An Open-label, Phase 1 Study to Determine the Maximum Tolerated Dose of HLX07,in Patients With Advanced Solid Cancers



Status:Recruiting
Conditions:Cancer
Therapuetic Areas:Oncology
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - Any
Updated:4/17/2018
Start Date:September 2016
End Date:June 2019
Contact:Weidong Jiang, Ph.D.
Email:wjiang@henlix.com
Phone:(510) 445-0305

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A Prospective,Open-label, Dose Escalation Phase 1 Study to Investigate the Safety, and Tolerability and to Determine the Maximum Tolerated Dose and Recommended Phase 2 Dose of a HLX07, in Patients With Advanced Solid Cancers.

This study is to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended phase 2 dose
(RP2D) of humanized anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody, HLX07, in patients with epithelial cancer
who have failed standard therapy and deemed unamenable by conventional therapy. This study
will also evaluate the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, immunogenicity and anti-tumor
effect of HLX07 and explore the potential prognostic and predictive biomarkers.

The role of EGFR in carcinogenesis led to the development and extensive evaluation of
EGFR-blocking agents for cancer treatment. Two EGFR-targeted approaches have been explored:
(a) small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting the intracellular EGFR tyrosine
kinase domain and (b). mAbs targeting the EGFR extra-cellular domain.

Small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been widely used in lung cancer with EGFR
mutations. However, the results of using small molecule inhibitors for cancer with
overexpressed wildtype EGFR have been unsatisfactory.

The best-studied of the anti-EGFR mAbs in cancer is cetuximab (Erbitux®), and panitumumab
(Vectibix®). Necitumumab, another humanized anti-EGFR mAb is currently under investigation is
multiple cancers. Both cetuximab and panitumumab have been approved in colorectal cancer and
head/neck cancer.

Cetuximab is chimeric human-murine IgG1 mAb, and blocks ligand binding to EGFR, thereby
diminishing receptor dimerization and autophosphorylation and inducing EGFR downregulation.
The immunoglobulin IgG1 isotype of cetuximab may also engage hose immune functions such as
antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Cetuximab is approved to be used in
combination with chemotherapy and has been shown to improve the survival of patients with
advanced colorectal cancer. Cetuximab, when used in combination with radiotherapy has also
improved response rate in patients with locally advanced head/neck cancer. However, the use
of cetuximab has been associated with rare anaphylactic reactions, which is likely to be
related to the specific glycosylation in the molecules and possibly its mouse/human chimeric
structure.

Panitumumab is a human IgG2 mAb that targets EGFR. But unlike cetuximab, it mediates its
effects through mechanisms other than ADCC, which has a different binding site on EGFR
extracellular domain from that of cetuximab, is also approved for colorectal cancer and
head/neck cancer. However, the side effects, especially skin reactions, is more pronounced in
patients receiving panitumumab, which also limiting its clinical use.

Although cetuximab and panitumumab target EGFR, clinical studies of cetuximab and panitumumab
have shown that the levels of EGFR expression in cancer cells do not affect the efficacy of
the drug.So far there is unclear why it is so. However, several retrospective studies have
shown that the presence of K-ras, and B-raf mutations predicts the poor response to either
cetuximab or panitumumab. Likewise, there is no clear answer for such phenomenon. Therefore,
in this study, the investigators will examine the expression of EGFR in the cancer cells of
enrolled patients, but will not use its expression for enrollment. But, in this study, the
investigators will exclude patients whose cancer cells harbor either K-ras, or B-raf
mutations, since the investigators in vivo study also demonstrated that HLX07 is not
effective in cancer cells with K-ras mutations.

HLX07 is an improved version of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody. There are several important
improvements in the development of HLX07. First, the investigators re-engineered the Fab
portion of the antibody to modify the glycosylation pattern of this antibody- to make less
immunogenic and have better binding affinity. Second, the investigators produced an antibody
using CHO cell system, which lead to cleaner glycosylation profile and better yield.
Therefore, the investigators expect that the results can provide a better and more affordable
option for patients with advanced cancer.

The investigators in vitro and in vivo animal studies have demonstrated that the anti-cancer
effect of HLX07 at the same dose level is either equal or superior to those of cetuximab. In
the toxicokinetic studies on monkey, the toxicity profile of HLX07 was better than that of
cetuximab. Therefore, the investigators are confident that HLX07 will be a better solution
for patients who benefit from anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody therapy.

However, HLX07 has not been tested in human yet. Therefore, the investigators propose this
first-in-human phase 1 study. In this study, the investigators intend to investigate the
safety, and tolerability of HLX07 in humans, and hope to identify the maximum tolerated dose,
and determine the recommended phase 2 dose in future study. At the same time, the
investigators would like to gain information of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of
this drug and its potential immunogenicity.

To minimize the risk of patients who volunteer to receive this experimental drug, the
investigators will choose 50 mg flat dose as the initial starting dose. The selection of
starting dose is based on the repeat-dose toxicology study on monkey. In the 3-month
repeat-dose study, the highest non-severely toxic dose (HNSTD) is weekly 60 mg/kg. The human
equivalent dose for this HNSTD is 20 mg/kg. One-sixth of 20 mg/kg in an adult of 70 kilogram
is 233 mg. In order to provide sufficient safety factor in the FIH study, the investigators
will select 50 mg flat dose as the starting dose in this study.

To investigate the dose required to reach maximal effect, the investigators propose a dose
escalation sequence. The purpose of the dose escalation is to obtain the pharmacokinetics and
pharmacodynamics of HLX07 at different dose levels, and investigate its relationship with
adverse reactions. Also, the investigators intend to identify the MTD and determine the dose
required to reach 90% saturation of clearance. The information from the dose escalation is
crucial to determine the optimal dose in future studies and potential indications for HLX07.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Histologically-confirmed, unidimensionally-measurable and/or evaluable carcinoma which
has failed standard therapy or for whom no standard therapy is available.

2. ECOG performance status score of ≤ 2 at study entry.

3. Able to provide written informed consent.

4. White blood cell (WBC) count ≥3 x 109/L;an absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.5 x 109/L;a
hemoglobin level > 90 g/L; and a platelet count ≥ 100 x 109/L.

5. Adequate hepatic function as defined by: alkaline phosphatase level ≤ 5.0 x the ULN,
bilirubin level ≤ 1.5 x the ULN, aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase
(ALT) levels ≤ 2.5 x the ULN or ≤ 5 x the ULN for patients with liver metastases

6. Adequate renal function as defined by a serum creatinine level within normal limits.

7. Use of effective contraception if procreative potential exists.

8. Life expectancy of approximately 3 months or longer in the opinion of the
investigator.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Chemotherapy, radiation, and/or hormonal therapy (except palliative radiation therapy
for disease-related pain and chronic hormonal therapy for prostate carcinoma) within 4
weeks of study entry.

2. Concurrent unstable or uncontrolled medical disease (e.g., active uncontrolled
systemic infection, poorly controlled hypertension or history of poor compliance with
an anti-hypertensive regimen, unstable angina, congestive heart failure, uncontrolled
diabetes) or other chronic disease, which, in the opinion of the investigator, could
compromise the patient or the study.

3. Newly-diagnosed or symptomatic brain metastases (patients with a history of brain
metastases must have received definitive surgery or radiotherapy, be clinically
stable, and not taking steroids; anticonvulsants are allowed).

4. Any concurrent malignancy other than basal cell carcinoma or carcinoma in situ of the
cervix. Patients with a previous malignancy but without evidence of disease for more
than 3 years will be allowed to enter the trial.

5. Any condition that prevents the patient from providing informed consent.

6. Pregnancy (confirmed by serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin [beta-HCG]) or
breast-feeding.

7. Any investigational agent(s) or device(s) within 4 weeks of study entry.

8. Prior treatment with cetuximab, or any other anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody therapy for
less than 3 months. Prior treatment with other monoclonal antibodies targeting
receptors other than the EGFR is permitted if the drug has been discontinued more than
(include) 4 weeks prior to study entry.

9. Tumor cells with either K-ras, N-ras or B-raf mutations.

10. Known history of human immunodeficiency virus infection.

11. Employees of the investigator or study center with direct involvement in this study or
other studies under the direction of the investigator or study center, as well as
family members of the employees.
We found this trial at
2
sites
5 Fuxing Street
Taoyuan, 333
Principal Investigator: Ming-Mo Hou, MD
Phone: +886-3-328-1200
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Taoyuan,
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Fremont, California 94538
Phone: 520-445-0305
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Fremont, CA
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