) proficient; MSI status for the remaining 20 patients was unknown.
- One patient with PD-L1 negative, MSI-high disease experienced a confirmed partial response in the Phase 2 study portion and
continues on treatment. Of note, a patient with PD-L1 negative disease, initially considered MMR proficient as determined by
standard screening laboratory analysis, achieved a near complete response in the Phase 1 portion of the study, which now
continues at 35 months. As part of this study, an additional molecular analysis was conducted on this patient’s tumor. The tumor
had a high mutational burden and mutations in genes regulating DNA repair, which together likely contributed to the response. DCR
was 20% (8/41).
CDX-3379
CDX-3379 was featured in a “clinical trials in progress” poster presentation, available on the Celldex website, that highlighted the ongoing Phase 2 study of CDX-3379, a human monoclonal
antibody designed to block the activity of ErbB3 (HER3), in combination with Erbitux in patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)
negative, Erbitux-resistant, advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The proposed mechanism of action for CDX-3379 sets it
apart from other drugs in development in this class due to its ability to block both ligand-independent and ligand-dependent ErbB3
signaling by binding to a unique epitope. It has a favorable pharmacologic profile, including a longer half-life and slower
clearance relative to other drug candidates in this class. The multicenter, open-label, Simon two-stage design study is expected to
enroll approximately 27 patients (Stage 1=13; Stage 2=14). The primary objective of the study is objective response rate. Secondary
objectives include assessments of clinical benefit response, duration of response, progression-free survival and overall survival,
and safety and pharmacokinetics associated with the combination. Four clinical trial sites are currently open to enrollment, and
Celldex is targeting to complete enrollment to the first stage of the study by the end of the third quarter of 2018. The Company
continues to explore potential other opportunities in additional indications where ErbB3 is believed to play a role.
About Celldex Therapeutics, Inc.
Celldex is developing targeted therapeutics to address devastating diseases for which available treatments are
inadequate. Our pipeline includes immunotherapies and other targeted biologics derived from a broad set of complementary
technologies which have the ability to engage the human immune system and/or directly inhibit tumors to treat specific types of
cancer or other diseases. Visit www.celldex.com.
Forward Looking Statement
This release contains "forward-looking statements" made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are typically preceded by words such as "believes," "expects,"
"anticipates," "intends," "will," "may," "should," or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements reflect management's
current knowledge, assumptions, judgment and expectations regarding future performance or events. Although management believes that
the expectations reflected in such statements are reasonable, they give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be
correct or that those goals will be achieved, and you should be aware that actual results could differ materially from those
contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties,
including, but not limited to, our ability to successfully complete research and further development and commercialization of
Company drug candidates; our ability to obtain additional capital to meet our long-term liquidity needs on acceptable terms, or at
all, including the additional capital which will be necessary to complete the clinical trials that we have initiated or plan to
initiate; our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from the acquisition of Kolltan and to operate the combined business
efficiently; the uncertainties inherent in clinical testing and accruing patients for clinical trials; our limited experience in
bringing programs through Phase 3 clinical trials; our ability to manage and successfully complete multiple clinical trials and the
research and development efforts for our multiple products at varying stages of development; the availability, cost, delivery and
quality of clinical and commercial grade materials produced by our own manufacturing facility or supplied by contract
manufacturers, who may be our sole source of supply; the timing, cost and uncertainty of obtaining regulatory approvals; the
failure of the market for the Company's programs to continue to develop; our ability to protect the Company's intellectual
property; the loss of any executive officers or key personnel or consultants; competition; changes in the regulatory landscape or
the imposition of regulations that affect the Company's products; and other factors listed under "Risk Factors" in our annual
report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice. You are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. We have
no obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update, revise or correct any of the forward-looking statements, whether
as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Company Contact
Sarah Cavanaugh
Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Administration
(781) 433-3161
scavanaugh@celldex.com
Charles Liles
Associate Director, Investor Relations & Corp Communications
(617) 383-3433
cliles@celldex.com