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RecruitingInterventionalPhase 1/Phase 2

Phase 1/2 Dose Escalation and Cohort Expansion Study Evaluating MCLA-158 (Petosemtamab) as Single Agent or in Combination in Advanced Solid Tumors

NCT ID: NCT03526835Sponsor: Merus B.V.Last updated: 2025-01-29

Summary

This is a Phase 1/2 open-label, multi-center, multi-national study with an initial dose escalation part to determine the recommended Phase II dose (RP2D) of MCLA-158 single agent in patients with mCRC. The dose escalation part has been completed and the RP2D will be further evaluated in an expansion part of the study. Cohorts of selected solid tumor indications for which there is evidence of EGFR dependency and potential sensitivity to EGFR inhibition will be evaluated including head and neck cancer and metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The study will further assess the safety, tolerability, PK, PD, immunogenicity, and anti-tumor activity of MCLA-158 in monotherapy or in combination with other therapies.

Detailed description

Study Design: This open label, multicenter, first-in-human study consists of 2 parts. Part 1 is a dose escalation to find the recommended Phase II dose (RP2D) of MCLA-158 studying patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Enrollment in the dose escalation part has been completed. In the dose expansion (single-agent cohorts) part of the study, the activity, safety, and tolerability of MCLA-158 at 1500 mg every 2 weeks (Q2W) (preliminary RP2D) as a single agent will be evaluated in cohorts of selected solid tumor indications with dependency on EGFR signaling. The most recently enrolled cohorts were in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Enrollment into the HNSCC cohort of single-agent MCLA-158 for the treatment of patients with second/third line (2L/3L) HNSCC is closed. In the dose expansion part of the study, safety was also characterized at two dose levels in this setting. Other closed cohort indications included gastric/gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GEA) with EGFR amplification and/or high EGFR expression, esophageal carcinoma, and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Enrollment is currently being explored in mCRC (RAS/RAF wild type) patients in the 3L/4L/5L setting. Additionally, in the dose expansion (combination cohorts) part of the study, the activity, safety, and tolerability of MCLA-158 at 1500 mg Q2W will be evaluated in combination with other therapies. Enrollment in the combination cohort of treatment of MCLA-158 with pembrolizumab for the treatment of patients with first line (1L) HNSCC is closed. Additionally, two combination cohorts of MCLA-158 with FOLFIRI or with FOLFOX chemotherapy (i.e., 5-fluorouracil \[5-FU\], leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) or oxaliplatin (FOLFOX)) will be explored in mCRC (RAS/RAF wild type) patients in the 1L/2L setting. Other expansion cohorts may be considered for monotherapy or combination treatment in the future.

Arms & interventions

  • DrugMCLA-158

    full-length IgG1 bispecific antibody targeting EGFR and LGR5

  • Combination ProductMCLA-158 + Pembrolizumab

    MCLA-158 in combination with pembrolizumab will be explored first in HNSCC patients eligible to receive pembrolizumab as first-line monotherapy.

  • Combination ProductMCLA-158 + FOLFIRI

    MCLA-158 in combination with FOLFIRI will be explored in mCRC patients with up to 1 line of prior regimen.

  • Combination ProductMCLA-158 + FOLFOX

    MCLA-158 in combination with FOLFOX will be explored in mCRC patients with up to 1 line of prior regimen.

Outcome measures

Primary

  • Escalation: Number of patients with Dose Limiting Toxicities (DLTs) during Cycle 1

    Evaluation of the number and severity of participants with treatment related toxicities observed during the dose escalation.

    Time frame: 4 weeks

  • Expansion (Single agent - randomized expansion in 2/3L Head and Neck cancer, and combination cohorts): Safety and tolerability: AEs and SAEs

    Incidence, severity, and relationship of AEs and SAEs

    Time frame: 6-12 months

  • Expansion (Single agent - randomized expansion in 2/3L Head and Neck cancer): Treatment discontinuations and dose modifications due to AEs

    Treatment discontinuations due to AEs and dose modifications due to AEs

    Time frame: 6-12 months

  • Expansion (single agent - randomized expansion in 2/3L Head and Neck cancer): Best overall response (BOR)

    Evaluation of clinical benefit assessed by RECIST v1.1 determining Best overall response (BOR)

    Time frame: 36 months

  • Expansion (Single agent - non-randomized, and combination cohorts): Objective response rate (ORR)

    Evaluation of clinical benefit assessed by RECIST v1.1 determining objective response rate (ORR)

    Time frame: 36 months

  • Expansion (single agent - randomized expansion in 2/3L Head and Neck cancer): exposure-safety relationship of petosemtamab administered at 1100 mg and 1500 mg: TEAEs

    Incidence of TEAEs at Week 8

    Time frame: 8 weeks

Secondary

  • Escalation & Expansion: Duration of response (DOR)

    Time frame: 36 months

  • Expansion: Progression Free Survival (PFS)

    Time frame: 36 months

  • Expansion (mCRC combination cohorts): Progression Free Survival (PFS) rate at 4 months

    Time frame: 4 months

  • Expansion (Single agent - non-randomized cohorts): Overall survival (OS)

    Time frame: 36 months

  • Escalation & Expansion (single agent - non-randomized cohorts): Safety and tolerability: AEs and SAEs

    Time frame: up to 30 days post-last dose

  • Escalation & Expansion (Single agent - non-randomized and Combination cohorts): Treatment discontinuations and dose modifications due to AEs

    Time frame: up to 30 days post-last dose

  • Expansion (Single agent - randomized expansion in 2/3L Head and Neck cancer): exposure-efficacy relationship of petosemtamab administered at 1100 mg and 1500 mg: Target Lesions

    Time frame: 8 weeks

  • Expansion (Single agent - randomized expansion in 2/3L Head and Neck cancer): exposure-safety relationship of petosemtamab administered at 1100 mg and 1500 mg: Grade 3-4 TEAEs

    Time frame: 8 weeks

  • Expansion (Single agent - randomized expansion in 2/3L Head and Neck cancer): exposure-safety relationship of petosemtamab administered at 1100 mg and 1500 mg: IRR TEAEs

    Time frame: 8 weeks

  • Expansion (Single agent - randomized expansion in 2/3L Head and Neck cancer): exposure-safety relationship of petosemtamab administered at 1100 mg and 1500 mg : non-IRR TEAEs

    Time frame: 8 weeks

  • Escalation and Expansion: Safety and tolerability: laboratory values

    Time frame: 6-12 months

  • Escalation and Expansion: Safety and tolerability: (ECG)

    Time frame: 6-12 months

  • Escalation and Expansion: Safety and tolerability: vital signs

    Time frame: 6-12 months

  • Expansion (Single agent - randomized expansion in 2/3L Head and Neck cancer): Objective response rate (ORR)

    Time frame: 36 months

  • Escalation & Expansion: Incidence of anti-drug antibodies against MCLA-158

    Time frame: 36 months

  • Escalation: Cytokine Panel Expression Profile

    Time frame: 36 months

  • Escalation & Expansion: End of infusion (EOI) plasma concentration [Ceoi]

    Time frame: 36 months

  • Escalation & Expansion: Maximum plasma concentration [Cmax]

    Time frame: 36 months

  • Escalation & Expansion: Plasma concentration at 0 hours [C0h]

    Time frame: 36 months

  • Escalation & Expansion: Area under the concentration versus time curve from time zero to time t [AUC0-t]

    Time frame: 36 months

  • Escalation & Expansion: Area under the concentration versus time curve [AUC0-∞]

    Time frame: 36 months

  • Escalation & Expansion: Clearance of plasma [CL]

    Time frame: 36 months

  • Escalation & Expansion: Volume of distribution at steady state [Vss]

    Time frame: 36 months

  • Escalation & Expansion: Half-life [t1/2]

    Time frame: 36 months

Eligibility criteria

Sex: AllAge: 18 Years and olderHealthy volunteers: No
Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed solid tumors with evidence of metastatic or locally advanced disease not amenable to standard therapy with curative intent. * A baseline fresh tumor sample (FFPE) from a metastatic or primary site (if safe/feasible). * Amenable for biopsy (if safe/feasible). * Measurable disease as defined by RECIST version 1.1 by radiologic methods. * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1. * Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks, as per investigator. * Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50% by echocardiogram (ECHO) or multiple gated acquisition scan (MUGA). * Adequate organ function * Expansion cohorts: patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic disease for the following indications: SINGLE AGENT: * SECOND-/THIRD-LINE HNSCC PATIENTS (cohort closed to enrolment): patients who have progressed on or after, or are intolerant to, anti-PD-(L)1 therapy and platinum therapy as monotherapy or in combination with other agents and no previous exposure to EGFR inhibitors. Patients treated with platinum-containing therapy only in the adjuvant setting, or in the context of multimodal therapy for locally advanced disease should have disease progression within 6 months of the last dose of platinum containing therapy. Patients with no more than 2 prior lines of treatment in recurrent or metastatic disease. * Human papilloma virus (HPV) status determined by p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC) or molecular HPV test for all oropharyngeal tumors should be reported when available. * The eligible HNSCC primary tumor locations are oropharynx, oral cavity, hypopharynx, and larynx. * 3L+ mCRC (cohort open to enrolment) patients must have: * No oncogenic missense mutations in KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, or EGFR ectodomain, and no HER2 (ERBB2) amplification, as detected in plasma by ctDNA NGS central testing performed during screening. * A microsatellite stable (MSS) tumor. COMBINATION: * FIRST-LINE HNSCC (cohort closed to enrolment): patients eligible to receive pembrolizumab as first-line monotherapy with tumors expressing programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1), combined positive score (CPS) ≥1, as determined by a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved test in the US, or by an approved equivalent test in other countries; patients should not have previous systemic therapy administered in the recurrent or metastatic setting, although previous systemic therapy as part of multimodal treatment for locally advanced disease is allowed if ended ≥6 months prior to signing the ICF. The eligible HNSCC primary tumor locations are oropharynx, oral cavity, hypopharynx, and larynx. Previous treatments with anti PD-(L)1 or anti-EGFR therapies are not allowed. * mCRC (cohorts open to enrolment): Patients should have been previously diagnosed with histologically or cytologically confirmed unresectable or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum. Patients must be RAS/RAF WT as determined using tumor tissue (primary or metastatic) by an appropriate tumor tissue based assay, to be confirmed by the sponsor, and must have an MSS tumor. Patients must be naive to prior anti-EGFR therapy. * Cohort to be treated with petosemtamab and FOLFIRI: patients may have received up to 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for the metastatic setting, consisting of 1L fluoropyrimidine-oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy ± bevacizumab. * Cohort to be treated with petosemtamab and FOLFOX: patients may have received up to 1 prior chemotherapy regimen in the metastatic setting consisting of 1L fluoropyrimidine-irinotecan-based chemotherapy ± bevacizumab. Exclusion Criteria: * Central nervous system metastases that are untreated or symptomatic, or require radiation, surgery, or continued steroid therapy to control symptoms within 14 days of study entry. * Known leptomeningeal involvement. * Participation in another clinical study or treatment with any investigational drug within 4 weeks prior to study entry. * Any systemic anticancer therapy within 4 weeks or 5 half-lives whichever is shorter of the first dose of study treatment. For cytotoxic agents that have major delayed toxicity ( e.g. mitomycin C,nitrosoureas), or anticancer immunotherapies, a washout period of 6 weeks is required. * Requirement for immunosuppressive medication (e.g. methotrexate, cyclophosphamide) * Major surgery or radiotherapy within 3 weeks of the first dose of study treatment. Patients who received prior radiotherapy to ≥25% of bone marrow are not eligible, irrespective of when it was received. * Persistent grade \>1 clinically significant toxicities related to prior antineoplastic therapies (except for alopecia); stable sensory neuropathy ≤ grade 2 NCI-CTCAE v4.03 is allowed. * History of hypersensitivity reaction to any of the excipients of petosemtamab, human proteins or any non-IMP treatment required for this study. * Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure \[BP\] \> 150 mmHg and/or diastolic BP \> 100 mmHg) with appropriate treatment or unstable angina. * History of congestive heart failure of Class II-IV New York Heart Association (NYHA) criteria, or serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring treatment (except atrial fibrillation, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia). * History of myocardial infarction within 6 months of study entry. * History of prior malignancies with the exception of excised cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or nonmelanoma skin cancer, or curatively treated cancer deemed at low risk for recurrence with no evidence of disease for 3 years. * Current dyspnea at rest of any origin, or other diseases requiring continuous oxygen therapy. * Patients with a history of interstitial lung disease (e.g., pneumonitis or pulmonary fibrosis) or evidence of ILD on baseline chest computerized tomography (CT) scan. * Current serious illness or medical conditions including, but not limited to uncontrolled active infection,clinically significant pulmonary, metabolic or psychiatric disorders. * Patients with known infectious diseases: * Active hepatitis B infection ((hepatitis B surface antigen \[HBsAg\] positive) without receiving antiviral treatment. * Positive test for hepatitis C ribonucleic acid (HCV) RNA). * Pregnant or breastfeeding patients; patients of childbearing potential must use highly effective contraception methods prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation, and for 6 months after the last dose of MCLA-158.

Study locations (23)

UCSD

La Jolla, California, 92093

Recruiting
Petrea Monson · Contact

USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center

Los Angeles, California, 90033

Recruiting
Sandy Tran · Contact

Sharp Healthcare

San Diego, California, 92123

Recruiting
Danica Griffin · Contact

Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers

Lone Tree, Colorado, 80124

Recruiting
Jennifer Hege · Contact

Florida Cancer Specialists

Fort Myers, Florida, 33901

Recruiting
Sufficient Bien · Contact

Sarah Cannon Research Institute (Lake Nona)

Orlando, Florida, 32827

Recruiting
Ingrid Acker · Contact

Massachusetts General Hospital - Dana Farber

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114

Recruiting
Rowan Cutler · Contact

SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital

St Louis, Missouri, 63110

Recruiting
Cynthia Cantrell · Contact

Washington University School of Medicine at St Louis

St Louis, Missouri, 63110

Recruiting
Olive Pressey · Contact

Cayuga Medical Center

Ithaca, New York, 14850

Recruiting
Danielle Rao · Contact

Hematology-Oncology Associates of Central New York

Syracuse, New York, 13057

Recruiting
Kimberly Desimone · Contact

Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland, Ohio, 44195

Recruiting
Anil Timur · Contact

Taylor Cancer Research Center

Maumee, Ohio, 43537

Recruiting
Stephanie Ambrose · Contact

SSM OKC Hightower Clinical

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73102

Recruiting
Caitlin Merrick · Contact

The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center

Memphis, Tennessee, 38103

Recruiting
Thomas Kerby · Contact

Sarah Cannon Research Institute

Nashville, Tennessee, 37203

Completed

Texas Oncology

Dallas, Texas, 75246

Recruiting
Collin Basham · Contact

Oncology Consultants

Houston, Texas, 77030

Recruiting
Carlos Cortez · Contact

Texas Oncology

Tyler, Texas, 75702

Recruiting
Kim Chadwick · Contact

Utah Cancer Specialists

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84106

Recruiting
Emra Kazic · Contact

University of Utah Health Huntsman Cancer Hospital

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112

Recruiting
Devin Baxter · Contact

Oncology & Hematology Associates of Southwest Virginia

Roanoke, Virginia, 24014

Recruiting
Monica Sarp · Contact

Cancer Care Northwest

Spokane, Washington, 99202

Recruiting
Krystal Swenson · Contact