Electra Therapeutics Unveils Phase 1b ELA026 Data at EHA2024 for sHLH

Electra Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company specializing in antibody therapies for immunological diseases and cancer, has announced promising clinical data for their product ELA026 in treating secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH). This serious hyperinflammatory condition lacks approved treatments and can be fatal if not addressed promptly. The data was presented at the European Hematology Association (EHA) Congress in Madrid, Spain.

The Phase 1b study of ELA026, an ongoing open-label, multi-dose, single-arm, multicenter trial, aims to assess the safety and efficacy of this novel monoclonal antibody. ELA026 targets signal regulatory protein (SIRP)-α/β1/γ on myeloid cells and T lymphocytes, which are the immune cells causing hyperinflammation in sHLH. The study also seeks to evaluate biomarkers and determine a suitable dose for future Phase 2/3 testing.

The clinical data presented shows that ELA026 achieved a 100% overall response rate (ORR) by the fourth week in treatment-naive patients with malignancy-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (mHLH), the deadliest subtype of sHLH. Improved survival rates at two months were also observed in these patients, which is a significant improvement over natural history studies. Additionally, ELA026 demonstrated a high response rate and a favorable safety profile across a range of sHLH patients.

Dr. Swaminathan P. Iyer, Professor in the Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, highlighted the significance of these findings, noting the potential for ELA026 as a treatment for sHLH, a disease that currently has no approved therapies. The data suggests that early intervention with ELA026 can offer considerable benefits for patients with rapidly progressing mHLH.

Dr. Abhishek Maiti, Assistant Professor in the Department of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, led the presentation at the EHA Congress. The analysis focused on three patient cohorts from the ongoing Phase 1b study, emphasizing the high response rates and improved survival at two months for treatment-naive mHLH patients.

Kim-Hien Dao, Chief Medical Officer at Electra, expressed enthusiasm about the interim data, especially regarding the high response rates and improved survival outcomes. She noted that achieving survival at two months is a clinically meaningful benefit for this patient population, as it allows mHLH patients to pursue curative treatments for their underlying cancer. Electra Therapeutics plans to continue enrolling patients in the study and advance the clinical program to further evaluate ELA026's safety and efficacy.

Secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH) is an inflammatory disease triggered by factors such as cancer, infections, autoimmune diseases, or immunotherapy. It requires immediate medical intervention due to the risk of multiple organ failure and death. Malignancy-associated HLH (mHLH) is particularly severe, with the worst prognosis among sHLH subtypes.

Electra Therapeutics is committed to developing therapies targeting novel immune mechanisms. Their lead product, ELA026, is the first in its class, targeting SIRP on immune cells to deplete pathological cells responsible for hyperinflammation in sHLH. ELA026 is also being explored for other disease indications. The company's mission is to address unmet medical needs in immunological diseases and cancer through innovative therapeutic approaches.