Innovent Delivers Oral Presentations at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting on Clinical Data of First-in-Class anti-CLDN18.2/CD3 Bispecific Antibody (IBI389) for the Treatment of Advanced Pancreatic Cancer and Gastric Cancer

Rhea-AI Summary

Innovent Biologics presented clinical data on its anti-CLDN18.2/CD3 bispecific antibody, IBI389, at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting. The Phase I study involved patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (PDAC) and gastric or gastroesophageal tumors (G/GEJC). Key findings include a 29.6% objective response rate (ORR) for PDAC at the recommended phase 2 dose, and a 30.8% ORR for G/GEJC. The disease control rates were 70.4% for PDAC and 73.1% for G/GEJC. Safety data indicated tolerability with no new safety signals. The study highlights IBI389's potential as an innovative treatment for difficult-to-treat cancers, especially in patients with treatment options and poor prognosis.

Positive

• IBI389 showed a promising 29.6% ORR for advanced pancreatic cancer.
• The disease control rate for PDAC was 70.4%.
• IBI389 demonstrated a 30.8% ORR for gastric or gastroesophageal tumors.
• The disease control rate for G/GEJC was 73.1%.
• IBI389 was generally well tolerated with no dose-limiting toxicity observed.
• IBI389 is the first bispecific antibody targeting CLDN18.2/CD3 to show efficacy in PDAC.

Negative

• Cytokine release syndrome occurred in 60% of subjects.
• 58.3% of subjects experienced ≥ grade 3 treatment-related adverse events.
• The most common ≥ grade 3 adverse events were increased gamma-glutamyl transferase, decreased lymphocyte count, and decreased appetite.

SAN FRANCISCO and SUZHOU, China, June 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovent Biologics, Inc. ("Innovent") (HKEX: 01801), a world-class biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercializes high-quality medicines for the treatment of oncology, cardiovascular and metabolic, autoimmune, ophthalmology and other major diseases, delivered two oral presentations of its first-in-class anti-CLDN18.2/CD3 bispecific antibody (R&D code: IBI389) for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer (PDAC) and gastric or gastroesophageal tumors (G/GEJC) at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting from clinical data of a Phase I study (NCT05164458).

Dr. Hui Zhou, Senior Vice President of Innovent Biologics, stated, "We are excited to share the latest clinical development progress of IBI389 at ASCO. Different from monoclonal antibodies, IBI389 redirects T cells to tumor cells by binding both CLDN18.2 expressed on tumor cells and CD3 on T cells, inducing T cell-mediated cell killing. Preclinical results showed that IBI389 could bind to tumor cells and exhibit significant anti-tumor effects even in cell lines with low CLDN18.2 expression. In the presented clinical data, IBI389 has shown promising efficacy in advanced G/GEJ tumors and PDAC, including those subjects with low and moderate CLDN18.2 expression. Notably, IBI389 is the world's first bispecific antibody targeting CLDN18.2/CD3 to show encouraging efficacy signal in PDAC, representing a breakthrough for innovative treatments in difficult-to-treat cancers. We will continue to advance the clinical development of IBI389 for the benefit of more cancer patients." 

Safety and Efficacy of IBI389 in Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Preliminary Results from the Phase I Study

Abstract#: 4011

As of March 11, 2024, a total of 72 subjects with advanced unresectable or metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma have received IBI389 monotherapy. All subjects had received at least one prior systemic treatment, and 55.6% of the subjects had received two or more prior lines of systemic therapy.

The results showed that:

• In subjects with CLDN18.2 IHC 2/3+≥10%, signs of efficacy were observed when treated with 100 μg/kg.
• The recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) 600 μg/kg group shows superior efficacy. 27 subjects have performed at least one post-baseline tumor evaluation, the objective response rate (ORR) was 29.6% (95%CI: 13.8-50.2), the confirmed objective response rate (cORR) was 25.9% (95%CI：11.1-46.3), and the disease control rate (DCR) was 70.4% (95%CI：49.8-86.2). Among the 18 subjects with CLDN18.2 IHC 2/3+≥40%, the cORR was 38.9% (95%CI：17.3-64.3).
• As of May 1, 2024, the median progression-free survival (PFS) follow-up time was 4 months, and the median PFS was not yet mature, with a 3-month PFS rate of 57.1%.
• Safety was similar to that of the overall population, and no new safety signals were observed.

Professor Jihui Hao, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, said, "Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive malignancies with poor prognosis, and the incidence continues to increase. Currently, the standard treatment for most patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer is systemic chemotherapy. In the second-line treatment, the clinical options are very limited and primarily involving a different chemotherapy from the first-line regimen. The response rate to second-line chemotherapy is only 6%~16%, and the median survival time is only about 3~6 months ^[1,2]. Therefore, there is a great unmet clinical need for patients who have failed standard treatment. Studies have shown that the expression of CLDN18.2 in pancreatic cancer patients is up to 50%~70% ^[3], making it a potential novel target for therapy. IBI389 is the first bispecific antibody targeting CLDN18.2/CD3 that reported clinical data, and showed positive efficacy signals in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. I hope the clinical exploration of this innovative drug could drive the progress in pancreatic cancer treatment."

Safety and Preliminary Efficacy Outcomes of IBI389 in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors and Gastric or Gastroesophageal Tumors: A Phase I Dose Escalation and Expansion Study        

Abstract#: 2519

This Phase I study is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of IBI389 in subjects with advanced solid tumors and G/GEJ tumors.

The results showed that:

• As of May 1, 2024, 26 G/GEJC subjects with CLDN18.2 IHC 2/3+≥10% received ≥ 10 μg /kg IBI389 monotherapy and performed at least one post-baseline tumor evaluation, of which 8 subjects achieved partial response (PR); the objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 30.8% and 73.1%, respectively.
• In terms of safety, as of March 11, 2024, a total of 120 subjects with advanced solid tumor malignancies who had previously failed or were intolerant to standard therapy were enrolled. IBI389 was generally well tolerated, and no dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) events were observed in each dose group. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) occurred in 60% of subjects, and only one case developed grade 3. No grade 4 or 5 CRS happened. 58.3% subjects occurred ≥ grade 3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). The most common ≥ grade 3 TRAEs were increased gamma-glutamyl transferase (21.7%), decreased lymphocyte count (13.3%) and decreased appetite (5. 0%）.

Professor Feng Bi, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, said, "Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world, ranking the 5th most common malignant tumors, and the 4th leading cause of cancer death worldwide ^[4]. Single-agent chemotherapy is the main second-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer. Multiple studies have shown that the PFS of second-line single-agent chemotherapy is 2.0~4.1 months, and the OS was only 5.3~9.5 months, with limited clinical benefit ^[5]. In recent years, CLDN18.2 has gained the most attention as a therapeutic target in the field of gastrointestinal tumors, and studies have shown that the expression rate of CLDN18.2 in gastric cancer patients is 40%-87% ^[6]. Preliminary efficacy results from several studies show that this target has high druggability potential. In this study, IBI389 has demonstrated encouraging preliminary efficacy and tolerable safety in patients with advanced gastric tumors, suggesting the possibility of further exploration in this indication."

About IBI389 (anti-CLDN18.2/CD3 bispecific antibody)

IBI389 is an anti-CLDN18.2 T cell-engaging bispecific antibodies developed by Innovent Biologics. It induces immune synapse formations by linking CD3 molecules in T-cell receptor complexes and CLDN18.2 antigens on the surfaces of tumor cells. Therefore, IBI389 stimulates T-cell activation, resulting in cytolytic protein production, inflammatory cytokine release and further T-cell proliferation, which eventually leads to durable anti-tumor effects. Based on urgent clinical needs, Innovent has conducted clinical studies to explore the efficacy and safety of IBI389 as a monotherapy or in combination with various advanced malignancies.

About Innovent Biologics:

Innovent is a leading biopharmaceutical company founded in 2011 with the mission to empower patients worldwide with affordable, high-quality biopharmaceuticals. The company discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes innovative medicines that target some of the most intractable diseases. Its pioneering therapies treat cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic, autoimmune and eye diseases. Innovent has launched 10 products in the market. It has 4 new drug applications under regulatory review, 4 assets in Phase III or pivotal clinical trials and 18 more molecules in early clinical stage. Innovent partners with over 30 global healthcare companies, including Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Incyte, Adimab, LG Chem and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Guided by the motto, 'Start with Integrity, Succeed through Action,' Innovent maintains the highest standard of industry practices and works collaboratively to advance the biopharmaceutical industry so that first-rate pharmaceutical drugs can become widely accessible. For more information, visit www.innoventbio.com, or follow Innovent on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to Innovent Biologics, Inc. ("Innovent" or "Company"), are intended to identify certain of such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements regularly.

These forward-looking statements are based on the existing beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates, projections and understandings of the management of the Company with respect to future events at the time these statements are made. These statements are not a guarantee of future developments and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control and are difficult to predict. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of future changes or developments in our business, the Company's competitive environment and political, economic, legal and social conditions.

The Company, the Directors and the employees of the Company assume (a) no obligation to correct or update the forward-looking statements contained in this site; and (b) no liability in the event that any of the forward-looking statements does not materialize or turn out to be incorrect.

References

[1]	Vaccaro V, Sperduti I, Vari S, et al. Metastatic pancreatic cancer: Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?. World J Gastroenterol. 2015; 21(16):4788-4801.
[2]	Wang-Gillam A,Li CP,Bodoky G,et al. Nanoliposomal irinotecan with fluorouracil and folinic acid in metastatic pancreatic cancer after previous gemcitabine-based therapy (NAPOLI-1): a global, randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial. Lancet 2016;387:545-557.
[3]	Wu YY, Fan L, Liao XH, et al. Claudin 18.2 is a potential therapeutic target for zolbetuximab in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. World J Gastrointest Oncol. 2022 Jul 15; 14(7):1252-1264.
[4]	Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, et al. Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries[J]. CA Cancer J Clin, 2021, 71(3): 209-249.
[5]	Han Lu, Shi Yan, Dai Guanghai. Research status and prospect of second-line and late-line drug therapy for advanced gastric cancer [J] . Chinese Medical Journal, 2021, 101(5): 369-373.
[6]	Cao W, Xing H, Li Y, et al. Claudin18.2 is a novel molecular biomarker for tumor-targeted immunotherapy. Biomark Res. 2022 May 31,10(1):38.

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/innovent-delivers-oral-presentations-at-the-2024-asco-annual-meeting-on-clinical-data-of-first-in-class-anti-cldn18-2cd3-bispecific-antibody-ibi389-for-the-treatment-of-advanced-pancreatic-cancer-and-gastric-cancer-302161375.html

SOURCE Innovent Biologics

FAQ

What is Innovent Biologics' stock symbol?

The stock symbol for Innovent Biologics is IVBIY.

What was the objective response rate (ORR) of IBI389 in advanced pancreatic cancer?

The ORR of IBI389 in advanced pancreatic cancer was 29.6%.

How effective was IBI389 in treating gastric or gastroesophageal tumors?

IBI389 demonstrated a 30.8% ORR and a 73.1% disease control rate for gastric or gastroesophageal tumors.

What are the safety observations for IBI389?

IBI389 was generally well tolerated with no dose-limiting toxicity observed, but cytokine release syndrome occurred in 60% of subjects.

What is the significance of IBI389 targeting CLDN18.2/CD3?

IBI389 is the first bispecific antibody targeting CLDN18.2/CD3 to show efficacy in advanced pancreatic cancer, marking a potential breakthrough in cancer treatment.