Celldex Therapeutics Presents Positive Data from Barzolvolimab Chronic Urticaria Program at EAACI 2023

11 Jun 2023
pipelinereview.com
Clinical ResultPhase 1Phase 2Immunotherapy
- Data updates at EAACI 2023 continue to position barzolvolimab as a potential best-in-class addition to a historically limited treatment landscape -
- At week 24, 55% of all patients with CSU in the 1.5 mg/kg, 3.0 mg/kg and 4.5 mg/kg dose groups had complete response (UAS7) and 69% had well-controlled disease (UCT) -
- Patients in the CSU study with angioedema treated at these doses had profound and durable angioedema symptom improvement -
- Single 3.0 mg/kg dose of barzolvolimab was well tolerated and demonstrated impressive clinical activity in difficult to treat cholinergic urticaria with a 56% complete response rate and patients reporting clinically significant improvement in quality of life -
- Phase 2 CSU study nearing enrollment completion with topline data by year-end; Phase 2 CindU study enrolling as planned -
HAMPTON, NJ, USA I June 10, 2023 I Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLDX) announced today that updated data from the Company’s Phase 1b multi-dose clinical trial in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and new data from the Phase 1b single-dose cholinergic cohort included in the chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU) trial were presented at the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Annual Congress 2023. Barzolvolimab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that specifically binds the receptor tyrosine kinase KIT with high specificity and potently inhibits its activity, which is required for the function and survival of mast cells. Data continue to support that mast cell depletion by barzolvolimab, as demonstrated by tryptase suppression, parallels symptom improvement.
The CSU data were presented by Dr. Marcus Maurer, Professor of Dermatology and Allergy at Charité – Universitätsmedizin in Berlin, in a late breaking oral presentation (#000401) and the cholinergic data were presented by Dr. Eva Grekowitz, Clinical Investigator, Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergy at Charité – Universitätsmedizin in Berlin in an oral presentation (#000393).
"As we expand development into more patients and new disease settings, the data repeatedly support that barzolvolimab’s mast cell depleting mechanism holds great potential to offer patients a much needed rapid, profound and durable treatment option for chronic urticarias— including patients who are not seeing meaningful benefits from the current standard of care,” said Marcus Maurer, M.D. “In the CSU study, we also observed very significant improvements in angioedema which can be a devastating manifestation of urticaria for many patients. In cholinergic urticaria, barzolvolimab again demonstrated remarkable response rates and impressive improvements in quality of life in this tough to treat form of inducible urticaria."
"We are extremely pleased with these further results which once again demonstrated strong clinical activity, rapid onset and sustained durability with a well-tolerated safety profile, including in patients who had previously taken omalizumab," commented Anthony S. Marucci, President and Chief Executive Officer of Celldex Therapeutics. "These strong results support our ongoing Phase 2 studies in urticaria. We look forward completing accrual ahead of schedule in the Phase 2 CSU study later this month and reporting topline data by the end of this year.”
Summary of Barzolvolimab Phase 1b Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU) Data Update
CSU is characterized by the occurrence of hives or wheals for 6 weeks or longer without identifiable specific triggers or causes. Treatment options for patients with CSU are limited and there are no approved therapies for patients who do not respond to omalizumab. Celldex’s Phase 1b study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to assess the safety of multiple ascending doses of barzolvolimab in patients with moderate to severe CSU who remain symptomatic despite treatment with antihistamines. Approximately 40% of patients with CSU report accompanying episodes of angioedema, which typically presents as swelling in the lips, cheeks, around the eyes, arms, legs, or genitals1; patients with CSU and angioedema typically experience significant negative impacts on health-related quality of life, daily activities and productivity in work compared to patients with CSU who do not have angioedema2.
Clinical Activity Data
Celldex previously presented interim Phase 1b CSU data at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting 2023. The 0.5 mg/kg, 1.5 mg/kg and 3.0 mg/kg cohorts had completed study participation through 24 weeks; 6 of 9 patients in the 4.5 mg/kg cohort had completed through the week 20 visit (last barzolvolimab dose administered at 8 weeks). The study is now complete. At EAACI 2023, Celldex presented data on the complete 24 week experience for the 4.5 mg/kg cohort and data on angioedema impact across all study cohorts. 45 patients with moderate to severe CSU refractory to antihistamines were enrolled and treated [35 barzolvolimab (n=9 in 0.5 mg/kg; n=8 in 1.5 mg/kg; n=9 in 3.0 mg/kg; n=9 in 4.5 mg/kg) and 10 placebo]. Data for the 0.5 mg/kg and placebo group are only outlined below through week 12 because, as expected, most patients from these groups had significant symptoms ahead of week 24 and discontinued follow up. Two patients did not receive all doses of study treatment [4.5 mg/kg (1), placebo (1)].
Summary of Clinical Activity Assessments
*24 week data not shown for 0.5 mg/kg and placebo dose levels as most patients had significant symptoms ahead of week 24 and discontinued follow up.
The UAS7 score is calculated as the sum over 7 days of the daily intensity of itch (ISS7 itch severity score) and number of hives (HSS7 hives severity score). UAS7 values range from 0 to 42, with higher values reflecting higher disease activity. UCT has 4 items with 5 answer options (scored with 0-4 points); recall period of 4 weeks. Low points indicate high disease activity and low disease control. The minimum and maximum UCT scores are 0 and 16, with 16 points indicating complete disease control and ≥12 indicating well controlled disease.
** Clinical responses shown are the proportion of patients with the defined response at the specific timepoint. Patients with missing data at the timepont are excluded.
Safety Data
Barzolvolimab was well tolerated with a favorable safety profile; effects of multiple dose administration were consistent with observations in single dose studies. Most AEs were mild or moderate in severity and resolved while on study.
Summary of Barzolvolimab Phase 1b Cholinergic (CIndU) Data Results
Chronic inducible urticarias are forms of urticaria that have an attributable trigger associated with them, typically resulting in wheals (hives) or angioedema. Cholinergic urticaria, a form of CindU, is triggered by physical exercise or passive warming and characterized by itchy hives/wheals that appear upon sweating. There are currently no approved therapies for chronic inducible urticarias other than antihistamines and patients attempt to manage symptoms associated with their disease through avoidance of triggers.
Clinical Activity Data
In this open-label, Phase 1 trial, a cohort of patients with antihistamine refractory cholinergic urticaria (n=9) received a single intravenous 3.0 mg/kg barzolvolimab dose with a 12-week follow-up. Assessments included provocation testing using pulse-controlled ergometry (PCE; complete response, CR=no whealing within 40 min of test initiation), urticaria control test (UCT), quality of life assessments, and measurement of circulating tryptase and stem cell factor and skin mast cell numbers. Safety assessments included adverse events and clinical laboratory monitoring. Data reported at EAACI 2023 include treatment and safety data through 12 weeks.
Safety Data
Barzolvolimab was generally well tolerated in patients with CholU, with a similar safety profile to that reported previously. The most common AEs were mainly mild; hair color changes (78%), nasopharyngitis (67%), taste disorders (44%), and infusion related reactions (33%). Hematology parameters were consistent with previous observation and generally remained within the normal ranges. Mild, transient, and asymptomatic decreases in hemoglobin and WBC parameters were noted.
1JAllergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2018 Jul-Aug; 6(4): 1097–1106; 2Allergy 2018 Aug;73(8):1724-1734. doi: 10.1111/all.13430.
Barzolvolimab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds the receptor tyrosine kinase KIT with high specificity and potently inhibits its activity. KIT is expressed in a variety of cells, including mast cells, which mediate inflammatory responses such as hypersensitivity and allergic reactions. KIT signaling controls the differentiation, tissue recruitment, survival and activity of mast cells. In certain inflammatory diseases, such as chronic urticaria, mast cell activation plays a central role in the onset and progression of the disease.
About the Phase 1b CSU Study Design
The Phase 1b study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to assess the safety of multiple ascending doses of barzolvolimab in patients with moderate to severe CSU who remain symptomatic despite treatment with antihistamines. Secondary and exploratory objectives include pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic assessments, including measurement of tryptase and stem cell factor levels and clinical activity outcomes (impact on urticaria symptoms, disease control, clinical response) as well as quality of life assessments. The study enrolled 45 patients with CSU across four cohorts. Barzolvolimab was administered intravenously at 0.5 mg/kg every 4 weeks (3 doses), 1.5 mg/kg every 4 weeks (3 doses), 3 mg/kg every 8 weeks (2 doses), 4.5 mg/kg every 8 weeks (2 doses), as add-on treatment to H1-antihistamines, either alone or in combination with H2-antihistamines and/or leukotriene receptor agonists. Following completion of the 12 week treatment period, patients were followed for an additional 12 weeks or until resumption of symptoms, whichever was sooner. For additional information on this trial (NCT04538794), please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.
About the Phase 1b CindU Study Design
The Phase 1b study is an open label clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety of a single dose of barzolvolimab in patients with cold urticaria, symptomatic dermographism and cholinergic urticaria who are refractory to antihistamines. Patients' symptoms are induced via provocation testing that resembles real life triggering situations. Secondary and exploratory objectives include pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic assessments, including changes from baseline provocation thresholds, measurement of tryptase and stem cell factor levels, clinical activity outcomes (impact on urticaria symptoms, disease control, clinical response), quality of life assessments and measurement of tissue mast cells through skin biopsies. The study enrolled 40 patients with inducible urticaria across four cohorts (cold urticaria, symptomatic dermographism and cholinergic urticaria at 3.0 mg/kg each and cold urticaria at 1.5 mg/kg). Barzolvolimab was administered intravenously as add on treatment to H1-antihistamines and patients were followed for 12 weeks after dosing, with an optional longer term follow up period. For additional information on this trial (NCT04548869), please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.
Celldex is a clinical stage biotechnology company dedicated to developing monoclonal and bispecific antibodies that address devastating diseases for which available treatments are inadequate. Our pipeline includes antibody-based therapeutics which have the ability to engage the human immune system and/or directly affect critical pathways to improve the lives of patients with inflammatory diseases and many forms of cancer. Visit www.celldex.com.
For more details,please visit the original website
The content of the article does not represent any opinions of Synapse and its affiliated companies. If there is any copyright infringement or error, please contact us, and we will deal with it within 24 hours.
Organizations
Indications
Targets
Drugs
Get started for free today!
Accelerate Strategic R&D decision making with Synapse, PatSnap’s AI-powered Connected Innovation Intelligence Platform Built for Life Sciences Professionals.
Start your data trial now!
Synapse data is also accessible to external entities via APIs or data packages. Leverages most recent intelligence information, enabling fullest potential.